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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
A white field is bordered in dark blue. West Virginia's flag displays a rock containing the date June 20, 1863, the day West Virginia became a state. The two men represent farming and mining. Below them are two rifles with a "Liberty Cap" on top the rifles. A banner ribbon includes the state motto " Mountainiers Are Always Free". Around the picture are a wreath of rhododendren and the name of the state on a red ribbon.
Nickname: The Mountain State.
Capital: Charleston.
Constitution: The 35th State.
Statehood: June 20th 1863.
Motto: Montani Semper Liberi - Mountaineers are always free
History:
American Indians lived in West Virginia before Europeans settled in the area. In the early 1600's, the area became part of the English colony of Virginia. German settlers from Pennsylvania established a settlement at New Mecklenburg (now Shepherdstown) in 1727. Coal was discovered near Racine in 1742. In 1861, the counties of western Virginia refused to join the South in the American Civil War.
Coal, natural gas, and timber industries developed in West Virginia in the 1880's. During the 1980's, drops in coal prices caused economic problems in the 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 colour. 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.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, poultry, apples.
Industry: Chemical products, mining, primary metals, stone, clay, & glass products, tourism.
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.
Origin of state's name:
Like Virginia, named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen".
Seal:
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 centre 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."
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.
American Indians lived in West Virginia before Europeans settled in the area. In the early 1600's, the area became part of the English colony of Virginia. German settlers from Pennsylvania established a settlement at New Mecklenburg (now Shepherdstown) in 1727. Coal was discovered near Racine in 1742. In 1861, the counties of western Virginia refused to join the South in the American Civil War.
Coal, natural gas, and timber industries developed in West Virginia in the 1880's. During the 1980's, drops in coal prices caused economic problems in the 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 colour. 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.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, poultry, apples.
Industry: Chemical products, mining, primary metals, stone, clay, & glass products, tourism.
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.
Origin of state's name:
Like Virginia, named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen".
Seal:
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 centre 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."
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.