West Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia. After Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, the northwestern counties of Virginia loyal to the United States started the process which would ultimately create the State of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. Settling on a state capital location proved to be difficult. For several years, the capital of West Virginia shifted back and forth between Wheeling and Charleston. Other locations, including Martinsburg and Clarksburg were offered as alternatives. The state's citizens voted on the final location of their capital, Charleston, on August 7, 1877. From the state's inception in 1863, the legislature met in the
West Virginia Route 4 Virginia via WV 20, US 33, WV 28, and US 50. West Virginia Route 4 West Virginia Route 4 is a north–south state highway within and maintained by the U.S. state of West Virginia. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 119 in Clendenin. The northern terminus of the route is at West Virginia Route 20 in Rock Cave. The road connects several towns in the central part of the state. WV 4 is concurrent with U.S. Route 19 from Flatwoods to Ireland. WV 4 used to extend across the state, running west from Clendenin to Kentucky via US 119