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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.

Members of the Glenville State College Bluegrass Band, left to right, include Lydia Boyd, Alex Leport, Logan Phares, Isaac Putnum, Chase Arbogast, Nick Blake, Sammy Murphy, and George Lilly.
Communities

Glenville College to perform at World Bluegrass Conference

by Clyde Craig

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

Horses endangered by Hurricane Dorian are being admitted to West Virginia.
Communities

West Virginia welcoming animals endangered by Hurricane Dorian

by Will Reedy

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

The community of Point Pleasant extends into the distance from the junction of the Ohio (left) and Kanawha (right) rivers.
Communities

WVU selects Point Pleasant for community branding

by David Sibray

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

Solar Panels at Shepherd University
Communities

Shepherd installs state’s largest non-profit solar array

by Clyde Craig

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

Photographers on Whispering Spruce Trail, Monongahela National Forest, Allegheny Highlands Region
Communities

Shepherd University to use drones to help U.S. Forest Service

by Will Reedy

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

The West Virginia Tourism Office’s new television commercials took the industry’s top honor at the U.S. Travel Association’s Mercury Awards on Aug. 20, 2019.
Communities

W.Va. tourism commercials win top national award

by Bianca Bosworth

The West Virginia Tourism Office’s new television commercials took the industry’s top honor at the U.S. Travel Association’s Mercury Awards on Aug. 20, according to Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby. The Tourism Office and its renowned “Almost Heaven, West Virginia” campaign was recognized by the National Council of State Tourism Directors in the category Broadcast Advertising: … Read more

Professor Kathryn Williamson and students use the 14-inch telescope at White Hall.
Communities

WVU receives record $181 million-plus in research funding

by Bianca Bosworth

External funding for research and other sponsored programs at West Virginia University totaled $181.4 million this past fiscal year, a university record that bucks a downward trend that sees institutions grappling with dwindling resources. “Our record-breaking numbers reflect the commitment of our faculty, staff, and partners to continue elevating the research profile of West Virginia University,” … Read more