Communities

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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.

Solar Panels at Shepherd University

Shepherd installs state’s largest non-profit solar array

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

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

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.

W.Va. tourism commercials win top national award

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.

WVU receives record $181 million-plus in research funding

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

Students at Alderson Broaddus University cheer the Battlers at George Byrer Field.

Alderson Broaddus U. welcomes 13 new faculty members

Alderson Broaddus University this week welcomed 13 new faculty members to its scenic campus overlooking the Tygart Valley River at Philippi, West Virginia. The private, four-year institution founded in 1871 has been a leader and innovator in higher education, notably in health and natural sciences and stands out as one of the most innovative health … Read more

McMurran Hall at Shepherd University fronts East German Street in historic Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Princeton Review ranks Shepherd among best in southeast

Shepherd University has been ranked among the best colleges in the southeastern U.S. by The Princeton Review, which has ranked 656 colleges across five U.S. regions, according to provost Dr. Scott Beard. “This recognition showcases Shepherd’s academic programs, student support services, and campus events for our current and future student body,” Beard said of the … Read more

Chris Cline photographed for Forbes in June 2017 by Jamel Toppin. Photo courtesy W.Va. Hall of Fame.

Business Hall of Fame to honor Cline, Bayless, Sheppard, Vecellio

The West Virginia Business Hall of Fame will posthumously honor coal industry billionaire and philanthropist Chris Cline and three other state business leaders who have led widespread growth—Bill Bayless of American Campus Communities, Judy K. Sheppard of Professional Services of America, and Leo A. Vecellio, Jr., of Vecellio Group. W. Marston “Marty” Becker, chairman of … Read more