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
West Virginia Route 618 West Virginia Route 618 West Virginia Route 618 is an east–west state highway located almost entirely in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The route follows the former path of U.S. Route 50 through downtown Parkersburg. It was created when US 50 was realigned onto a bypass of Parkersburg constructed as part of an upgrade of Corridor D. The designation is meant as a continuation of Ohio's State Route 618, though that route turns North at the Parkersburg-Belpre Bridge before it would actually meet West Virginia Route 618. The western terminus of WV 618 is at the Ohio state line on the Parkersburg-Belpre