Statehood 1863

West Virginia

The area comprising West Virginia was originally part of the British Virginia Colony from 1607 to 1776, then became the western part of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia (1776–1788) and subsequently the state of Virginia (1788–1863). During the American Civil War, western Virginia became sharply divided over secession, leading to the formation of the Restored Government of Virginia from the 1861 Wheeling Convention. The new state of West Virginia was recognized by the U.S. Congress on June 20, 1863, making it one of five Civil War border states.

Statehood
1863
Historic sites
1,142
Military engagements
654

Pre-contact era

The source text does not provide information about pre-contact indigenous peoples of West Virginia. No details about Native American inhabitants prior to European contact are included in the provided source text.

Colonial history

The source states the area was part of the British Virginia Colony (1607–1776); no further detail about the nature or extent of colonial control is provided in the source text.

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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Explore West Virginia records

1,142
National Register historic sites
National Register listings ›
654
Military engagements
Military history records ›
1
Civil War regiments
Union, Confederate, USCT ›
5
Indigenous groups
Heritage records ›
3
Notable figures
Born in West Virginia ›
15
Colonial-era events
1492 to early statehood ›
West Virginia counties
Census population history ›
Sources

State history content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Historic sites data: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

About West Virginia

When did West Virginia become a state?
West Virginia was admitted to the Union in 1863.
What European powers colonized West Virginia?
The territory that became West Virginia passed through several colonial periods. The source states the area was part of the British Virginia Colony (1607–1776); no further detail about the nature or extent of colonial control is provided in the source text.
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