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Capital: Charleston
State
abbreviation/Postal code: W.Va./WV
Governor: Joe Manchin
III, D (to Jan. 2009)
Lt. Governor/Senate
President: Earl Ray Tomblin, D (to Jan. 2009)
Senators: Robert C.
Byrd, D (to Jan. 2013); John D. �Jay� Rockefeller
IV, D (to Jan. 2009)
U.S. Representatives: 3
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Betty
Ireland (to Jan. 2009)
Treasurer: John D.
Perdue, D (to Jan. 2009)
Atty. General: Darrell
V. McGraw, Jr., D (to Jan. 2009)
Entered Union (rank):
June 20, 1863 (35)
Present constitution
adopted: 1872
Motto: Montani semper
liberi (Mountaineers are always free)
State symbols:
|
flower |
rhododendron
(1903) |
|
tree |
sugar maple
(1949) |
|
bird |
cardinal
(1949) |
|
animal |
black bear
(1973) |
|
colors |
blue and gold
(official) (1863) |
|
songs |
�West
Virginia, My Home Sweet Home,� �The West
Virginia Hills,� and �This Is My West
Virginia� (adopted by Legislature in 1947,
1961, and 1963 as official state songs) |
Nickname: Mountain State
Origin of name: In honor
of Elizabeth, �Virgin Queen� of England
10 largest cities (2005
est.): Charleston, 51,176; Huntington, 49,198;
Parkersburg, 32,020; Wheeling, 29,639; Morgantown,
28,292; Weirton, 19,544; Fairmont, 19,049; Beckley,
16,936; Clarksburg, 16,439; Martinsburg, 15,996
Land area: 24,077 sq mi.
(62,359 sq km)
Geographic center: In
Braxton Co., 4 mi. E of Sutton
Number of counties: 55
Largest county by population
and area: Kanawha, 193,559 (2005); Randolph,
1,040 sq mi.
State forests: 9 (79,502
ac.)
State parks: 37 (74,508
ac.)
Residents: West
Virginian
2005 resident population est.: 1,816,856
2000 resident census
population (rank): 1,808,344 (37). Male:
879,170 (48.6%); Female: 929,174 (51.4%).
White: 1,718,777 (95.0%); Black: 57,232
(3.2%); American Indian: 3,606 (0.2%);
Asian: 9,434 (0.5%); Other race: 3,107
(0.2%); Two or more races: 15,788 (0.9%);
Hispanic/Latino: 12,279 (0.7%). 2000 percent
population 18 and over: 77.7; 65 and over:
15.3; median age: 38.9.
State
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