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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.

Governor Jim Justice today signed a bill that established Bluefield State College.
Communities

After 125 years, Justice signs bill founding Bluefield State

by Clyde Craig

One hundred and twenty-five years after the bill that established Bluefield State College was penned, Governor Jim Justice today signed the legislation during an event at the West Virginia capitol. Justice made the ceremonial gesture alongside college administrators, staff, students, and alumni on hand at the Governor’s Reception Room in Charleston, West Virginia. Penned in … Read more

A new forestry partnership at Glenville State College is providing internships in the Monongahela National Forest.
Communities

Glenville, U.S. Forest Service to offer forestry internships

by Will Reedy

The Glenville State College Department of Land Resources, the GSC Foundation, and the United States Forest Service have partnered to offer internship opportunities for students within the Natural Resource Management program. An agreement was signed between the institutions to formalize this year’s initiative, according to Dr. Rico Gazal, professor of forestry and chair of the … Read more

One of the first Tru by Hilton hotel properties in West Virginia is expected to open in Beckley, West Virginia (WV).
Communities

Beckley tourism leaders welcome Hilton hotel, growth

by David Sibray

Tourism industry leaders in Beckley, West Virginia, say they’re excited to welcome a Hilton-brand hotel to the community’s lodging mix, a sign of continued tourism growth and stability. The new hotel, part of the Tru by Hilton brand launched by Hilton Worldwide, arrives as the area is growing as a group travel destination, according to … Read more

Poultry is now helping feed families in rugged Wyoming County in southern West Virginia. (WVU Photo)
Communities

WVU, food pantry in Wyoming County expand poultry project

by Hannah Booth

ITMANN, W.Va. — Nestled among some of the steepest mountains in southern West Virginia, Wyoming County is weathering equally steep economic struggles. Almost wholly reliant on a declining coal-mining industry, it’s seen its population nearly halve since 1950, and many residents struggle to make ends meet. When Arnold Simonse kept seeing the same families every … Read more

Farm manager Susanna Wheeler tends a garden at New Roots Community Farm near Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Communities

New River Gorge farm to launch online farmer’s market

by David Sibray

Technology is providing a boost for farming and agritourism in the northern New River Gorge Region, thanks to a partnership between a central-Appalachian agricultural collective and a community farm initiative near Fayetteville, West Virginia. Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective will host a community dinner and launch party at Arrowhead Bike Farm near Fayetteville on March 6 … Read more

A farmer surveys pasture and cropland in eastern West Virginia.
Communities

W.Va. State U. to host spatial analysis workshop for farmers

by Clyde Craig

The extension service of West Virginia State University will host a workshop series on sustainable production management through spatial analysis beginning Feb. 25, 2020. The series is ideal for producers who own or lease land for agricultural purposes, according to Dr. Annette G. Ericksen, assistant director for agriculture and natural resources at the university. “This … Read more

A maintenance worker inspects a wrecked PRT at West Virginia University.
Communities

PRT track at WVU closes after Morgantown rockslide

by David Sibray

A rockslide that blocked Monongahela Boulevard and the public rapid transit track in Morgantown, West Virginia, today sent two West Virginia University students to the hospital. The highway and transit, also known as the PRT, was struck by boulders that had tumbled off a cliff that overlooks the Monongahela River on the university’s Evansdale campus. … Read more

Medical students train in acupuncture at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Communities

Osteopathic school trains in acupuncture technique

by Clyde Craig

An old practice is being put to new use in the Mountain State, thanks in part to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine at Lewisburg, West Virginia. The school is training members of approved health-related professions to use the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, also known as acudetox, a form of acupuncture in which … Read more

A wildlife biologist surveys a glade in West Virginia.
Communities

Wildlife management major coming to Glenville State

by Will Reedy

The Glenville State College Department of Land Resources will offer a Wildlife Management major within their Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management Program beginning fall 2020. The major is designed for students who want to pursue a career in wildlife management or pursue an advanced degree in wildlife, according to Dr. Brian Perkins, associate … Read more