What Is the West Virginia Region?

The "West Virginia Region" typically refers to the state of West Virginia and its surrounding Appalachian area. Key characteristics:

• Geography: Entirely within the Appalachian Mountains; rugged terrain, valleys, coal fields.
• Subregions: Northern Panhandle, North-Central, Metro Valley (Charleston), Eastern Panhandle, Southern Coalfields.
• Culture: Appalachian heritage, folk music, coal mining history, outdoor recreation.
• Economy: Historically coal, timber; diversifying into tourism, healthcare, tech, natural gas.

It is a distinct cultural and physiographic region within the eastern U.S.