West Virginia
West Virginia entered the Union on June 20, 1863 as the 35th state. West Virginia was born out of the Civil War when counties in the northwestern part of Virginia broke away to form a new state, giving it one of the most distinctive origin stories in the Union. Today its state government is centered in Charleston and operates through a governor and a bicameral legislature made up of a Senate and House of Delegates.
Government & Representation
Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.
West Virginia’s state government is organized around an elected governor and a bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Delegates. Charleston serves as the center of statewide governance in a state where geography, energy policy, and county-level realities strongly influence public policy.