West Virginia
“The Mountain State”
What Makes West Virginia Beautiful
West Virginia is almost heaven indeed, a deeply forested mountain state where the New River Gorge Bridge arcs over one of the oldest rivers on Earth, whitewater rapids churn through Appalachian gorges, and Seneca Rocks tower above the Monongahela National Forest. Its autumn foliage rivals anywhere in the eastern United States.
Key Metrics
1.8M
Population
$89.5B
GDP
+2.2%
GDP Growth (5yr)
$51.2K
Median Income
9.8%
Tax Burden
History
John Brown raids the federal armory at Harpers Ferry
Admitted as the 35th state during the Civil War, splitting from Virginia
Battle of Blair Mountain, largest labor uprising in US history
National Radio Astronomy Observatory established at Green Bank
New River Gorge designated as America's newest national park
Top Cities
Charleston
47K
State capital; Kanawha River; chemical industry
Huntington
45K
Marshall University; Ohio River city
Morgantown
31K
West Virginia University; growing tech scene
Parkersburg
28K
Ohio River city; Blennerhassett Island
Wheeling
26K
Ohio Valley city; National Road heritage
Economy & Industry
Core Industries
Natural Resources
Energy Portfolio
Budget & Fiscal Health
$16.5B
State Budget
$15.8B
State Revenue
$-0.7B
Fiscal Balance
Social Indicators
17.1%
Poverty Rate
22%
College Degree
5.3%
Uninsured
315/100K
Crime Rate
Where is West Virginia Headed?
GDP Projections ($B)
| Scenario | 1yr | 5yr | 10yr | 25yr | 50yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic | $90B | $92B | $95B | $103B | $119B |
| Baseline | $90B | $91B | $94B | $100B | $111B |
| Pessimistic | $90B | $91B | $92B | $96B | $102B |
Political Landscape
R+22