Yesterday, the great state of West Virginia was a scene of widespread celebrations all day long. That’s because June 20 is West Virginia Day—a date officially recognizing West Virginia’s formation as a state independent from Virginia.
While today we all know West Virginia and Virginia as two separate entities, that wasn’t always the case. Before West Virginia formally seceded from the rest of Virginia in the 1860s, the two were one and the same. So why exactly did West Virginia separate from the rest of Virginia? For this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m recounting the story behind West Virginia’s establishment as our 35th state and honoring its 161st “birthday” by sharing a few fun and fascinating factoids.
Earliest Settlers
Records indicate that the first humans to have inhabited the area now comprising West Virginia were the Paleo-Indian People, who settled here around 12,500 years ago. Through the ages, other Native American cultures were known to have lived here for a time as well. Yet, by the time the first Europeans arrived in the New World, no permanent settlements were remaining in these parts particularly although the land was still used as a hunting ground for the Cherokee, Shawnee, Delaware, and Iroquois tribes.
The first Europeans to have settled in the area now designated as West Virginia terrain did so in what was then Mecklenburg (now Shepherdstown) in 1727. A few short years later, in 1731, saw the first permanent white settlement by Morgan Morgan along Mill Creek, now the site of Cool Spring Farm in Berkeley County.
As West Virginia was formerly part of Virginia, most recorded New World historical accounts associated with the latter automatically apply to the former as well. This makes it a little difficult to differentiate in retrospect certain other regional exclusivities between the two now individually recognized states.
Seceding from Virginia’s Secession
When the American Civil War broke out in April of 1861, Virginia was one of 11 states that seceded from the Union. The Virginia General Assembly in Richmond chose to join other seceding states in the establishment of the new Confederate States of America, also known as the Confederacy. But not everyone in Virginia was agreeable to such an extreme measure, particularly those residents living in the western, Allegheny-backing regions who wished to remain part of the Union. To do so, however, would require seceding from the seceding state of Virginia by establishing a new governing state. So, that’s what delegates representing Virginia’s westernmost counties set out to do by creating what was called “The Restored Government of Virginia” in Wheeling, under the direction of lawyer Francis Pierpont.
Efforts to establish the non-seceding Unionist side of Virginia, operating as its own state government did not happen overnight. While generalized borderlines could be drawn, there were still a couple of kinks to iron out regarding the entwinement of some Confederate-minded counties mixed into the regional divide. It took two years to sort it all out and an eventual agreement for the emancipation of all slaves in the region before the new state of West Virginia would be formally recognized. That monumental proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln came on June 20, 1863, making West Virginia the only state ever created as a result of the Civil War.
New Statehood Statements
It can be disputed that Francis Pierpont served as the first governor of the state of West Virginia before it was an established state. While Pierpont is often hailed as the “Father of West Virginia,” historians generally assign the status of first “official” governor to Arthur I. Boreman. Boreman served in this role between June 20, 1863, and February 26, 1869. In all, West Virginia has officially recognized a grand total of 36 state governors.
West Virginia’s capital was originally located in Wheeling. However, in 1870 the State Legislature designated Charleston to be its new location, leading to a relocation of all state records via private boat over to the new home base. Yet five years later the Legislature voted to return the capital to Wheeling. But a lull in the retransition caused an inconvenient standstill lasting four months. As a result, the Legislature decided in 1877 to let the citizens choose a new permanent capital location. The options were between Charleston, Martinsburg, and Clarksburg. Charleston won the deciding vote.
Challenges regarding West Virginia’s initial formation as a new state carried over into the 20th century when in 1915 the United States Supreme Court ruled that West Virginia owed more than $12 million in its formation of a new state. According to the ruling, this was “a just proportion of the public debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia.” The entire debt was eventually paid off by 1939.
Fun Facts on State Stats
The current state flag was officially adopted on March 7, 1929. The background is white with a blue border and contains the West Virginia State Coat of Arms encased in a golden frame. This image features a farmer with an ax and a miner with a pick. Between them, there is a rock with the date June 20, 1863, marking it. The state motto “Montani Semper Liberi” (Mountaineers Are Always Free) appears on a red ribbon.
The flag contains both of the state’s official colors. They are “old gold” and blue, of course. These have been the state colors since 1963.
The Cardinal was adopted as the state bird and the Sugar Maple as the state tree. Both of these assignments were the result of House Concurrent Resolution 12 on March 7, 1949, which authorized a vote by public school students and civic organizations to name an official bird and tree. Many years earlier, on January 29, 1903, House Joint Resolution 19 resulted in the Rhododendron being designated the official state flower.
Then came the Brook Trout being named the official state fish by the Legislature during the 1973 Regular Session. This was met with the approval of House Concurrent Resolution 6.
Likewise, the Black Bear was named West Virginia’s official state animal. It was selected following an official State Animal poll by the Division of Natural Resources between 1954 and 1955 in which students, teachers, and others voted.
On February 20, 1995, West Virginia’s official state fruit, the apple, was upgraded to the Golden Delicious specifically. A few weeks later, on March 1, 1995, the Monarch became the state’s official butterfly. The Honey Bee eventually received the status of state insect in 2002.
As for the state gem, the Silicified Mississippian Fossil Coral was given that honor back in 1990. Monongahela Silt Loam was designated the state’s official soil in 1997.
West Virginia has not one but three officially designated state songs. The first one, “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home” by Julian G. Hearne, Jr. came about by Senate Concurrent Resolution No.11 on March 3, 1947. Later, without knowledge that a state song had already been assigned, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5 named “The West Virginia Hills” by Ellen King and H. E. Engle the official state song on February 3, 1961. A third song was added on February 28, 1963, when the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 19. That song is “This is My West Virginia” by Iris Bell.
West Virginia Day Celebrations
June 20 has long been hailed as West Virginia Day. But it took six decades following its initial inception as a state before this date was formally acknowledged. As of 1927, June 20 has been garnering official acknowledgment as a holiday. And statewide celebrations each year have since expanded far and wide.
West Virginia is a truly remarkable Mid-Atlantic state. Not only does it boast countless attractions but it also boasts a fascinating one-of-a-kind original backstory no other state can match.