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.
An innovative new ice cream parlor, “I Scream Sundae,” is attracting dessert fanatics to Ripley, where the rural small-town atmosphere was parlor-ready. Banking on the lyrics of the zany 1927 song Ice Cream (“I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!”), the business is building a menu based on screamingly funny puns and … Read more
Alderson Broaddus University is celebrating a 10-percent increase in enrollment as the academic year launches, welcoming students from nearly 20 countries and 35 states, according to school officials. The increase brings a more diverse and vibrant culture to Alderson Broaddus and the community, according to Dr. Eric Shor, executive vice president for administration and vice … Read more
The Glenville State College Bluegrass Band will join 13 collegiate bluegrass bands from seven states at the International Bluegrass Music Association Foundation’s Bluegrass College Showcase. The showcase will take place September 27-28 on the Youth Stage at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the World of Bluegrass Conference. This is the third … Read more
West Virginia University mining engineers are developing a method to create a self-supply of rare earth elements in the United States from coal waste. “Rare earth elements are critical to the high-tech industry and to national defense, but we heavily rely on China to supply these elements,” said Qingqing Huang, assistant professor of mining engineering. … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture today announced that it is waiving movement entry requirements for animals being evacuated into West Virginia due to Hurricane Dorian. The State Fair of West Virginia is also offering temporary shelter for evacuated equine and can accommodate up to 100 horses. “West Virginians are always quick to respond to … Read more
Rich in lore and history, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, has been chosen as the recipient of a branding project by West Virginia University designed to promote tourism and economic development. Home of the Mothman legend and a turning-point battle with the Shawnee, it’s also a community on the rise, says Rita Colistra, associate professor at … Read more
Though nothing is sure, there’s a chance a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights could be visible in parts of West Virginia this weekend. The lights are forecast to appear directly over the northern U.S. as far south as Buffalo, N.Y., and Grand Rapids, Mich., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Survey, but they … Read more
New River Community and Technical College is offering a four-day quilting class for beginners starting Tuesday, Sept. 24, at its Greenbrier Valley Campus in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Students will learn the process of making a handmade quilt, according to Jenni Canterbury, director of communications for the school. Pre-registration is recommended by Sept. 10. Tuition for … Read more
Shepherd University is now home to the largest non-profit solar installation in West Virginia, thanks to a $100,000 grant from EBSCO Information Services of Ipswich, Massachusetts. The rooftop installation of 189 solar panels atop the university’s Scarborough Library will generate at least 60 kilowatts of power took about three weeks to complete, according to Dr. … Read more
Faculty and students from Shepherd University will travel to Randolph County over the next five years, where they will use the school’s drone fleet to help the U.S. Forest Service reclaim strip-mined land in the Monongahela National Forest, according to school officials. Through a five-year agreement with the service and the Shepherd Entrepreneurship and Research … Read more
