01
Location
Neighboring states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia.
Local timeCharleston ·
U.S. States / South · Card 049
West Virginia
West Virginia is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Charleston.
Find West Virginia
● State capital · Gold highlights West Virginia.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Charleston
- Postal abbreviation
- WV
- Population
- 1,766,147July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 62,756 km²24,230 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- June 20, 1863State number 35
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
West Virginia in context
Gold shows West Virginia. The dot marks Charleston.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
New River Gorge protects a deeply cut river gorge and Appalachian forest landscape.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 62,259 km² of land and 497 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
The state coat of arms and rhododendron wreath on white, surrounded by a blue border.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · New River Gorge
History & statehood
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War and entered the Union in 1863. The new state initially contained 48 counties. Congress formally added Berkeley and Jefferson counties in 1866.
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West Virginia separated from Virginia
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Statehood · State number 35
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Congress confirmed addition of Berkeley and Jefferson counties
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, government and government enterprises was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included educational services, health care, and social assistance, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, and real estate and rental and leasing.
Total economic output was $109.3 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Government and government enterprises: 14.9%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 12.3%
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction: 12.0%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 10.9%
Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.
Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2
Population & economic trends
Population, 2020–2025
Millions of people1.772025 · millions of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,791,670 |
| 2021 | 1,785,921 |
| 2022 | 1,774,003 |
| 2023 | 1,770,036 |
| 2024 | 1,767,402 |
| 2025 | 1,766,147 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars83.172025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
View data table
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 71,823.8 |
| 2011 | 73,175.2 |
| 2012 | 73,124.5 |
| 2013 | 73,949.0 |
| 2014 | 74,111.3 |
| 2015 | 74,261.4 |
| 2016 | 73,513.3 |
| 2017 | 75,172.4 |
| 2018 | 77,406.5 |
| 2019 | 77,162.2 |
| 2020 | 74,729.6 |
| 2021 | 76,230.8 |
| 2022 | 77,549.1 |
| 2023 | 80,364.9 |
| 2024 | 82,716.5 |
| 2025 | 83,170.7 |
Government
West Virginia has three branches of state government. The governor leads the executive branch. A Senate and House of Delegates form the legislature, which passes state laws and budgets. State courts interpret and apply the law.
Sources: USAGov · West Virginia
Knowledge check
Three questions about West Virginia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of West Virginia?
Sources & notes
Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.
Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data
The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.