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West Virginia State Name Origin:

West Virginia state quarter - click to see all state quarters

West Virginia became the 35th state on June 20, 1863
(see STATEHOOD ORDER). West Virginia's state quarter fetaures the
New River Gorge bridge (stretching 53 miles, the New River Gorge area
is protected by the National Park Service and home to some of the
country's best whitewater rafting). Public domain image on Wikipedia.
See all 50 STATE QUARTERS.

What does West Virginia mean? Although the name "Kanawha" was considered, West Virginia was chosen to name the western counties of Virginia which refused to secede from the Union in 1863.

"Virginia" is in honor of England's Queen Elizabeth I. In the early 1600's, all of North America that wasn't Spanish or French was called Virginia after "The Virgin Queen," and the earliest English colonial expeditions were sent by the Virginia Company of London. See name origins for all 50 states.

New River Gorge in West Virginia - click to see all state name origins
New River Gorge in West Virginia (The "New River" is actually
one of the oldest rivers in the world) - photo © Zach Alsgaard on Flickr -
noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works
New River Gorge bridge in West Virginia - click to see all state name origins
New River Gorge bridge in West Virginia - photo © ds4832 on Flickr - noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works

Source:
West Virginia Quick Facts: Ben's Guide to US Government
Virginia History: American Studies at University of Virginia
Links:
The Naming of West Virginia: WV Division of Culture-History
Origins of West Virginia Place Names: Jeff Miller
Name Origins - 50 States

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WEST VIRGINIA SYMBOLS:

bird - butterfly
animal - flower
fish - insect
tree - soil
fruit - gem

flag - seal
motto - quarter
name - nickname
colors
song 1 - 2 - 3
 

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