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 West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association has announced two statewide “Maple Syrup Days” to celebrate during the 2018 maple season, according to the W.Va. Department of Agriculture. On Saturday, February 24, and Saturday, March 17, sixteen sugar shacks and maple operations around the Mountain State will open their doors to the public and retail … Read more
Just when it seems winter will never end, the W.Va. Department of Agriculture is hosting two farmers’ markets to support growers and marketers whose livelihoods are being sustained by innovations in agriculture. The use of high tunnels and other advances is allowing West Virginia farmers to extend growing seasons and provide products year-round, which is … Read more
Winter is the only season in which several remarkable species are present in West Virginia, and nearly every storm brings new avian visitors. One thing is certain: you’ll never see these rarities if you’re not out there looking. Get out, search a little, and you could be greatly rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Snowy Owls … Read more
Four new produce records were established in 2017 in West Virginia, the state Department of Agriculture announced today. A carrot, cucumber, cantaloupe, and pumpkin raised the bar for farmers statewide, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “We’re the only state in the region that has this type of program. We see it as a … Read more
Do you have a favorite West Virginia ramp dinner or festival you’d like to share with the public? We’d like to hear from you. Now in its fifth year of publication, our guide to 2018 Ramp Feasts and Festivals is annually visited by more than 10,000 visitors, according to publisher and editor-in-chief David Sibray, who encourages readers to share the list … Read more
The fourteenth annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference begins on February 21 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia. “West Virginia has over 20,000 farms. Most of those operations are small. This gives West Virginia one of the highest percentages of small farms in the country,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “These … Read more
West Virginia’s official weather-predicting groundhog, French Creek Freddie will leave his den Feb. 2 to predict the approach of spring and is inviting visitors to join him at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center at French Creek south of Buckhannon, West Virginia. “We’re excited to see everyone come out this year, including those who travel … Read more
Hunters in West Virginia harvested 3,160 black bears during the combined 2017 archery and firearms seasons, which is the second highest recorded bear kill in state history. Due to more abundant mast production in 2017, the Division of Natural Resources expected a decrease in the archery harvest and an increase in the December firearms harvest … Read more
Preliminary counts indicate hunters harvested 108,160 white-tailed deer in West Virginia during the 2017 hunting seasons. The 2017 harvest was four percent below the 2016 harvest of 112,384 deer and 15 percent below the five-year average of 127,803, according to a report published today by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. A breakdown of the … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is requesting original color wildlife paintings for the 2019 edition of the award-winning West Virginia Wildlife Calendar. The deadline for submitting artwork is Feb. 19, 2018. Paintings may depict popular game and fish species, or feature the state’s other wildlife, such as snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, bats, songbirds, … Read more
