前言：西弗吉尼亚州，又译为西维吉尼亚州，是美国南部的一个州(有时也被分为东北部)。别称为“山脉之州”。北接马里兰州和宾夕法尼亚州，东和东南邻弗吉尼亚州，西南界肯塔基州，西与俄亥俄州隔河相望。面积62755平方公里，在50州内列第41位。人口为1850326(2014年估测)，列第38位，首府查尔斯顿。州箴言是“Montani Semper Liberi”(山地人永远自由)。在美国南北战争期间，隶属南部邦联的弗吉尼亚州西部众县于1861年决定退出邦联，并于1863年6月20日被纳入联邦。西弗吉尼亚州盛产煤矿，采矿历史悠久，并曾发生过多起工会运动事件，是美国煤矿史的重要地点。喀斯特地形密布。
一、西弗吉尼亚州纵览
• Total population state population is around 1.86 million
• The only state to lie entirely with the Appalachian region
• Over three quarters of West Virginia is covered with forest
• Oldest average population of any state, with two workers for every retiree
• In 1908 Grafton, West Virginia, was the first state place in the world in which mother’s day was celebrated
• Famous West Virginians include civil rights leader and author Booker T. Washington (though he was born in Virginia), Morgan Spurlock (of Supersize Me fame) and actress Jennifer Garner
• Biggest industries are chemicals, coal mining (around one tenth of nation’s coal comes from West Virginia) and tourism
• If West Virginia was a country, it would be in the world's top 70 in terms of GDP
•人口总数约为186万
•唯一完全与阿巴拉契亚地区有关的州，在西弗吉尼亚州超过四分之三的地方都是森林
•所有州人口平均年龄最大的州
•如果西弗吉尼亚州是一个国家，那么它在GDP方面的排名将在世界前70位
二、气候条件
As its nickname the 'Mountain State' may suggest, West Virginia is better known for natural grandeur than any large urban developments.West Virginia was founded during the American Civil War, when it broke away from Virginia to join the Union. Its landscape is dominated by the Appalachian Mountains, which has led it to being labelled the Mountain State.The resultant climate means that it is also known for its lush natural beauty. offering mountains, greenery, and aglut of lakes and rivers.
If you’re looking for large sprawling cosmopolitan metropolises, perhaps you might be advised to look elsewhere. The two largest cities in the state – capital Charleston and Huntington – both have populations of around 50,000.The state’s flagship public university is based in the even smaller Morgantown, which has a population of around 30,000 (though the larger metropolitan area is estimated to have a population around four times that size).However, if it is a quieter, more peaceful experience you’re after, then these small ex-industrial cities have plenty to offer. Charleston and Huntington, for example, are rich with historical architecture, and have plenty of museums and galleries to keep you entertained.Both host a number of annual festivals too, ranging from the more traditional country music variety, to the more idiosyncratic ‘Grumble Run’ – a five kilometre ‘run’ complete with breaks for snacks and grumbling!
Student dominated Morgantown is a charming riverside town, which among other accolades has been labelled one of America’s best small places for business by Forbes, and one of a ‘Dozen Distinctive Destinations” by National Trust for Historic Preservation. It temporarily becomes the biggest city in the state when the Mountaineers – the West Virginia University American football team – play.
正如它的别名“山州”所暗示的那样，西弗吉尼亚比任何大型城市的发展都更出名。西弗吉尼亚州是在美国内战期间成立的，当时它从弗吉尼亚脱离加入联邦。它的景观被阿巴拉契亚山脉所控制，这使得它被称为山州。由此产生的气候意味着它也以其苍翠的自然风光而闻名。提供高山、草木和湖泊和河流的湖泊。如果你在寻找大型的大都市，也许你会被建议去别处看看。该州两个最大的城市——首都查尔斯顿和亨廷顿——都有大约5万人口。该州的顶尖公立大学位于更小的摩根敦，其人口约为3万人(尽管据估计大都市地区的人口大约是这个规模的四倍)。然而，如果你想要的是一种更安静、更和平的体验，那么这些小的前工业城市就有很多可供选择的地方。例如，查尔斯顿和亨廷顿都有丰富的历史建筑，有很多博物馆和画廊让你娱乐。这两家公司都举办了一系列的年度庆典，从传统的乡村音乐品种到更为特殊的“嘟嘟囔囔”——跑了5公里的“跑”，吃零食和抱怨!摩根敦是一个迷人的河边小镇，在其他奖项中，它被福布斯评为美国最优秀的商业小地方之一，也是国家历史保护信托基金的“十二个独特目的地之一”。它暂时成为美国最大的城市——西弗吉尼亚大学的美国橄榄球队。
三、西弗吉尼亚州的顶尖大学
West Virginia does not, at present, have any universities in the QS World University Rankings.The public university system, however, offers a number of viable study destinations. The leading state university is West Virginia University, based in Morgantown, towards the north of the state.The university is noteworthy for having produced a number of winners of several prestigious scholarships, including 24 Rhodes Scholars (an award to study at the University of Oxford in the UK). It is classified as a Research University (High Research Activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, with faculty members pulling in US$177.7 million in funding a year.Other major universities in the state include Marshal University in Huntington, noteworthy for its forensic science graduate program, Fairmount State University, and West Virginia State University. There is a also a wide range of smaller private institutions in the state.
西弗吉尼亚州目前没有任何大学进入了QS世界大学排名。然而，公立大学系统提供了许多可行的研究目的地。主要的州立大学是西弗吉尼亚大学，该校位于摩根敦，位于该州北部。这所大学之所以值得关注，是因为它培养了几位著名的奖学金获得者，其中包括24名罗兹奖学金获得者(英国牛津大学的一项奖学金)。它被卡耐基基金会列为研究型大学(高研究活动)，教员每年资助1.777亿美元。该州的其他主要大学包括亨廷顿的马歇尔大学，它的法医科学研究生项目、费尔蒙特州立大学和西弗吉尼亚州立大学都值得关注。该州还有许多规模较小的私人大学。