West Virginia: State Flag, Bird and Facts
West Virginia's state bird is the northern cardinal, and the rhododendron is the state flower.
- Capital
- Charleston
- Nickname
- Mountain State
- State bird
- Northern cardinal
- State flower
- Rhododendron
- State tree
- Sugar maple
- Admitted
- June 20, 1863
- Population
- 1,793,716 (2020 census)
- Motto
- Montani semper liberi
- Region
- South
- Area
- 62,755 km² (24,230 sq mi)
- Highest point
- Spruce Knob (4,862 ft)
- Borders
- Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
About West Virginia
Mountains shape everything in West Virginia. The Allegheny and Cumberland ranges cover the land, sliced by river valleys like the Kanawha and Potomac, and that rugged ground kept the area cut off from eastern Virginia. When Virginia seceded in 1861, some western counties refused to follow, and the split produced a new state in 1863. It is the only state formed by breaking away from a Confederate state.
Railroads later opened the coalfields, and by the early 20th century the state was a top coal producer. Charleston is the capital and the largest city. The white flag has a blue border, with the coat of arms in the center, a wreath of rhododendron around it, and a red ribbon above that names the state. It is the only state flag with crossed rifles.
Did you know?
- Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, at 4,862 feet.
- West Virginia has an official pledge to its state flag, adopted in 1977.
- West Virginia has also been nicknamed Almost Heaven and the Switzerland of America.
Questions about West Virginia
Why are there rifles on the West Virginia flag?
The crossed rifles honor the struggle for liberty West Virginia waged in the Civil War, when it joined the Union as the 35th state.
When did West Virginia become a state?
West Virginia was admitted on June 20, 1863, during the Civil War.
Sources
- Wikidata Q1371, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: West Virginia, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Flag of West Virginia, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.