West Virginia, a state of the American Union, the thirty-fifth in area and twenty-eighth in population, is the most irregular in form of all the states. Copyright 1892 in U.S. by J. B. Lippincott Company. Nearly all the boundary lines follow the courses of rivers or the crests of mountain-ranges. In the north a narrow wedge-shaped strip of land, called the 'Pan-handle,' projects along the Ohio River between the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The eastern edge of the 'Pan-handle' and a portion of the northern boundary adjoin Pennsylvania. The remaining portion of the northern boundary is formed by the Potomac River, which separates the state from Maryland; and that state also forms a part of the eastern boundary. Virginia lies to the south and south-east, and on the west are Kentucky and Ohio. Area, 24,780 sq. m.
In the north-east a small portion of the state belongs to the Shenandoah valley. Thence westward and south-west to the Big Sandy River stretches a narrow belt, called the 'mountain region,' formed by the western ridges of the Appalachian system. This portion of the state consists of sharp parallel ranges interspersed with narrow fertile valleys which increase in width toward the west. In the north the streams are tributary to the Potomac, but toward the south they frequently cut through the mountain-ridges in deep gorges, flowing toward the west or north-west to the Ohio River. The massive sandstone summits of the mountains have been so cracked and fissured by the original upheaval and by subsequent erosive action upon the softer strata beneath that the streams have carved cañons in some cases nearly 1000 feet in depth. To the west of this region lies a broad belt known as the 'hilly region,' a portion of the Appalachian or Cumberland plateau. It has suffered a vast amount of denudation, and its diversified structure is entirely the result of erosion. It comprises a multitude of hills with V-shaped depressions in which the streams flow, generally toward the west. If the streams follow a north and south course, they cross this elevated region in deeply eroded valleys and cañons. In some cases there are fertile bottom lands of considerable extent, and the hills above the valleys form broad flat-topped plains, surmounted, where some outcropping rocks have resisted the destructive agencies of rain and frost, by elevations which are higher than portions of the mountain region. There is a gradual descent toward the Ohio River, which, however, throughout much of its course flows between high sharp-backed hills. A large part of the state is well wooded, and the timber resources are of great importance. The climate is free from extremes, and is remarkably pure and healthful. The abundance and equable distribution of the rainfall, together with the general fertility of the soil, afford excellent opportunities for agriculture. In the mountain region there is an abundance of fine pasturage, and the annual product of butter and cheese is very large. The most valuable natural resources of West Virginia are its coal and iron. The great Appalachian coal-field passes southward from Pennsylvania and covers almost the entire state. In area it is much greater than the whole coal region of Great Britain and considerably larger than the Pennsylvania field.
The coal is of the highest quality, and embraces all grades of bituminous, steam, cooking, and gas coals. The erosion of the surface, already mentioned, has left the coal seams in such condition that they may be worked with great economy, and the increased facilities for transportation have greatly stimulated mining operations. West Virginia ranks third among the states in the output of coal (12,772,000 long tons in 1897), and second in the production of coke. The pig-iron and steel products are increasing, and in the manufacture of iron and steel nails the state holds a high rank. Salt and petroleum-oil are important natural products. In the south and south-east are numerous mineral springs, of which the White Sulphur Springs are the most widely known.
The state contains fifty-five counties, and returns four representatives to congress. The chief cities are Wheeling, Charleston, the capital, Huntington, and Parkersburg. There is an efficient system of free public schools and normal schools. At Morgantown is situated the state university, and there are numerous private schools and several institutions of higher learning. Until the time of the secession of Virginia that state included West Virginia; but the inhabitants of the northern and western counties remained loyal to the federal government, and in 1863 West Virginia became a separate state, and was admitted to the Union. Pop. (1870) 442,014; (1890) 762,794; (1900) 958,900.