West Virginia States for Business 2013" based on measures of competitiveness such as economy, workforce and cost of living – ranking among the bottom 5 states for the last six years running. West Virginia ranked 49th in the 2014 State New Economy Index, and has ranked in the bottom three states since 1999. West Virginia ranked last or next-to-last in critical indicators such as Workforce Education, Entrepreneurial Activity, High-Tech Jobs, and Scientists and Engineers. On January 9, 2014 near Charleston, the state capital, a chemical spill occurred that contaminated the water supply of 300,000 people in nine West Virginia counties. According to
Virginia State Route 259 Virginia State Route 259 State Route 259 (SR 259) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs a total of in two sections. The southern section, in northern Rockingham County, has a length of from Interstate 81 (I-81) and U.S. Route 11 (US 11) at Mauzy through Broadway to the West Virginia state line into Mathias. The northern section, in western Frederick County, covers from the West Virginia state line north to US 50 at Gore. The two sections of SR 259 are joined by West Virginia Route 259 (WV 259). SR 259