West Virginia

The Appalachian Mountain state of West Virginia comprises what were formerly the northwestern counties of Virginia. When Virginia seceded from the Union prior to the US Civil War, these poorer and largely anti-slavery areas seceded from Virginia and were admitted as the 35th state in 1863. Mining of coal, natural gas, and minerals is the largest sector of the economy, coupled with heavy manufacturing and agriculture and forestry. The capital and largest city is Charleston.