Q 01/05

West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20 of which year?

A) 1861

B) 1865

C) 1870

D) 1863

Answer · why

D) 1863

It and Nevada were the only two states admitted during the Civil War, and it came in as a slave state that had promised gradual abolition.

Q 02/05

Along with West Virginia, which other state was admitted to the Union during the Civil War?

A) Kansas

B) Nebraska

C) Nevada

D) Colorado

Answer · why

C) Nevada

West Virginia's western and northern counties had set up a 'Restored Government' under Francis Pierpont in 1861 before petitioning Congress.

Q 03/05

What is West Virginia's state motto, Montani Semper Liberi, in English?

A) 'Wild and wonderful'

B) 'Mountaineers are always free'

C) 'The mountains endure'

D) 'Freedom in the hills'

Answer · why

B) 'Mountaineers are always free'

The whole state is inside the Appalachian region, which also explains the nickname The Mountain State.

Q 04/05

What is West Virginia's capital and most populous city?

A) Wheeling

B) Huntington

C) Charleston

D) Morgantown

Answer · why

C) Charleston

It sits where the Elk River meets the Kanawha and has only about 49,000 residents.

Q 05/05

Which city served as West Virginia's first capital, from 1863 to 1870?

A) Parkersburg

B) Wheeling

C) Martinsburg

D) Clarksburg

Answer · why

B) Wheeling

The capital moved to Charleston, back to Wheeling in 1875, and permanently to Charleston after the capitol burned in 1885.