09.+West+Virginia;+Past,+Present,+and+Future

Nathaniel H. Gracie C. Kayla S. James M.
 * Historians:**

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West Virginia state is located within the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian areas of the United States of America. It is bordered by Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The largest city is Charleston. This also happens to be its capital. West Virginia became its own on May 13th, 1862. This happened when the union rebelled against the actual state of Virginia. West Virginia is the only state in America to secede from a Confederate State. This was decided during one of the Wheeling conventions. This huge act happened during the Civil War. The state of West Virginia was admitted into the union on June 20th, 1863. However, West Virginia was considered part of the South by the Census Bureau. This meant that they were allowed to have slaves. They decided this since more than half of the state was below the Maison-Dixon line. The unusual position of West Virginia gives it many different metropolitan areas. It also includes many geographical regions. Our state is known for its mountain chains and coal mining. Logging is also a huge export for our economy. These industries is our basic economic support and has been for years. Sadly, we are predicting that since our state has the second to weakest economy, it will surely fall, causing a huge disaster. In conclusion, ever since the states were created, we have been a poor economy. We were the lesser side of Virginia, and now we, the less of the fifty states. We need a change. We need to find some support. West Virginia needs to get economic help before it's too late.

West Virginia: Then, Now and the Future Many changes occurred not only in the economy of West Virginia, but the agriculture did as well. The culture expanded, creating a diverse amount of people. Agriculture has developed greatly by finding new and improved ways of growing cash crops.

Essential Questions

1.What actions lead to the separation of Western Virginia from Virginia?

The Union was a huge part, but also because Virginia had a harder time getting items over the mountain range. They also gave the west little money to live on.

2.Why are we still a poorer economy than Virginia?

Due to the earlier separation, it took a lot for the West to finally make themselves independent, giving them less money and culture.

3.Will we always be dependent on coal and timber?

The major changes in hybrid and eco-friendly electronics may cause a huge decrease in the need for coal or timber for burning. This could result in the downfall of West Virginia's economy.

The Economy: West Virginia’s main economy came from its agriculture until the 1890s, when extractive industries (including coal, oil, natural gas, and timber) began to play a major role. After World War I, chemicals, steel, glass, and textiles became important secondary industries. West Virginia’s natural beauty attracted many tourists, but its rugged terrain made it difficult for travel. From 1997 to 2000, the retail business grew while the coal industries shrank. Overall growth was sluggish in the late 1990s. However, by 2002, the national economic slowdown had begun to impact West Virginia employment, and by October 2002, there had been year-on-year losses in jobs in every state economic sector except services and government. Employment overall decreased in numbers during this period. In 2001, West Virginia's gross state product gross state product was $42.4 billion, the 40th largest among the states, to which general services contributed $8.3 billion; government, $7.1 billion; trade, $14.9 billion; manufacturing, $5.2 billion; financial services, $5 billion; transportation and public utilities, $4.6 billion, and construction, $2.1 billion. The public sector in 2001 constituted 16.8% of gross state product, well above the 12% average for the states.

Great thanks to: 

Wild and Wonderful......