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
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