West Virginia is the only state to be formed after the American Civil War. It joined the Union in 1863, after separating from Virginia. Regarding its characterization, West Virginia belongs to the Appalachian area, even though many citizens consider it to be a Southern state, as it is under the Mason-Dixon Line.
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West Virginia is the only state to be formed after the American Civil War. It joined the Union in 1863, after separating from Virginia. Regarding its characterization, West Virginia belongs to the Appalachian area, even though many citizens consider it to be a Southern state, as it is under the Mason-Dixon Line.
Ranking 41st in size, West Virginia has an area of 24,244 square miles and a population of 1,816,856 inhabitants (estimated in 2005). It is bordered by the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland and Virginia and by the Ohio and Potomac rivers.
The climate of the area ranges from hot humid summers to milder winters, even though conditions may vary. It is cooler in the mountainous area of the state than the lower areas: temperatures in winter range from 28º F to 43º and in the summer from 68º F to 76º F. Precipitations occur more often from spring to fall and it is also a foggy territory.
The economy of West Virginia is far from being well developed: it ranks 3rd with per capita income. Its main industries are coal mining, oil drilling and farming; this activity is being less performed due to the geographic conditions of the area.
The territory is covered by numerous interstate highways and has many tunnels and bridges, the most famous being the New River Gorge Bridge. Moreover, there are more than 37,000 public roads and many railways have fallen into disuse due to the increase in automobile traffic.
This state is ideal for those who are interested in practicing outdoor activities such as skiing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, fishing, bicycling, golf, hiking, and hunting. Other attractions visitors may take into account are the West Virginia State Park, the Blennerhassett Historical State Park, the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park and the Capitol Music Hall.
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