West Virginia

You may not realize that West Virginia has a rich history. There is no state in the country that has as many historical and interesting facts as this one. The state is home to many important historical sites, including the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Mount Rushmore, and the New River Gorge Bridge. There are many other West Virginia facts that you can learn about. In addition to the state's famous history, West Virginia has several other unique qualities. Its state government provides many services and is highly responsive to residents' needs. West Virginia has a low overall tax burden. Its net corporate income tax rate is 6.5%, which is 13% lower than the national average. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state's economy grew twice as fast as the next fastest-growing state east of the Mississippi River in 2014. It was third only to Texas, Wyoming, and North Dakota as states that experience the fastest growth in the United States. One of the most interesting West Virginia facts is that it is the only state entirely covered in the Appalachian Mountains. The third most forested state in the U.S., West Virginia also is home to the Federal Industrial Institution for Women, the first women's prison in the country. One of its inmates was Martha Stewart, and the state has other famous names like Athens, Berlin, Cairo, and Calcutta. Interestingly enough, West Virginia has its own football team. In the 1960's, West Virginia University played Pitt for the first football game broadcast over radio.