WV ALHN - State Information


HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia was formed into a State during the earlier years of the Civil war, and was composed of the northern and western counties of Virginia. The people of this district, separated by a range of mountains from the fertile plains of the Old Dominion, and holding but few slaves, had little in common with the wealthy planters and large slave owners of the east and south. Many of them, too, were of Northern descent, especially those residing along the Ohio river, and when the struggle began they took sides with the Union. On April 22, 1861, a meeting was held at Clarksburg, at which the passage of the ordinance of secession by the Richmond convention was denounced, and a call issued for a convention to be held in Wheeling, May 13. This body, representing twenty-five counties, met, and rejected the ordinance, and an election of delegates having been held, representatives of forty counties met June 11, repudiated the action of the State authorities, and on June 20 elected Francis H. Peirpoint governor, and also chose an executive council and other officials. This government had its headquarters at Wheeling until 1863, when it was transferred to Alexandria, and exercised authority over so much of Virginia as was under the control of the Federal government - a constantly varying territory. At first it was proposed to create the "State of Kanawha," but the name was changed in December, 1861, and in May, 1862, a State constitution was ratified by the people and the legislature. Congress gave consent, on Dec. 31, 1862, to the admission of the new State at the end of the year, conditioned upon the ratification of the then pending amendment to the constitution permitting persons of African descent to reside within the State. The amendment was ratified March 26, 1863, and on June 20 the new government was inaugurated, Wheeling being made the capital. From 1870 to 1875 the seat of government was at Charleston, but in the last named year it was again transferred to Wheeling, where it remained until 1884, when it was a second time removed to Charleston. During 1861 there were a number of minor engagements between the Federal and Confederate troops in West Virginia, mostly on the Maryland and Virginia frontiers. The State raised, in all, 32,068 troops for the Federal army, and after 1861 the theatre of military operations was changed to Virginia proper. An amended constitution was adopted in 1872, and six new counties have been added to the original forty-eight, making fifty-four at this time.
WEST VIRGINIA STATE FACTS
Name:	West Virginia
Nickname:	Mountain State
Motto:	Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)
Discovered by Europeans:	Discovered by explorers and fur traders as early as the 1670s.
Entered Union:	June 20, 1863. 35th State
WEST VIRGINIA STATE SYMBOLS
State Songs	"West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home," "The West Virginia Hills," "This Is My West Virginia" (adopted by Legislature in 1947, 1961, and 1963 as official state songs) West Virginia Hills (Official Song ) Words by Mrs. Ellen King, Music by H. E. Engle 1. Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how grand, With their summits bathed in glory, Like our Prince Immanuel's Land! Is it any wonder then, That my heart with rapture thrills, As I stand once more with loved ones On those West Virginia hills? CHORUS: Oh, the hills, beautiful hills, How I love those West Virginia hills! If o'er sea o'er land I roam, Still I'll think of happy home, And my friends among the West Virginia hills. 2. Oh, the West Virginia hills! Where my childhood hours were passed, Where I often wandered lonely, And the future tried to cast; Many are our visions bright, Which the future ne'er fulfills; But how sunny were my daydreams On those West Virginia hills! CHORUS 3. Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchang'd they seem to stand, With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty's Land! Many changes I can see, Which my heart with sadness fills; But no changes can be noticed In those West Virginia hills. CHORUS 4. Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu. In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you; In the evening time of life, If my Father only wills, I shall still behold the vision Of those West Virginia hills. CHORUS
State Animal	Black Bear - West Virginia's State Animal. The Black Bear was selected as West Virginia's official State Animal by a poll of students, teachers and sportsmen conducted by the Division of Natural Resources in 1954-1955. It was officially adopted by the Legislature during the 1973 Regular Session with the approval of House Concurrent Resolution 6.
State Colors	Blue and Gold (official) (1863)
State Bird	The Cardinal was made West Virginia's official bird by concurrent resolution of the 1949 Legislature. The male of the species is a rich scarlet with a mask and shading of black, while the young birds and females are a less brilliant color. The cardinal measures approximately eight inches long and is found from New York state to the Gulf of Mexico and as far west as Oklahoma. Its scientific name is Cardinalis cardinalis. (1949)
State Tree	The Sugar Maple, or Acer saccarum as it is known scientifically, was made West Virginia's official tree by a resolution of the 1949 Legislature. It's wood is excellent for furniture and it produces maple syrup. A single tree is 70-120 feet high and produces two to three pounds of sugar when "sugared-off." It has a five-lobed leaf and a small wing-shaped seed pod. In the fall the leaves turn bright yellow.
State Flower	The Rhododendron maximum, or "big laurel," is the state flower of West Virginia. It was selected on January 23, 1903, by the Legislature, following a vote by pupils of the public schools. It is a shrub of the heath family and may be recognized by its large dark evergreen leaves and delicate pale pink or white bloom, mottled with either red or yellow flecks.
State Flag	West Virginia gets it nickname from all its mountains and hills. Founded in the midst of the Civil War, the date of June 20, 1863 commemorating it's statehood appears on the Rock. The two men represent farming and mining. Two rifles with a liberty cap on top of the rifles symbolize the peoples readiness to defend their freedom. Around the shield are a wreath of Rhododendron, the state flower.
HISTORY OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE
Joseph H. Diss Debar, an artist from Doddridge County, was chosen by a committee of the Legislature to prepare drawings for an official seal for the state of West Virginia. The artist submitted his drawings with an explanation of each detail and from these was adopted, by the Legislature, a seal which has remained without change, the Official Seal of West Virginia. The seal contains the Latin motto, Montani Semper Liberi, which means "Mountaineers Are Always Free." A large stone in the center of the seal stands for strength. On the stone is the date on which the State was admitted to the Union, June 20, 1863. The farmer with his axe represents agriculture and the miner with his pick represents industry. In front of the rock are two rifles, crossed and surmounted at the place of contact by the Phrygian cap, or cap of liberty, indicating that freedom and liberty were won and will be maintained by the force of arms. While the seal was designed and adopted with two sides, only the front side is in common use. The reverse side of laurel and oak leaves, log house, hills, factories and boats is the Governor's Official Seal. The Constitution of West Virginia, Article 2, Section 7, provides that: "The present seal of the state, with its motto 'Montani Semper Liberi,' shall be the great seal of the state of West Virginia, and shall be kept by the secretary of state, to be used by him, officially as directed by law."


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