Southern West Virginia is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

. Southern West Virginia is known for its coal mining heritage and Southern affinity. The region is also closely identified with

southwestern The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

and

southeastern The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

, with close proximity to

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

and

East East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fac ...

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

. Today, Southern West Virginia continues to grapple with poverty and continuing population loss. Almost the entire region is located in

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district West Virginia's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in southern West Virginia. The district covers the state's second-largest city, Huntington; includes Bluefield, Princeton, and Beckley; and has a long history of coa ...

, which is represented by Carol Miller. Southern West Virginia, in a cultural and historical context, includes Boone County, Fayette County,

Greenbrier County Greenbrier County () is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977. Its county seat is Lewisburg. The county was formed in 1778 from Botetourt and Montgomery counties in Virginia. History P ...

, Lincoln County,

Logan County Logan County is the name of ten current counties and one former county in the United States: * Logan County, Arkansas * Logan County, Colorado * Logan County, Idaho (1889–1895) * Logan County, Illinois * Logan County, Kansas * Logan County, ...

, McDowell County, Mercer County,

Mingo County Mingo County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,568. Its county seat and largest city is Williamson. Created in 1895, Mingo is West Virginia's newest county, named for the historic Iroq ...

, Monroe County, Nicholas County, Raleigh County, Summers County, and Wyoming County. Newrivergorgebridge

The City of Beckley, in Raleigh County, is the largest city in this region, followed by Bluefield, in Mercer County. Beckley has undergone a period of modest economic growth, and serves as the primary economic and cultural hub of much of Southern West Virginia.

Attractions

Places of interest and potential attractions include

New River Gorge The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a unit of the United States National Park Service (NPS) designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a nat ...

New River Gorge Bridge The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. With an arch long, the New River Gorge Bridge was the world's longest sin ...

, Tamarack, Best of West Virginia, and

The Greenbrier The Greenbrier is a luxury resort located in the Allegheny Mountains near White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, in the United States. Since 1778, visitors have traveled to this part of the state to "take the waters" of th ...

Winterplace Ski Resort Winterplace Ski Resort is a ski resort located in Ghent, West Virginia on Raleigh County's Flat Top Mountain. The southernmost ski resort in West Virginia, Winterplace is a popular attraction due to its proximity to Interstate 77. It operate ...

and

Summersville Lake Summersville Lake is a reservoir located in the US state of West Virginia. The lake is formed by a rock-fill dam (Summersville Dam) on the Gauley River, south of Summersville in Nicholas County. It is the largest lake in West Virginia, with o ...

are both recreation options also present here. Southern West Virginia is also home for numerous renowned sports teams, including the

Bluefield Blue Jays The Bluefield Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. The team played their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a hist ...

, the

Princeton Rays The Princeton Rays were a Minor League Baseball team in Princeton, West Virginia, operating as an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with several Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises, primarily the Ta ...

, and the West Virginia Miners.

Educational institutions

;Colleges and Universities

Universities and colleges

Southern West Virginia has a large array of universities and colleges, including Appalachian Bible College,

Bluefield State College Bluefield State University (Bluefield State) is a university in Bluefield, West Virginia that is an historically black university. It is a part of West Virginia's public education system and converted to a university in the summer of 2022. It a ...

, Bridgemont Community and Technical College,

Concord University Concord University (Concord) is a public university in Athens, West Virginia. It was founded on February 28, 1872, when the West Virginia Legislature passed "an Act to locate a Branch State Normal School, in the town of Concord Church, in ...

University of Charleston The University of Charleston (UC) is a private non-profit university with its main campus in Charleston, West Virginia. The university also has a location in Beckley, West Virginia, known as UC-Beckley. History The school was founded in 1888 as ...

–Beckley,

New River Community and Technical College New River Community and Technical College (New River) is a public community college in Beaver, West Virginia. It was founded in 2003 and is West Virginia's newest college. The college was independently accredited in 2005 by the Higher Learning ...

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (Southern) is a public community college with its main campus in Mount Gay, West Virginia. It is part of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System. History The school was ...

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is a public medical school located in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Founded in 1974, WVSOM is one of three medical schools in West Virginia and the sole institution that grants the Doctor of Os ...

, and

West Virginia University Institute of Technology West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech, WVIT, WVU Beckley, or West Virginia Tech) is a public college in Beckley, West Virginia. It is a divisional campus of West Virginia University. History The college was founded in 1895 ...

Public high schools

The state's public high schools are

Bluefield High School Bluefield High School (BHS) is a public secondary school in Bluefield, West Virginia, United States. It is part of Mercer County Public Schools and is located at 535 West Cumberland Road. As of the 2018-2019 school year, enrollment was 609 stu ...

, Chapmanville Regional High School, Fayetteville High School (West Virginia),

Greenbrier East High School Greenbrier East High School is a consolidated school in Fairlea, West Virginia, that serves grades 9 through 12. It is a part of Greenbrier County Schools. Greenbrier East High School is located on Spartan Lane, just off US 219 near Lewisburg, ...

, Greenbrier West High School,

Independence High School (West Virginia) Independence High School is a consolidated high school in rural Raleigh County, West Virginia, located in the town of Coal City, West Virginia. The names of Independence and its sister school and rival Liberty High School reflect the fact they ...

James Monroe High School (West Virginia) James Monroe High School is the only public high school in Monroe County, West Virginia. It has 461 students by the methods of the WVSSAC. The building is also home to the ''Monroe County Vocational Technical Center''. The school is located in ...

Lincoln County High School (West Virginia) Lincoln County High School is a Class AAA high school in Hamlin, West Virginia, Hamlin, West Virginia. It was built between 2004 and 2006 and completed in time for the 2006/07 school year. Consolidation Lincoln County High School was formed from ...

Liberty High School (Glen Daniel, West Virginia) Liberty High School, alternately referred to as Liberty-Raleigh or Liberty of Raleigh, is a consolidated high school in rural Raleigh County, West Virginia, located in the town of Glen Daniel, West Virginia. The names of Liberty and its sister s ...

Logan High School (West Virginia) Logan High School is the high school for the town of Logan, West Virginia under the jurisdiction of Logan County Schools. Its current campus was built in 1957. The school campus sits on Hatfield Island, at the confluence of the Guyandotte River a ...

Man High School Logan County Schools is the operating school district within Logan County, West Virginia. It is governed by the Logan County Board of Education. Schools Elementary Schools * Buffalo Elementary School * Chapmanville Primary School * Chapman ...

Meadow Bridge High School A meadow ( ) is an open habitat, or field, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non-woody plants. Trees or shrubs may sparsely populate meadows, as long as these areas maintain an open character. Meadows may be naturally occurring or artifi ...

Midland Trail High School Midland Trail High School is a public 6-12 school located in Hico, West Virginia in Fayette County located upon the historic Midland Trail highway (US Rt 60,) from which it gets its name. The campus is located north of the New River Gorge Nat ...

, Mingo Central Comprehensive High School,

Montcalm High School Montcalm High School, a "school within a school", is located in Montcalm, West Virginia, United States. It is the smallest secondary school in the Mercer County Schools district, and currently has approximately 375 students enrolled in grades ...

Mount View High School (West Virginia) Mount View High School (MVHS) is a public high school in Welch, West Virginia. Located on the grounds of an old strip mine in the mountains of McDowell County, West Virginia, Mount View High School is one of two schools in the Welch area, with the ...

Nicholas County High School Nicholas County High School is a high school located in Summersville, West Virginia. The mascot for NCHS is the grizzly bear, and its school colors are Old Gold and Old Navy. Due to steady decline in student enrollment, the school currently ran ...

Oak Hill High School (West Virginia) Oak Hill High School (previously known as Collins High School) is a high school located in Oak Hill, West Virginia Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill, WV Micropolitan S ...

PikeView High School PikeView High School is a public high school serving grades 912, located in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. PikeView High School is administered by Mercer County Schools. PikeView High School has an enrollment of 750 students and 60 ...

, Princeton High School,

Richwood High School (West Virginia) Richwood High School is a public high school located in Richwood, West Virginia, United States. The school serves the eastern third of Nicholas County. During the 2016–2017 school year, Richwood High School had an enrollment of 389 students. ...

River View High School (West Virginia) River View High School (RVHS) is a public high school in Bradshaw, West Virginia. The school is located on the grounds of the old Bradshaw Junior High School, in the mountains of McDowell County, West Virginia. It is one of two high schools in the ...

Scott High School (Madison, West Virginia) Scott High School is the public high school serving the town of Madison, West Virginia and the rest of northern Boone County. The school has 731 students by the count of the WVSSAC The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSA ...

, Shady Spring High School,

Sherman High School (Seth, West Virginia) Sherman High School is the public high school serving Seth and part of southeastern Boone County in the state of West Virginia. The school has 331 students by the count of the WVSSAC, placing it in class "A". The school colors are maroon and go ...

, Summers County High School,

Tug Valley High School Tug Valley High School is a consolidated school serving rural northern Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. The school has a Williamson postal address, but is actually located in Den's Branch at Naugatuck. The mascot is the Panther and the ...

, Valley High School (Smithers, West Virginia), Van Junior-Senior High School,

Westside High School (West Virginia) Westside High School is a consolidated regional high school in Clear Fork, West Virginia serving the western half of Wyoming County, West Virginia. It opened in 2002 and consolidated the former Oceana High School Oceana High School is a sm ...

Woodrow Wilson High School (Beckley, West Virginia) Woodrow Wilson High School (also, just “Beckley”) is a high school located in Beckley, West Virginia, teaching grades nine through twelve. It is one of four secondary schools in the Raleigh County Public School District. The school’s colors ...

, and Wyoming East High School.

Private secondary schools

Southern West Virginia's private secondary schools are Beth Haven Christian School, Bluefield International Academy, Greater Beckley Christian School, Mercer Christian Academy, Mountain View Christian School, Regional Christian School, Rainelle Christian Academy, Seneca Trail Christian Academy, Trinity Christian Academy, and Victory Baptist Academy.

Historical events and landmarks

The main historical events and landmarks located in Southern West Virginia are the

Hatfield–McCoy feud The Hatfield–McCoy feud, also described by journalists as the Hatfield–McCoy conflict, involved two rural American families of the West Virginia–Kentucky area along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River in the years 1863–1891. The Hatfi ...

John Henry (folklore) John Henry is an American folk hero. An African American, he is said to have worked as a "steel-driving man"—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel. ...

, and The West Virginia Mine Wars.

Media

TV

TV networks based in Southern West Virginia include the

WVVA WVVA (channel 6) is a television station licensed to Bluefield, West Virginia, United States, serving the Bluefield– Beckley– Oak Hill market as an affiliate of NBC and The CW Plus. Owned by Gray Television, the station maintains studios on ...

- Bluefield -

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

- 6, the WOAY - Oak Hill - ABC - 4, the

WVNS WVNS-TV (channel 59) is a television station licensed to Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States, serving the Bluefield– Beckley– Oak Hill market as an affiliate of CBS, Fox, and MyNetworkTV. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group, ...

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded i ...

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

- 59, and the WLFB - Bluefield - Religious - 40.

Radio

Radio stations based in Southern West Virginia include

WCIR-FM WCIR-FM (103.7 MHz) is a contemporary hit radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Beckley, West Virginia, United States, serving Southern West Virginia. WCIR-FM is owned and operated by Southern Communications. Coverage area The s ...

- Beckley -

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...

- 103.7 FM, WTNJ-FM - Mt. Hope -

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...

- 105.9 FM, WHAJ-FM - Bluefield -

Hot AC Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet sto ...

- 104.5 FM, WVOW-FM - Logan - Variety - 101.9 FM, WJLS-FM - Beckley -

- 99.5 FM, WXCC-FM - Williamson -

- 96.5 FM, WAXS-FM - Oak Hill -

Oldies Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music (broadly characterized as classic rock and pop rock) from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as ...

- 94.1 FM, and

WRON-FM WRON-FM is a country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Lewisburg, West Virginia, serving the Lewisburg/ Ronceverte/ Rainelle/Union area. WRON-FM is owned and operated by Radio Greenbrier, Inc. Station Swap and SaleAll Accessreporte ...

- Ronceverte -

Good Time Oldies Good Time Oldies is a 24-hour music format offered to local radio stations across the country that was originally produced by Jones Radio Networks. After the sales of Jones Radio Networks to Dial Global in 2008, the format was absorbed into D.G.`s ...

- 97.7 FM.

Population

External links

Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau
{{coord, 37, 50, N, 81, 10, W, region:US-WV_scale:1000000, display=title Regions of West Virginia Geography of Appalachia Geography of West Virginia