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Communities in West Virginia offers residents a welcoming atmosphere, affordable cost of living, and a strong sense of connection to nature and neighbors alike. From charming small towns to vibrant cities like Charleston and Morgantown, West Virginia communities provide friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access to outdoor recreation right at your doorstep. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life surrounded by the state’s beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests, along with rich local culture, historic sites, and community events that bring people together. With safe streets, local businesses, and a true spirit of Appalachian hospitality, living in West Virginia communities means enjoying a high quality of life and a supportive, tight-knit environment where everyone feels at home. Be sure to visit our Communities Travel Guide for information about communities in West Virginia.

A farmer surveys pasture and cropland in eastern West Virginia.
Communities

W.Va. State U. to host spatial analysis workshop for farmers

by Clyde Craig

The extension service of West Virginia State University will host a workshop series on sustainable production management through spatial analysis beginning Feb. 25, 2020. The series is ideal for producers who own or lease land for agricultural purposes, according to Dr. Annette G. Ericksen, assistant director for agriculture and natural resources at the university. “This … Read more

A maintenance worker inspects a wrecked PRT at West Virginia University.
Communities

PRT track at WVU closes after Morgantown rockslide

by David Sibray

A rockslide that blocked Monongahela Boulevard and the public rapid transit track in Morgantown, West Virginia, today sent two West Virginia University students to the hospital. The highway and transit, also known as the PRT, was struck by boulders that had tumbled off a cliff that overlooks the Monongahela River on the university’s Evansdale campus. … Read more

Medical students train in acupuncture at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Communities

Osteopathic school trains in acupuncture technique

by Clyde Craig

An old practice is being put to new use in the Mountain State, thanks in part to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine at Lewisburg, West Virginia. The school is training members of approved health-related professions to use the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, also known as acudetox, a form of acupuncture in which … Read more

A wildlife biologist surveys a glade in West Virginia.
Communities

Wildlife management major coming to Glenville State

by Will Reedy

The Glenville State College Department of Land Resources will offer a Wildlife Management major within their Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management Program beginning fall 2020. The major is designed for students who want to pursue a career in wildlife management or pursue an advanced degree in wildlife, according to Dr. Brian Perkins, associate … Read more

Cars lined up along a road in the New River Gorge to witness a rare combat.
Communities

Motorists encounter rare sight in southern West Virginia

by David Sibray

Motorists visiting the New River Gorge in West Virginia yesterday might have thought they had encountered a two-headed eagle engaged in a fight with itself. While not so astonishing, they were witnessing a sight rarely seen near the New River in the state’s southern mountains, where bald eagles are relative newcomers. Two male bald eagles … Read more

Landmark trees shade the campus at Bethany College near the school's old-growth Parkinson Forest.
Communities

Students map landmark campus trees at Bethany College

by David Sibray

Students at Bethany College are mapping trees across the school’s historic campus in advance of the arrival of one of the nation’s foremost experts on old-growth forests. So far, members of the school’s Tri-Beta Club have identified about 60 noteworthy trees based on qualities such as size and species, according to Ian Nelson, an environmental … Read more

A repeat of the Carrington Event of 1859 would cause worldwide havoc.
Communities

WVU engineer aims to predict repeat of Carrington Event

by David Sibray

Usually, the Earth’s magnetic field shields us from the misadventures of our nearest star, the mighty sun, but it failed on September 2, 1859. Known as the Carrington Event, the most powerful solar storm on record burst through the magnetic field and pummeled telegraph wires throughout the United States and Europe, breaking down communication systems … Read more

The Adventures on the Gorge resort overlooks the New River, 800 feet below in the New River Gorge.
Communities

West Virginia welcomes sponsors for travel writer’s convention

by Bianca Bosworth

Southern West Virginia this spring will showcase its travel and tourism resources for 80 members of the influential Society of American Travel Writers—an unparalleled occasion, according to state tourism officials. While many organizations have pledged their support for the initiative, there’s still time for other partners to engage, according to Roger Wilson, chief executive officer … Read more