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americas-florists.com directory
of florists in West Virginia, USA
In 1861, Virginians in the northwestern part of the state
defied Virginia's secession from the United States. The region
chose to remain in the Union and form a new state. West Virginia
was admitted into the Union in 1863, after conditions requiring
the gradual emancipation of slaves had been met. The state motto
is "Mountaineers are always free," and West Virginia
lives up to its nickname of the "Mountain State." With
an average altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level, it's the
highest of any state east of the Mississippi River. For a long
time, West Virginia was a leading producer of coal in North
America, but many people left to pursue better employment
opportunities. That trend has turned around, and now the state's
economy is in a more stable condition. The capital is Charleston,
and the state flower is the rhododendron.
State Flower: Rhododendron
State Motto: Mountaineers are always free
State Nickname: Mountain State
State Bird: Cardinal
Land area: 24,087 sq mi. - Length: 240 miles - Width: 130 miles
10 largest cities (1999 est.):
Charleston, 54,598;
Huntington, 52,273;
Wheeling, 32,526;
Parkersburg, 32,212;
Morgantown, 29,017;
Weirton, 21,080;
Fairmont, 20,029;
Beckley, 19,228;
Clarksburg, 17,297;
Martinsburg, 15,754; - Persons per square mile (1999): 75.0
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