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.
Clements State Tree Nursery is taking orders for container trees, which will be available Feb. 1, weather permitting, according to West Virginia forestry officials. Located along the Ohio River near Mason, West Virginia, the nursery is owned and operated by the state Division of Forestry and produces and sells bare-root seedlings to landowners in West … Read more
The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program at Bluefield State College has been ranked among the nation’s top teacher preparation programs in early reader instruction, according to school officials. The National Council on Teacher Quality recently released its ranking in the 2020 Teacher Prep Review, noting that programs in West Virginia performed well above … Read more
The production of maple syrup is a time-honored tradition in West Virginia, and it’s enjoying an economic resurgence while attracting a new group of tourists to the mountains—especially to the high Alleghenies. Pocahontas County, the loftiest county in the state, enjoys the freezing temperatures necessary to create some of the state’s best maple syrups, and … Read more
Glenville State College and Gilmer County have announced the launch of a new Appalachian Heritage program designed to increase literary discourse and community in the valley of the Little Kanawha River in north-central West Virginia. Dubbed the “Little Kanawha Reading Series,” the project aims to feature regional writers invited to Glenville as well as local … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has submitted the state’s plan to regulate industrial hemp to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and officials are working toward the most business-friendly outcome possible. Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt said his office will continue to work with producers, who in 2019 produced a remarkably successful crop. “There is … Read more
Governor Jim Justice, Milton Mayor Thomas Canterbury, and officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have signed an agreement to build an 8,300-foot long levee between Milton, West Virginia, and the Mud River that will reduce flooding in the area. “This is something that your community needs, and you need it right now,” Justice … Read more
Officials at Concord University have named Mountain Lion head football coach Dave Walker as Grand Groundhog Watcher for 2020, joining “Concord Charlie” in the spotlight during this year’s Groundhog Day Breakfast. According to tradition, if Charlie or any other apt groundhog sees his shadow on the morning of February 2, six more weeks of winter … Read more
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced today that West Virginia’s job numbers are the best the state has seen in over a decade. Its 2019 seasonally-adjusted annual average total employment—that is, the average number of West Virginians employed over the course of a year—was 759,000. See: Workforce West Virginia Data 2019 The governor says that … Read more
Officials at West Virginia University are reminding students, faculty, and staff that as temperatures fall and the possibility of inclement weather increases, they are expected to exercise caution and use personal judgment before venturing out. Maryanne Reed, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, promises that the safety of faculty and staff outweighs all other … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has launched a new agricultural training series for veterans in West Virginia, according to state Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. The Veteran Education Training Series, also known as VETS, will host its first session “Boots-to-Business” at the West Virginia Small Farm Conference on February 20, though more classes will … Read more
