a state of the eastern US: part of Virginia until the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861); consists chiefly of the Allegheny Plateau; bounded on the west by the Ohio River; coal-mining. Capital: Charleston. Pop: 1 810 354 (2003 est). Area: 62 341 sq km (24 070 sq miles)
Abbreviation: W Va, W. Va. or (with zip code) WV
West Virginia in American English
state of the E U.S., northwest of Va.: admitted, 1863; 24,078 sq mi (62,361 sq km); pop. 1,808,000; cap. Charleston