About West Virginia

West Virginia, known as The Mountain State, is a state of the United States.

The Census Bureau considers West Virginia part of the South, because of the state being below the Mason-Dixon Line. Many in the state's Northern Panhandle, with the northernmost point of the state about the same latitude as central New Jersey, feel a greater affinity for Pittsburgh, with those in the Eastern Panhandle feel a greater connection with the Washington, D.C. suburbs in western Maryland and Virginia. Lastly, the most southern area of West Virginia, which many West Virginian's consider themselves southern, is only 70 miles north of Tennessee and 60 miles north of North Carolina. West Virginia broke away from Virginia during the American Civil War. The state is noted for its coal mining heritage, and union organizing mine wars in particular.

The state has a rich, stark beauty reflecting its topography. Tourist sites include the New River Gorge Bridge (where on Bridge Day the federal government, which controls the landing site, allows BASE jumping [1] from the bridge), as well as many national and state parks. It is also home to the Green Bank Telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

The U.S. Navy has named a series of ships USS West Virginia in honor of this state.