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 598 Virginia State Route 598 State Route 598 (SR 598) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as East River Mountain Road, the state highway runs from Interstate 77 (I-77) and U.S. Route 52 (US 52) near Rocky Gap north to the West Virginia state line near Bluefield, West Virginia, where the highway continues as West Virginia Route 598 (WV 598). SR 598 is the old alignment of US 52 on East River Mountain in far northern Bland County. SR 598 begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-77 and US 52. The interchange is along