Origin of State Name : The state was originally the western part of Virginia.

Nickname : The Mountain State.

Capital : Charleston.

County : 55 counties

Location : 38.350N, 81.630W

Entered Union : 20 June 1863 (35th).

Songs : "The West Virginia Hills," "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home," and "This Is My West Virginia."

Motto : Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free).

Flag : The flag has a white field bordered by a strip of blue, with the coat of arms in the center, wreathed by rhododendron leaves; across the top of the coat of arms are the words "State of West Virginia."

Animal : Black bear.

Bird : Cardinal.

Fish : Brook trout.

Flower : Rhododendron.

Tree : Sugar maple.

Fruit : Apple.

Colors : Old gold and blue.

Population : 1,816,856 as on 2005

Agriculture : Cattle, dairy products, poultry, apples.

Industry : Chemical products, mining, primary metals, stone, clay, and glass products, tourism.