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Communities in West Virginia offers 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, along with 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.

West Virginia Hunting Fishing
Communities

Redesigned interactive hunting and fishing map of West Virginia available

by Will Reedy

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

West Virginia Maple Syrup
Communities

Statewide seminars to boost booming W.Va. maple-syrup industry

by David Sibray

To meet the demands of West Virginia’s growing maple-syrup industry, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the W.Va. Maple Syrup Producers Association are teaming up to offer an introductory maple seminar for aspiring entrepreneurs. Last year, West Virginia’s maple industry saw a 33-percent increase in production, according Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt, and a … Read more

Five Springs Farmstead
Communities

Landscape architect opens farm retreat near New River Gorge

by David Sibray

A botanist and landscape architect has invested her knowledge in a farmhouse retreat near the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia, an ecosystem she values among the world’s most precious. Accommodations at Pamela Bailey’s Five Springs Farm invite guests to immerse themselves in a peaceful environment in which light and air are plentiful and … Read more

West Virginia Otter
Communities

W.Va. DNR: be wary when encountering river otters

by Will Reedy

Two people recently were bitten by a river otter while boating on Dunkard Creek in Monongalia County near Mason-Dixon Historical Park, according to a spokesman for the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. Division officials are reminding the public to exercise caution around these aquatic mammals. River otters have large home ranges in and along many … Read more

The legendary overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest provides a view of more than 30 miles across the valley of the Monongahela River. (Photo courtesy W.Va. State Parks)
Communities

Migratory Bird Day being celebrated May 13 at Coopers Rock

by Will Reedy

The Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia will celebrate Morgantown Migratory Bird Day on May 13 at Coopers Rock State Forest, according to forest officials. The celebration begins at 7:30 a.m. with a guided bird walk on the Raven Rock Trail. Afterward, participants may gather in the pavilion near the Cheat canyon overlook to enjoy coffee, a … Read more

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Communities

Harpers Ferry presents heirloom gardening program

by David Sibray

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites the public to attend its heirloom gardening program “City Farming: Food in the Backyard” on Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. During the Industrial Revolution and before the mass production of processed foods ordinary citizens often depended on small kitchen gardens for sustenance right … Read more

Hiker At Kanawha State Forest in West Virginia
Communities

Saturday birding hikes return to Kanawha State Forest

by Will Reedy

The popular “Birding Around the Sun” nature hikes will return to Kanawha State Forest this May, and, for the third year, the hikes will be led by Sara Miller, a seasonal naturalist for two years who’s returning as a volunteer naturalist this year. Miller has recorded many species seen and heard in the forest since the beginning … Read more