West Virginia
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AI overview
West Virginia is a state located in the eastern United States, situated in the Appalachian region. It matters as one of the nation's states and contributes to the country's geography, economy, and political representation.
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Key dates
- Inception
- 20 June 1863
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- U.S. state
- Part of
- South Atlantic states
- Named after
- west
- Demonym
- Okcident-Virginiano
- Country
- United States
- Located in
- United States
- Contains
- Wyoming County
- Continent
- North America
Article
West Virginia is a mountainous, landlocked state in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland to the northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 10th-smallest state by area and ranks as the 12th-least populous state, with a population of 1,769,979 residents. The capital and most populous city is Charleston with a population of 49,055.
West Virginia was admitted into the Union on June 20, 1863, and was a key border state during the American Civil War. It separated from Virginia and was one of two states (along with Nevada) admitted to the Union during the Civil War. Some of its residents held slaves, but most were propertied farmers, and the delegates provided for the gradual abolition of slavery in the new state constitution. The state legislature abolished slavery in the state, and at the same time ratified the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery nationally on February 3, 1865.