Wild and Wonderful
West Virginia
"The Mountain State"
West Virginia became the 35th state of the union on
June 20, 1863. It was the only state to be born out
of the armed conflict of the Civil War.
State Motto
MONTANI SEMPER LIBERI
(Mountaineers are always free)
If you're looking for flat land in West Virginia, you probably won't have much luck. West Virginia is part of a large mountain system called the Appalachians. Mountains and steep hills rise from one end of the state to the other, which is why it is called the "Mountain State", and why the residents call themselves Mountaineers.
West Virginia is bordered by five states.
If you look at the map you'll see that they are Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland to the northeast, Virginia on the southeast, Kentucky on the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest.
Also notice the strange shape. It's easy to identify because it is the only state with two panhandles. They're called the Eastern and Northern Panhandles...(what else?).
West Virginia State Flag
A close up view of the state flag reveals two men who
represent farming and mining. Between them is a rock
containing the date of June 20, 1863, the day W.Va.
became a state. Also below the men lay two rifles
with a
"Liberty Cap" on top of them. The banner ribbon
below the rifles display the state motto
"Mountaineers Are Always Free". There is a wreath of
Rhododendron, (the state flower), surrounding the
picture with a red ribbon atop containing the name of
the state. The background is white bordered in dark
blue.
THOSE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS
The State Seal
The Rhododendron, or "big laurel", is the state
flower.
On January 23, 1903, this flower was selected by the
Legislature following a vote by the students in the
public schools. It has large dark evergreen leaves
and pale pink or white blooms, mottled with either
red or yellow flecks.
The State Fish is the Brook Trout.
It is native to W.Va. waters and does best in cold,
small spring-fed streams. It is probably one of the
most sought after fish as it puts up a good fight.
The Black Bear is the state animal.
The Black Bear, or Ursus americanus, is actually
deeply tinted with brown. It lives primarily in the
eastern mountain region of West Virginia, and still
roams freely throughout 36 states and Canada. The
mother bear will have one or two cubs each weighing
about eight ounces. The adult then reaches a maximum
average of 250 pounds.
The state tree is the Sugar Maple.
State Song
As I said before, West Virginia was the only state to be born out of the armed conflict of the Civil War. As such, it has a history rich in that particular war. If you don't believe it, just look at this map I found.
Well, I'd say that's enough "educashun" for now.
Let's jump in our old Chevy and head for the Northern Panhandle.
