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West Virginia  
General Information

  West Virginia, General Information

Nickname: Mountain State

State bird: Cardinal

State flower: Rosebay Rhododendron

Capital: Charleston

Date of admission to the Union: June 20 1863

Population: 1,815,354 (official estimate 2004)

Population density: 28.9 per sq km

2003 total overseas arrivals: Under 38,000

Time: Eastern (GMT - 5). Daylight Saving Time is observed.

The State: Surrounded by the Appalachians, the mountain State of West Virginia has a history of poverty and physical isolation. Today, however, tourists flock to this beautiful region to enjoy historic sightseeing and an abundance of recreational sports, including skiing and other wintersports, mountain-biking, whitewater rafting, hiking and fishing. At the historic town of Harper’s Ferry, the site of John Brown’s rebellion in 1859, numerous fine museums run exhibits on slavery and the Civil War. More than 200 festivals, fairs, special events, tournaments and races celebrate and showcase the culture and heritage of West Virginia.
Whitewater rafting is a favourite activity at the New River Gorge National River, which winds its way through the Appalachians. The Monongahela National Forest occupies a vast area in the eastern part of the State and includes the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Home to bears and deer, Monongahela offers over 500 campsites and miles of hiking trails. West Virginia also boasts some of the nation’s best State parks, with good naturalist programmes and recreational facilities. These include four resort State parks, complete with lodges, cabins, swimming pools, championship golf courses, restaurants and additional amenities. Other attractions include the State Capitol in Charleston, one of the finest Italian Renaissance buildings in the USA.