West Virginia birthday video

West Virginia Public Broadcasting

· June 20 at 6:39am ·

Happy 154th Birthday, West Virginia!

1863 - West Virginia Becomes the 35th State.

From the earliest days of settlement there were differences between Eastern has Western Virginia. Legislation often favored those in the East, who owned slave and land.

The American Civil War brought these issues to a head. When the Virginia legislature voted to secede from the Union in 1861, delegates from western counties walked out and went on to form a pro-Union government based in Wheeling.

As the Civil War turned for the Union, the state of West Virginia was created on June 20, 1863.

If you want to watch the Public Broadcasting video of West Virginia’s 1863 birthday as a state, click on https://www.facebook.com/WVPublic/videos/10154551650496471/