In 1861, many residents of Virginia were opposed to Virginia's secession from the United States, some calling the act of secession treasonous. Following the Wheeling Conventions of 1861, a referendum was held in 41 mostly northwestern Virginia counties on whether to secede from Virginia and seek admission to the United States as a new state. An overwhelming majority of voters in these counties voted in favor of the proposal. The State of West Virginia was admitted to the United States on June 20, 1863. Berkeley Springs remained the conventional name used for the town. Its sister city is Bath, England.