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.
The sunflower has long been one of the most familiar garden plants in West Virginia, and many of its uses were passed along to early settlers by their Native American neighbors. Members of the sunflower species can be found growing in the wild in the Mountain State, and I was lucky to find a pasture … Read more
West Virginia leads the U.S. in the number of small farmers, and a team of researchers at West Virginia University is hoping to help them increase the safety of the local foods sold to communities. Researchers are developing a three-step wash process to help mitigate food safety risks associated with locally grown fresh produce in … Read more
To the casual observer, Japanese stiltgrass appears as a harmless, leafy-green plant that blends into the majestic scenery during a weekend hike, but plant biologists like Craig Barrett know better. “I’d visited sites to study endangered orchids in West Virginia over the past few years, and I’d noticed Japanese stiltgrass creeping in and becoming a … Read more
Alderson Broaddus University received recognition this week as the highest-ranking West Virginia college or university in two categories published by U.S. News & World Report. The school was ranked first among West Virginia colleges overall and 39th among the 2020 “Best Regional Colleges in the South.” The report compares institutions based on performance across a … Read more
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
