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.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Efforts to nominate a former coal-mining town in southern West Virginia to the National Register of Historic Places could spur economic growth there, according to a spokesman for three development agencies engaged in the effort. Once a mining boom-town, Helen, with a population near 125 residents, is among the last coal camps … Read more
Though whitewater rafting on the New River may have ended for the season, winter in the New River Gorge is an ideal time for woodland retreats, says a spokesman for one of the region’s chief outdoor-recreation resorts. Dave Arnold, vice-president of Adventures on the Gorge, says focus naturally shifts to growth and introspection during what … Read more
The spirit of West Virginia independence is helping fuel its growing crafts industry, says an online merchant and the founder of Our-WV.com. Paul Thompson, of Buckhannon, who launched the site that represents more than 110 Appalachian artisans six years ago, says more West Virginians are turning to the Web to market arts and crafts when … Read more
West Virginia’s traditional buck firearms season will start Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, and run through Dec. 2. Hunters should see plenty of deer this year due to the season opening close to the “rut,” or, mating season. November firearms deer season traditionally opens the Monday before Thanksgiving, so the season can start as early as Nov. 19 and as late as Nov. … Read more
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is urging U.S. Senators Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., to support the availability of historic tax credits utilized to attract investment in small towns nationwide. Many developers, property owners, and members of the alliance are concerned that tax reforms being proposed by Congress could eliminate credits … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is conducting a study of state residents’ opinions on and attitudes toward black bears and black bear management. According to Colin Carpenter, black bear project leader for the division, residents may receive a phone call from Responsive Management, a research firm contracted to conduct the study, asking them … Read more
Beech Fork State Park near Huntington, W.Va., will host its 2017 Heron Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14. A celebration of one of the park’s most notable residents, the event is also a day for family fun, including free pontoon boat and hayrides, children’s games, art and crafts, gospel music and other events and activities, according … Read more
Officials at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are urging motorists to use extra cautious while driving in the fall when vehicle collisions with deer tend to rise. More than 40 percent of deer-vehicle collisions take place during breeding season between October and December, according to Tyler Evans, a wildlife biologist with the division’s … Read more
New England will always be renowned for its autumn splendor, but West Virginia is taking the lead as a destination for fall scenery in the eastern United States. due to its situation between the colder north and warmer south. In the central Appalachian Mountains leaf change last longer and can be far more varient, say … Read more
An updated, online interactive map that provides valuable information on hunting and fishing adventures in West Virginia is now accessible on smartphones and tablets, according to Stephen McDaniel, director of the state Division of Natural Resources. Hunters will find the locations of license agents, check stations, public shooting ranges, wildlife management areas, Class-Q hunter-access roads … Read more
