... The longest steel arch bridge in the United States is found in West Virginia.
... West Virginia is the only state to form by separation from a Confederate state.
Big mountains and rolling hills are just part and parcel of the West Virginian experience. Indeed, this is a state with a population of 1.8 million people. It also has a median household income of $43,469, putting it in 49th place.
West Virginia is trying to improve its economy and encourage more people to relocate to the state. Currently, the state is running the Ascend WV initiative, a relocation incentive program that is targeted at remote workers looking for a new place to live while still keeping their employment.
Major employers in the area include West Virginia University, BASF, Bayer, DuPont, PPG Industries, Lockheed Martin, and Bombardier Aerospace. The state is still known for its coal industry, but coal is declining year after year in favor of alternative energy sources. Alternative energy research is on the rise, including a focus on geothermal energy, wind farms, and solar energy.
West Virginia is roughly the halfway point along the Appalachian Trail; thru-hiking the trail is a challenging but rewarding experience for experienced hikers.
