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Capital: Charleston

State Nickname: Mountain State

State Bird: Cardinal

State Flower: Big Rhododendron<

Admitted to the Union: June 20, 1863

Governors

June 20, 1863 to February 26, 1869:

Arhtur I. Boreman*

* Resigned from office

February 27, 1869 to March 3, 1869:

Daniel D. T. Farnsworth

March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1871:

William E. Stevenson

March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1877:

John Jeremiah Jacob

March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881:

Henry Mason Matthews

March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1885:

Jacob B. Jackson

March 4, 1885 to February 5, 1890:

Emanuel Willis Wilson*

* Wilson remained in office for almost one year beyond the expiration of his term pending a settlement of the disputed 1888 election

february 6, 1890 to March 3, 1893:

Aretas Brooks Fleming

March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1897:

William A. MacCorkle

March 4, 1897 to March 4, 1901:

George W. Atkinson

March 4, 1901 to March 4, 1905:

Albert B. White

March 4, 1905 to March 4, 1909:

William M. O. Dawson

March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1913:

William E. Glasscock

March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1917:

Henry D. Hatfield

March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1921:

John J. Cornwell

March 4, 1921 to March 4, 1925:

Ephriam F. Morgan

March 4, 1925 to March 4, 1929:

Howard M. Gore

March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1933:

William G. Conley

March 4, 1933 to January 18, 1937:

Herman G. Kump

January 18, 1937 to January 13, 1941:

Homer A. Holt

January 15, 1941 to January 15, 1945:

Matthew M. Neely

January 15, 1945 to January 17, 1949:

Clarence W. Meadows

January 17, 1949 to January 19, 1953:

Okey L. Patterson

January 19, 1953 to January 14, 1957:

William C. Marland

January 14, 1957 to January 16, 1961:

Cecil H. Underwood

January 16, 1961 to January 18, 1965:

William W. Barron

January 18, 1865 to January 13, 1969:

Hulett C. Smith

January 13, 1969 to January 17, 1977:

Arch A. Moore, Jr.

January 17, 1977 to January 14, 1985:

John D. Rockefeller

January 16, 1989 to January 13, 1997:

Gaston Caperton

January 13, 1997 to 2001:

Cecil H. Underwood

2001 --

Bob Wise

 
State Song
West Virginia Hills
Lyrics by Mrs. Ellen King
Music by H. E. Engle

Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how grand,
With their summits bathed in glory, Like our Prince Immanuel's Land!
Is it any wonder then, That my heart with rapture thrills,
As I stand once more with loved ones On those West Virginia hills?

Chorus

Oh, the hills, beautiful hills, How I love those West Virginia hills!
If o'er sea o'er land I roam, Still I'll think of happy home,
And my friends among the West Virginia hills.

Oh, the West Virginia hills! Where my childhood hours were passed,
Where I often wandered lonely, And the future tried to cast;
Many are our visions bright, Which the future ne'er fulfills;
But how sunny were my daydreams On those West Virginia hills!

Chorus

Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchang'd they seem to stand,
With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty's Land!
Many changes I can see, Which my heart with sadness fills;
But no changes can be noticed In those West Virginia hills.

Chorus

Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu.
In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you;
In the evening time of life, If my Father only wills,
I shall still behold the vision Of those West Virginia hills.


Click Left Triangle to Play Melody
State Population

1870: 442,014618,457

1880: 618,457

1890: 762,794

1900: 958,800

1910: 1,221,119

1920: 1,463,701

1930: 1,729,205

1940: 1,901,974

1950: 2,005,552

1960: 1,860,421

1970: 1,744,237

1980: 1,949,644

1990: 1,793,477

2000: 1,808,350


State Capitol Building 1907