Communities

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 spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) adult winged.

Spotted Lanternfly confirmed in Berkeley County

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of a new invasive insect, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycormia delicatula), in West Virginia. A small population of spotted lanternflies was detected in the Bunker Hill area of Berkeley County on October 30, and the findings were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The spotted … Read more

Goldenrod at Healthberry Farm helps produce excellent honey.

Randolph County farm wins national medal for mead

Healthberry Farm has been awarded a silver medal in the sweet varietal mead category for its Honey River Basswood Mead, made with raw honey and spring water sourced on the farm in the Allegheny Mountains. Healthberry Farm owner Benjamin McKean says he’s honored to represent the state’s honey industry. “It is an honor to be … Read more

The campus at West Virginia Wesleyan welcomes another fresh winter snow.

W.Va. Wesleyan kicks off winter with concert series

West Virginia Wesleyan College is welcoming winter in north-central West Virginia with a series of nine free musical performances in November and December, including a celebration of 50 years of jazz at the school. Including four large hallmark performances, the public series is being held principally at the school’s campus in Buckhannon, West Virginia, and … Read more

Visitors from world-over are visiting Tucker County, here at Lindy Point.

Scenic expressway leading D.C. tourists into Tucker County

Approaching completion, the new U.S. Route 48 expressway is dramatically changing tourism in the Tucker County highlands. Now a drive of fewer than three hours from Washington, D.C., the region—long known as an outdoor-recreation paradise—is welcoming an influx of new travelers, and more are on their way, according to the marketing director for the Tucker … Read more

Benison investigates an acidic salt lake in Western Australia.

WVU geologist selected for NASA’s Mars 2020 team

When samples from the Mars 2020 expedition eventually make their way to Earth, the scientists of tomorrow will have a WVU Mountaineer to thank. West Virginia University geologist Kathy Benison is one of 10 scientists selected as a return-sample selection scientist for NASA’s Mars 2020 expedition, responsible for helping determine which rocks and sediments shall … Read more

Rusty Hutson, Sr., and David Dean of Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation inspect a well pad in West Virginia.

Partnership provides oil, gas training for high school seniors

Four hundred West Virginia high school seniors will be able to enter a pipeline of future workers in the oil and gas industry through a training program initiated by the West Virginia University Extension Service Safety and Health Extension. The SafeLandUSA orientation program will offer job-readiness training, online and hands-on ATV safety course, and medical-response … Read more

Carbon-fiber composite helicopters allow for easier and less-expensive repairs.

West Virginia now manufactures unique composite helicopters

The result of a collaboration among Safari Helicopters, Carbon Fiber Composites,  and the Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University, a new helicopter is now commercially available and has made its first sales. Brian Alley, owner of Carbon Fiber Composites, in Ona, near Barboursville, West Virginia, says its unique composite construction is rare and expedites … Read more

A paddler in an inflatable kayak challenges the Dries of the New River.

W.Va. tourism outpaces national growth by 58 percent

Governor Jim Justice announced today that West Virginia’s tourism industry grew for the second consecutive year in 2018. The two-year growth trend reverses years of decline and outpaces national growth by 58 percent, he said. The finding comes from yearly economic impact research released just on the heels of the industry’s annual Governor’s Conference on … Read more

West Virginia agriculture is getting a boost, thanks to a grant from the USDA.

West Virginia receives $250,000 in specialty crop grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $242,335.25 to ten projects to enhance the production, processing, and consumption of specialty crops in West Virginia. W.Va. Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt, praised the value of the projects and of the Specialty Crop Block Grant program for development in the Mountain State. “From education to research, Specialty … Read more