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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.

Communities nationwide have used historic tax credits to transform aging downtowns into centers of housing, commerce, tourism, and community life.
Communities

West Virginia-backed Senate bill could spur new investment in historic downtowns across America

by Bianca Bosworth

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Historic buildings, from New England mill towns to Appalachian downtowns, could become easier to restore under bipartisan legislation that would expand one of the nation’s most successful redevelopment incentives. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has joined lawmakers from both parties in sponsoring the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2025, … Read more

An architect's rendering shows the new Railyard Event and Conference Center in Elkins, a $11.6 million facility expected to attract conferences, weddings, entertainment events, and new visitor spending to West Virginia's Allegheny Highlands region.
Communities

$11.6 million railyard venue opening in Elkins to draw visitors to the Allegheny Highlands

by David Sibray

ELKINS, W.Va. — A new $11.6 million event and conference center, scheduled to open this summer, is expected to bring conferences, weddings, entertainment, and increased tourism to downtown Elkins, marking one of the largest recent investments in Randolph County’s hospitality industry. The Railyard Event & Conference Center, a 28,000-square-foot venue built on the site of Elkins’ … Read more

West Virginia strawberries: The state's climate and geography have long provided favorable conditions for highly perishable strawberries.
Communities

WVU researcher develops robot that could transform West Virginia strawberry farming

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A groundbreaking robotic harvesting technology, developed with the help of a West Virginia University researcher, could one day transform how strawberries and other delicate fruits are grown and harvested in West Virginia, reducing food waste while helping farmers deliver higher-quality produce to consumers. The innovation comes as strawberry production continues to grow in … Read more

West Virginia Fireflies: While fireflies have struggled in many places, West Virginia remains one of the strongest refuges for the insects in the eastern United States.
Communities

Why West Virginia remains one of America’s best places to see fireflies

by David Sibray

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Few summer experiences are as deeply woven into the culture of the eastern United States as watching fireflies flicker across a meadow after sunset. For generations, children spent warm evenings chasing “lightning bugs” through fields, collecting the glowing insects in mason jars before releasing them into the darkness. Those memories remain vivid … Read more

Rural Women Entrepreneurs: The findings may be particularly relevant to West Virginia, where many communities are rural, and small-business ownership is vital to local economies.
Communities

Rural women entrepreneurs fuel economic growth in America’s small towns, WVU study finds

by Bianca Bosworth

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Rural women entrepreneurs may make up a relatively small share of business owners across the United States, but new research from West Virginia University suggests their impact on local economies is far greater than many communities realize. The study, conducted by researchers at West Virginia University and the University of Maine, found that rural women … Read more

Larvae of the New World Screwworm fly burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing serious, often deadly damage. (USDA Image)
Communities

W.Va. agriculture officials monitoring screwworm after first U.S. detection

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia agriculture officials say they are closely monitoring the recent detection of the destructive New World screwworm in Texas and have emergency response plans in place should the pest spread beyond the Southwest. The W.Va. Department of Agriculture in Charleston issued a statement Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed … Read more