WEST VIRGINIA - West Virginia's very existence is a direct result of the American Civil War, making its path to statehood unique among the states. While we know it today as the Mountain State, the region comprising West Virginia was not always a separate entity. Understanding what this area was called before its official formation in 1863 requires looking back at its deep connection to its parent state and the tumultuous events that led to its division.
Before the Mountain State: What West Virginia Was Called Prior to 1863
Before 1863, the land that now makes up West Virginia was simply the western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. There was no separate territorial name or distinct colonial designation for this specific region recognized by the governing bodies of the time. Residents were Virginians, and the area was administered under the laws and government of Virginia.
Growing Differences: East vs. West
Despite being part of the same state, significant differences existed between Virginia's eastern and western regions for decades leading up to the Civil War.
- Geography and Economy: The mountainous terrain of the west contrasted sharply with the plantation-dominated Tidewater and Piedmont regions of the East. Western Virginia's economy was based on small farms, timber, and nascent industry rather than large-scale agriculture reliant on enslaved labor.
- Slavery: The institution of slavery was far less prevalent and economically crucial in western Virginia compared to the East. This fundamental difference created deep political and social divisions.
- Political Representation: Many residents in the western counties felt underrepresented and ignored by the state government, which was primarily controlled by interests in eastern Virginia.
The Civil War: A Catalyst for Separation (1861)
The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 brought these long-simmering tensions to a breaking point.
- Virginia's Secession: When Virginia voted to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy, most delegates from the western counties opposed the decision.
- Loyalist Government: Choosing to remain loyal to the Union, representatives from the western counties met in Wheeling and formed the Restored Government of Virginia, which the federal government recognized as the legitimate government of Virginia.
- Path to Statehood: This loyalist government created a new state from the western counties.
Birth of West Virginia (1863)
After navigating the complex political and constitutional hurdles (including getting approval from the Restored Government of Virginia, which technically represented the whole state), the new state was admitted to the Union. Only upon its official admission on June 20, 1863, did the name "West Virginia" come into formal existence, signifying its geographical location relative to the state it separated from.
Before its formation during the crucible of the Civil War in 1863, West Virginia did not have a distinct name separate from its parent state. It was known simply as the western region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The name "West Virginia" is a direct product of the state's unique birth, forever linking its identity to the historical and political division during one of America's most defining conflicts.
Sources:
- West Virginia Archives and History
- West Virginia Encyclopedia
- Histories of Virginia
- Historical accounts of West Virginia statehood
- Civil War histories focusing on the Appalachian region and Virginia