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Communities in West Virginia offer 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, as well as 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.

Professor Christine Schimmel recommends parents be open with their children about current events.
Communities

WVU expert offers advice on children’s virus anxieties

by David Sibray

Transparent communication between caregivers and their children is key in mitigating children’s anxiety about the pandemic, says a school counseling expert at West Virginia University. Christine Schimmel, associate professor and program coordinator of the School Counseling Program at the College of Education and Human Services, recommends that parents be open with their children about current … Read more

Switching to compassion mode may be one way to manage COVID-19 anxiety.
Communities

WVU: Compassion may ease anxieties related to coronavirus

by David Sibray

Practicing social distancing is one way to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, but practicing emotional closeness may help alleviate the anxiety that the coronavirus can provoke. Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, a research assistant professor in the West Virginia University Department of Neuroscience, part of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, said that “switching to compassion mode” may … Read more

As far as is known, the last eastern wolf roamed West Virginia until it was taken in Webster County in 1897.
Communities

Two wolves euthanized after escape from W.Va. Wildlife Center

by Will Reedy

Two gray wolves escaped their enclosure at the West Virginia Wildlife Center, near French Creek, West Virginia, according to a spokesperson for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The two were euthanized in the interest of public safely after attempts to safely recapture them failed, according to Andy Malinoski. Once common across the eastern … Read more

Professors are advising social media users to question their biases and turn to local media for COVID-19 information.
Communities

WVU: Question biases, use local news for COVID-19 info

by Clyde Craig

As more people turn to social media and other online sources for updates on the COVID-19 outbreak, determining which sources are reliable becomes increasingly difficult. Two professors at West Virginia University are advising users of social media to question their own biases and turn to the local news media for information. Dana Coester and Bob … Read more

The governor and staff attended a video conference with the President early Monday.
Communities

COVID-19: W.Va. Governor declares State of Emergency

by David Sibray

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice joined state health, education, and emergency response leaders in Charleston today to update residents on precautionary measures being taken to protect the public from the potential spread of novel coronavirus. There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in West Virginia, though it’s anticipated that the disease will be reported … Read more

WVU Dean of Health Sciences Clay Marsh, MD, is advising to take travel precautions.
Communities

WVU Dean advising travel precaution in face of COVID-19

by David Sibray

Though there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in West Virginia, Dr. Clay Marsh of West Virginia University is advising Mountaineers to employ precautions when traveling for spring break. The school’s Vice President and Executive Dean for Health Sciences, Marsh says non-essential travel should be limited, and he’s asking students, faculty, and staff to inform … Read more