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State Profile >> West Virginia
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NickName: The Mountain State
Named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen"
Capital City: Charleston
Location: 38.350N, 081.630W |
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| Brief overview |
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The 35th state has one thing to cheer up – its cost of living is lower than national average. Other factors are all negatively ranked. The times lifestyle found that lesser people believe that others are honest and/or trustworthy; also a lower proportion of residents attend the town meetings and school functions.
In the new economy index – the state ranks least. Again the state is ranked as the least livable in the nation by Morgan Quinto Press, an independent research firm. The health care costs are more, as are the taxes and pollution. The educational attainments are not encouraging in the areas of SAT scores.
All the dampening factors are due to the lack of urbanization pace in the state. Almost two thirds live in rural areas. For majority of the settlers, the mountains spread over millions of acres are the major attraction. Also, two national parks, 36 state parks, two national forests, nine state forests, and 47 wildlife-management areas, the Greenbrier and Berkeley Springs resorts, the scenic railroad at Cass, and the historic homes in the Eastern Panhandle add to the spice of living. |
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| 15 Vital Statistics Affecting Your Relocation |
WV |
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USA |
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| 1. |
Belief: "Most People are Honest" (6-level agree/disagree) |
3.76 |
4 |
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| 2. |
Belief: "Most People Can be Trusted" |
0.3 |
0 |
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| 3. |
Attended Meetings in Town or School Affairs (percent) |
0.11 |
0 |
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| 4. |
Overall State Ranking - New Economy Index |
50th |
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| 5. |
Cost of Living Index |
72.91 |
100 |
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| 6. |
Average Apartment Rent |
622.0000 |
617 |
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| 7. |
Average Home Price |
226153.0000 |
223400 |
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| 8. |
Average Total Energy Cost |
99.4900 |
126.75 |
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| 9. |
Average Phone Bill |
28.1600 |
16.85 |
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| 10. |
Gasoline/Gallon |
1.5400 |
1.5 |
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| 11. |
Hospital Room/Day |
378.2500 |
334.33 |
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| 12. |
Doctor Visit |
71.6700 |
66.7 |
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| 13. |
Average Auto Insurance Premium, 2000 |
841.08 |
792.91 |
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| 14. |
% of Days That are Sunny |
48 |
56.88 |
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| 15. |
Crime Index |
279.4 |
416 |
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| Contents |
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| West Virginia Info for you |
(All Links open in a separate window) 
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| Area |
24231 sq.mi, 41st Land 24087 sq. mi., 41st Water 145 sq.mi., 50th |
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| Area Code |
304 |
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| County Profile |
55 Counties |
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| Motto |
Montani semper liberi |
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| Capital |
Charleston |
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| Largest Cities |
Charleston
Huntington
Parkersburg
Wheeling
Morgantown
Weirton
Fairmont
Beckley
Clarksburg
Martinsburg
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| Capitol Tour |
www.wvculture.org/agency/capitol.html |
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| State Official Website |
http://www.wv.gov/ |
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| Governor |
Earl Ray Tomblin (D) |
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| No. of State Legislators, 2003 |
181 |
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| Senators and Representatives |
US House
US Senate
West Virginia Delagates: Members
West Virginia Senate: Members
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| Industry |
Chemical products, mining, primary metals, stone, clay, and glass products, tourism. |
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| Agriculture |
Cattle, dairy products, poultry, apples. |
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| Tree |
Sugar Maple |
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| Geographic Center |
Braxton, 4 miles east of Sutton |
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| Highest Point |
Spruce knob |
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| Lowest Point |
Potomac River; 240 feet, 31st |
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Fatalities Caused by Tornadoes:
1950 to 2001 |
2 |
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| Average Temperatures |
WV |
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USA |
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| Winter |
44.63 |
42.79 |
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| Spring |
64.78 |
64.36 |
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| Summer |
83.6 |
83.95 |
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| Fall |
67.08 |
65.89 |
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| Precipitation(Rain Fall) |
44.3 |
39.41 |
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| % of Days That are Sunny |
66.54 |
103.29 |
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| More West Virginia |
| Titbits |
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| Nickname including its origin |
The Mountain State ,Named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen" |
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| Symbols |
flower: rhododendron (1903)
tree: sugar maple (1949)
bird: cardinal (1949)
animal: black bear (1973)
colors: blue and gold (official) (1863)
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| Song |
West Virginia Hills Click Here for Song |
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| Demographics |
WV |
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USA |
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| Median Age 2000 |
40.1 |
37.8 |
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| % Change in Population 2000 to 2001 |
0 |
1 |
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| Poverty Rate, 2000 |
15.6 |
11.14 |
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| % Public Aid Recipients 2000 |
6 |
3.79 |
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| % Births to Unmarried Women in 2000 |
32.5 |
32.92 |
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| Health |
WV |
USA |
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| Health Care Cost Relative to U.S. average, 2002 |
1.1 |
0.99 |
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| Infant Mortality /1000 Live Births, 1998 |
7.6 |
7.14 |
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| Nonfederal Physicians, 1999 |
242 |
266.54 |
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| Death Rate by Accident, 1998 |
817 |
1988.92 |
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| Estimated Rate of New Cancer Cases, 2001 |
627.1 |
479.19 |
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| Obesity - % of Indiv. 30lbs over Weight or Greater (2001) |
24.6 |
20.46 |
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Finances and Taxes
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WV
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USA
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| Purchase Price of a building |
152489.8 |
175806.29 |
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| Car Insurance |
2196.69 |
1698.53 |
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| Corporate Income Tax % |
9 |
6.64 |
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| Top Personal Income Tax |
6.5 |
5.2 |
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| Sales Tax & Use Tax |
6 |
4.66 |
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| Professional Services Tax |
N |
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| Top Capital Gains Tax |
6.5 |
4.75 |
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| Motor Fuel Tax, 02 |
0.254 |
0.23 |
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| Real Estate: % of income per $100 |
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| On Land & Buildings |
2.17 |
N/A |
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| On Inventory |
Y |
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| On Personal Property |
Y |
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| State Tax Rate |
5.3 |
7.13 |
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| Local Tax Rate |
11 |
7.13 |
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| Unemployment Insurance Tax/ Per Employee |
2.7 |
2.36 |
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| Internet Access Tax |
N |
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| New Economy Index (1=Highest, 50=Lowest) |
WV |
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| Overall State Ranking |
50th |
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| Knowledge Jobs |
47th |
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| Globalization |
37th |
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| Economic Dynamism |
48th |
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| Digital Economy |
48th |
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| Innovation Capacity |
45th |
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| High Tech Jobs |
45th |
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| Venture Capital |
47th |
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| Internet Access-1998 (%) |
40.7 |
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| R & D Expenditures-1998 (Millions) |
421.0000 |
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| Number of New Patents (1998) |
161 |
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| Crime |
WV |
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USA |
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| Index Offences Total |
785.73 |
3326.73 |
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| Violent Crime Total |
89.84 |
385.32 |
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| Murders |
1.67 |
3.95 |
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| Forcible Rape |
7.26 |
28.03 |
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| Assault |
69.3 |
261.06 |
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| Property Crimes |
695.9 |
2941.4 |
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| Burglary |
181.75 |
678.55 |
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| Larceny, Theft |
452.67 |
1942.89 |
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| Motor Vehicle Thefts |
61.48 |
320.72 |
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| Index Offences Rate |
1651.95 |
2735.58 |
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| Murders Rate |
3.59 |
3.02 |
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| Forcible Rape Rate |
14.08 |
25.16 |
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| Robbery Rate |
25.32 |
52.25 |
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| Aggravated Assault Rate |
149.62 |
195.86 |
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| Property Crime Rate |
1459.31 |
2459.29 |
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| Burglary Rate |
360.42 |
585.46 |
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| Larceny, Thefts Rate |
981.52 |
1660.47 |
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| Motor Vehicle Thefts Rate |
117.36 |
213.85 |
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Pollution
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WV
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USA
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| Ozone in air (more Ozone = more Pollution) |
96.19 |
82.19 |
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| Pollution Released, 1999 (Pounds) |
17529931 |
45901994.34 |
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| Toxic Waste Received in State, 1999(Pounds) |
12818450 |
31524509.36 |
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| From the 2000 Census Reports |
WV |
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USA |
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| Population |
653723 |
203400320 |
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| Average Family Size in 2000 |
3.28 |
3.1 |
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| % of Eligible Voters Reported Registered, 2000 |
0.691 |
0.81 |
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| Median age |
40.1 |
37.8 |
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| Males per 100 Females |
85.41 |
94.67 |
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| Percentage Unemployed |
8.97 |
5.97 |
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| Use Public Transport |
0.55 |
1.12 |
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| Travel Time |
26.31 |
24.55 |
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| Median Value of a House |
57988.87 |
92201.9 |
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| Monthly Owner Cost with Mortgage |
619.67 |
845.87 |
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| Monthly Owner Cost without Mortgage |
215.47 |
283.44 |
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| Contract Monthly Rent |
272.77 |
390.93 |
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| Gross Rent |
351.82 |
463.96 |
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| % of Household Total |
65.46 |
69.46 |
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| % of Families Household Total |
49.19 |
54.65 |
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| Avg Population per Household |
2.31 |
2.55 |
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| Avg Population per Family |
2.86 |
3.06 |
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| % of Non Families Household Total |
34.54 |
30.54 |
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| Monthly Income-Household |
26884.01 |
38521.16 |
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| Monthly Income Family |
33695.54 |
45249.75 |
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| Per Capita Income |
15464.27 |
18724.65 |
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| Earning per Male |
29506.72 |
33331.99 |
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| Earning per Female |
19872.27 |
23722.78 |
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| % Families Below Poverty Line |
16.14 |
9.88 |
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| People speaking Less than fluent English |
0.68 |
3.53 |
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| Persons Holding High School Certificate or More |
72.94 |
78.68 |
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| Bachelor Degree Holders |
13.05 |
17.11 |
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| Density |
1208.25 |
1175.8 |
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| % of one Race |
2639.57 |
8737.95 |
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| % of Black & Others |
148.25 |
1231.39 |
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| % of American Indians |
4.99 |
70.5 |
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| % of Asians |
19.29 |
393.43 |
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| % of Hawaii |
0.6 |
13.87 |
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| % of Others |
5.91 |
600.04 |
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| % of Two or more Races |
28.69 |
245.37 |
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| % of Hispanic or Latino |
19.6 |
1345.63 |
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| Education |
WV |
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USA |
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| Verbal SAT Score, 2000 |
526 |
532.6 |
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| Math SAT Score, 2000 |
511 |
536.06 |
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| Public Elementary/Secondary Expenditures per pupil, 1999 (thousands) |
7401 |
6623.8 |
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| % of Students Taking Exam, 2000 |
19 |
35.76 |
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| % of Population Over 25 with HS Diploma, 2000 |
75.7 |
83.32 |
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| % of Population Over 25 With Bachelor's Degree, 2000 |
15.4 |
24.62 |
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| Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in 2000 |
19.6 |
15.52 |
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| Average Teacher Salary, 1999 |
36751 |
41505.06 |
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| Books in Public Library Per Capita, 1997 |
2.7 |
3.12 |
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| College Degree - Graduating Institutions, 1997 |
34 |
82.12 |
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| Quality of Life: Child Well - Being - 1998 |
WV |
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USA |
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| % Low Birth-Weight Babies |
8 |
7.51 |
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| Infant Mortality Rates (deaths per 1,000 live births) |
7.6 |
7.14 |
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| Child Death Rates (deaths per 100,000 children ages 1-14) |
24 |
24.84 |
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Rate of Teen Deaths Rate by Accident, Homicide, and Suicide
(deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15-19) |
60 |
58.2 |
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| Teen Birth Rate (births per 1,000 females ages 15-17) |
26 |
28.1 |
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| % of Teens Who Are High School Dropouts (ages 16-19) |
8 |
9.16 |
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| % of Teens Not Attending School and Not Working (ages 16-19) |
10 |
8.16 |
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% of Children Living With Parents
Who Do Not Have Full-Time, Year- Round Employment |
37 |
24.02 |
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| % of Children in Poverty (date reflect poverty in pervious year) |
25 |
17.29 |
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| % of Families with Children Headed by Single Parent |
27 |
24.92 |
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| Financial & Government Comparison |
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WV |
USA |
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| State Government Tax Revenue, 2000 |
3422875000.0000 |
11195307960 |
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| Per Capita State Government Tax Revenue, 2000 |
1901.0000 |
1949.8 |
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| State Government Debt Outstanding, 1999 |
3730325000.0000 |
10937316480 |
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| Per Capita State Government Debt Outstanding, 1999 |
2064.0000 |
2259.96 |
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| Gross State Product, 1998 (Millions) |
39938.0000 |
173820.7 |
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| State Government Bond Rating (S&P, 1999) |
AA- |
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| Cost of Living Index , Selected Metro, Second Quarter, 2000 |
0.916 |
1.06 |
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| Number of Bureaucrats per 100 Population, 2002 |
5.36 |
5.64 |
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| West Virginia Neighborhood |
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| (large map with related neighborhood states) |
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| Song: West Virginia Hills |
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Words by Mrs. Ellen King,
Music by H. E. Engle
Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how
grand,
With their summits bathed in glory, Like our Prince Immanuel&apos Land!
Is it any wonder then, That my heart with rapture thrills,
As I stand once more with loved ones On those West Virginia hills?
CHORUS:
Oh, the hills, beautiful hills, How I love those West
Virginia hills!
If o&apoer sea o&apoer land I roam, Still I&apoll think of happy home,
And my friends among the West Virginia hills.
Oh, the West Virginia hills! Where my childhood hours
were passed,
Where I often wandered lonely, And the future tried to cast;
Many are our visions bright, Which the future ne&apoer fulfills;
But how sunny were my daydreams On those West Virginia hills!
CHORUS
Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchang&apod they seem
to stand,
With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty&apos Land!
Many changes I can see, Which my heart with sadness fills;
But no changes can be noticed In those West Virginia hills.
CHORUS
Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu.
In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you;
In the evening time of life, If my Father only wills,
I shall still behold the vision Of those West Virginia hills.
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