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West Virginia Almanac

The West Virginia Almanac presents a general overview of the State of West Virginia.

Category Information

Sources...

The United States Census Bureau, July 10, 2001.
West Virginia. W-X-Y-Z, Vol. 21. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 1988. 208. Print.
Carpenter, Alan, and Carl Provorse. The World Almanac of the U.S.A.. Mahwah: World Almanac Books, 1996. Print.

Admitted to Union June 20, 1863
Capital Charleston, [ Find out more... ]
Nickname Mountain State, Switzerland of America, Panhandle State, [ Find out more... ]
Motto Montani Semper Liberi, [ Find out more... ]
Total area including land and water 24,231 square miles Rank among states 41st
Land area 24,087 square miles Rank among states 41st
Water area 145 square miles Rank among states 50th
Greatest distance East to West 265 miles
Greatest distance North to South 237 miles
Highest point 4,863 feet (Spruce Knob) Rank among states 24th
Lowest point 240 feet (Potomac River) Rank among states 30th
Mean elevation 1,500 feet Rank among states 19th
Highest recorded temperature 112 degrees on July 10, 1936 at Martinsburg
Lowest recorded temperature -37 degrees on December 17, 1917 at Lewisburg
Highest monthly average temperature 85.6 degrees Rank among states 35th
Lowest monthly average temperature 23.9 degrees Rank among states 33rd
Average yearly precipitation (rain & snow) 44 inches Rank among states  
Population
(U.S. Census, April, 2000)
1,808,344 Rank among states 37th
Population per square mile
(Population/Land area)
78.08 Rank among states 29th
Ten largest cities by population
State Capital in red
(U.S. Census, April, 2000)

1. Charleston 53,421 6. Weirton 20,411
2. Huntington 51,475 7. Fairmont 19,097
3. Parkersburg 33,099 8. Beckley 17,254
4. Wheeling 31,419 9. Clarksburg 16,743
5. Morgantown 26,809 10. Martinsburg 14,972
Median age 35.4
Average lifetime (1979-1981) 72.84 Rank among states 43rd
Total crimes reported per 100,000 people (1992-1993) 2,532.6 Rank among states 51st
Violent crimes reported per 100,000 people (1992-1993) 208.4 Rank among states 48th
Property crimes reported per 100,000 people (1992-1993) 2,324.2 Rank among states 51st
Per capita income (2000)
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
$21,738 Rank among states 49th
Disposable per capita personal income (income minus taxes) (2000)
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
$19,156 Rank among states 49th
Median household income (1993) $22,421 Rank among states 50th

Additional Information

Encyclopedia of West Virginia

Encyclopedia of West Virginia, by Nancy Capace. 404 pages. Publisher: Scholarly Press (March 16, 2007)

The Encyclopedia of West Virginia contains detailed information on West Virginia: Symbols and Designations, Geography, Archaeology, State History, Local History on individual cities, towns and counties, Chronology of Historic Events in the State, Profiles of Governors, Political Directory, State Constitution, Bibliography of books about the state and an Index.

Visit the NETSTATE West Virginia State Book Store for additional West Virginia related books, including West Virginia Reference Books, History, Biographies and Cookbooks.

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