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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.

There are no reported cases of COVID-19 at WVU, but officials are concerned about the return to campus after travel.
Communities

WVU suspends in-person classes after spring break, moves online

by David Sibray

West Virginia University will temporarily suspend in-person classes the week following spring break then offer online class instruction or other alternative learning options beginning March 30 as it continues to monitor the threat of novel coronavirus. All other online-only classes will continue as originally scheduled. WVU President Gordon Gee made the announcement in a Tuesday, … Read more

Through October the lunch-and-learn series look at gardening in West Virginia.
Communities

Café Appalachia and W.Va. State U. offer gardening series

by Clyde Craig

Café Appalachia is teaming up with the West Virginia State University Extension Service to host a six-part series of gardening workshops through October 2020. The free Lunch-&-Learn events will begin March 26 with a session on raised bed construction and irrigation. Each session will take place from 10 a.m. until noon at Café Appalachia in … Read more

Audits aim to verify fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored in the safest manner possible.
Communities

WVDA reimbursing agricultural, handling practice audits

by Clyde Craig

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is offering full reimbursement to fruit and vegetable producers who have completed its Good Handling Practices and Good Agricultural Practices programs. The audits are voluntary efforts that verify fruits and vegetables are being produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety … Read more

Bobwhite were heard across much of West Virginia until the late 1970s.
Communities

Justice announces five-year project to restore bobwhite

by Will Reedy

West Virginia has launched a five-year project to restore northern bobwhite quail, a native species that was decimated during the winters of 1977, 1978, and 1979. Governor Jim Justice announced the launch of the project today while mourning the song of the bird, which was once heard in pastures across the Mountain State. “There’s no … Read more

Ramps in West Virginia
Communities

Aging, declining population leading to drop in ramp dinners

by Clyde Craig

A decline in population across West Virginia may be contributing to a drop in traditional spring ramp feasts, despite increased interest among tourists and younger generations. The fluctuations are apparent, though not quantifiable, says the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine, which produces an annual online David Vincent enjoys a ramp dinner at the Richwood … Read more

Katherine Johnson and her family attended the dedication of a statue raised in her honor at West Virginia State University.
Communities

W.Va. State U. mourns gifted alumni Katherine Johnson

by David Sibray

Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, pioneering NASA mathematician, and West Virginia State University alumna Katherine Johnson passed away today at age 101, according to university president Anthony L. Jenkins. Jenkins lauded Johnson as one of the school’s most gifted and generous graduates, for which the Katherine Johnson Plaza was named last year. “Today is a … Read more

The Tyler County Poor Farm is listed among West Virginia's most endangered historic properties.
Communities

Tyler development group looks to Ohio model for success

by Clyde Craig

A group of Tyler County residents is looking to a county in Ohio for an economic solution required to rebuild a similar historical landmark in West Virginia. Members of the Tyler Citizens Action Group met Wednesday at Middlebourne to discuss the success of a landmark in Cadiz, Ohio, that’s now a tourist attraction and community … Read more

Advertising to West Virginians
Communities

WVExplorer Magazine surpasses 2.5 million annual readers

by Bianca Bosworth

West Virginia Explorer Magazine has surpassed a rate of 2.5-million readers annually or an average of more than 7,000 readers daily, according to its publisher. The rate represents an increase in readership of more than 600 percent over the last three years, according to publisher David Sibray, who recently celebrated the magazine’s 20th anniversary. The … Read more