West Virginia, the Mountain State


Land area: 24,087 sq. mi. (41)
Population (2000): 1,808,344 (37)
Population density: 75.08 per sq. mi. (29)
U.S. Representatives (2003-12): 3
Entered Union: 20-Jun-1863 (35)

It’s enjoyable even to drive West Virginia on the freeways, because you’re passing through some pretty territory. In 2000, I finally got to do some exploration away from the interstates, including parts of the Midland Trail from Charleston to White Sulphur Springs and the Falls of Hills Creek. The Mountain State is deserving of its slogan: Wild and Wonderful. Maybe John Denver had it right when he called it “almost heaven”.

No. of Counties I’ve Visited: 55 of 55

County Pop. (2000)     Latest Visit   County Seat Visited?
Barbour 15,557 29-Nov-2002 Philippi yes
Berkeley 75,905 26-Aug-2007 Martinsburg yes
Boone 25,535 5-Jul-2003 Madison
Braxton 14,702 31-Jul-2005 Sutton
Brooke 25,447 11-Aug-1996 Wellsburg
Cabell 96,784 30-Jul-2005 Huntington yes
Calhoun 7,582 9-Aug-1997 Grantsville yes
Clay 10,330 31-Jul-2005 Clay
Doddridge 7,403 6-Jul-2003 West Union yes
Fayette 47,579 12-Aug-2001 Fayetteville yes
Gilmer 7,160 31-Jul-2005 Glenville
Grant 11,299 6-Jul-2003 Petersburg yes
Greenbrier 34,453 29-Nov-2002 Lewisburg yes
Hampshire 20,203 12-Jul-1998 Romney
Hancock 32,667 28-Aug-1999 New Cumberland
Hardy 12,669 29-Nov-2002 Moorefield yes
Harrison 68,652 31-Jul-2005 Clarksburg yes
Jackson 28,000 6-Jul-2003 Ripley yes
Jefferson 42,190 26-Aug-2007 Charles Town yes
Kanawha 200,073 31-Jul-2005 Charleston yes
Lewis 16,919 31-Jul-2005 Weston
Lincoln 22,108 5-Jul-2003 Hamlin
Logan 37,710 5-Jul-2003 Logan
McDowell 27,329 5-Aug-2000 Welch yes
Marion 56,598 31-Jul-2005 Fairmont yes
Marshall 35,519 28-Dec-1996 Moundsville yes
Mason 25,957 4-Jul-1994 Point Pleasant yes
Mercer 62,980 12-Aug-2001 Princeton yes
Mineral 27,078 6-Jul-2003 Keyser yes
Mingo 28,253 5-Jul-2003 Williamson yes
Monongalia 81,866 31-Jul-2005 Morgantown yes
Monroe 14,583 29-Nov-2002 Union
Morgan 14,943 12-Jul-1998 Berkeley Springs yes
Nicholas 26,562 29-Nov-2002 Summersville yes
Ohio 47,427 19-Aug-2007 Wheeling yes
Pendleton 8,196 29-Nov-2002 Franklin
Pleasants 7,514 28-Dec-1996 St. Marys yes
Pocahontas 9,131 31-Jul-2000 Merlinton
Preston 29,334 9-Aug-1997 Kingwood
Putnam 51,589 30-Jul-2005 Winfield
Raleigh 79,220 12-Aug-2001 Beckley yes
Randolph 28,262 29-Nov-2002 Elkins yes
Ritchie 10,343 6-Jul-2003 Harrisville yes
Roane 15,446 31-Jul-2005 Spencer yes
Summers 12,999 31-Jul-2000 Hinton
Taylor 16,089 6-Jul-2003 Grafton
Tucker 7,321 6-Jul-2003 Parsons yes
Tyler 9,592 28-Dec-1996 Middlebourne
Upshur 23,404 29-Nov-2002 Buckhannon yes
Wayne 42,903 30-Jul-2005 Wayne
Webster 9,719 29-Nov-2002 Webster Springs yes
Wetzel 17,693 28-Dec-1996 New Martinsville yes
Wirt 5,873 6-Jul-2003 Elizabeth yes
Wood 87,986 6-Jul-2003 Parkersburg yes
Wyoming 25,708 5-Aug-2000 Pineville yes

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