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 598 West Virginia Route 598 West Virginia Route 598 is a v-shaped state highway located entirely within Bluefield, West Virginia. The southern terminus of the route is at the Virginia state line (and southern city limits of Bluefield), where WV 598 continues southward as Virginia State Route 598. The northern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 52 in Bluefield. WV 598 is a former alignment of US 21 and US 52, the latter of which now runs through the East River Mountain Tunnel with I-77. From its southern terminus at SR 598, WV 598 runs to the south-southwest for