I'll be selling my place soon , to big for me now, kids are all up and grown, I love it here , dead end rd surrounded by steep grade on teo sides , joining larger tracts all owned by same neighbors for generations, I've been here since 02 and love it, 10 min from town but secluded and secure, just want further out
Lived here my entire life. A lot of people I grew up with moved out and left and I’ve always been told how bad it is here but I LOVE West Virginia. I love hiking, I love jumping in the lakes and kayaking. I love having land between me and the neighbors, I love nature and waking up to deer in my yard, once even a bear. I wouldn’t want to live in a city… every time I see NY or other cities I always gasp and think “ not a single tree in sight! No grass!…WHAT” lol I love to travel but I love coming home.
I have been here for 63 years, I'm not going anywhere soon and they can lay my bones here. I've dug coal under these mountains, fished the rivers, kayaked much of its whitewater, climbed most of its rock cliffs, hunted and trapped lots of wildlife, and seen most of its beautiful mountains. I have never been to a beach in my life, what would be the use?
This is what I plan on getting to. I’ve been here since 2001...ice never met a nicer bunch, and fell in love instantly. My mother misses me, but I can always visit Colorado. WV til I die!
WV girl here and I always will be. I've been to the beaches you're not missing a thing. Our mountains are CLEANER!!!! People here are more respectful....
Most people in West Virginia think exactly the same way. Which is sadly why it is dying. Nobody does anything but what their parents before them did. Coal is a dying job. I’ve watched so many people die tragically in this state. And now everything is closing. Your intent is great, and you should have the right to say what you said. The younger generation, my generation, can’t live on welfare and oxycodone, and we need to build this state into one where our elders can say “Lay my bones here.” Sincerely, A young man who has watched 4 of his family members die in the last two years. Their children leaving them to hang dry, only for cousins out of state to pick up their duties.
I escape Northern VA just about every weekend to WVA. If it wasn't for your State, I would lose my shit with the people in Northern VA. I am happy to spend my money in a wonderful state. The people are great and brutally honest (I respect that).
From what I've seen no just no thats why I hate WV because you guys think you're state is the best state virginia is just a beautiful if not more also you call virginia racist but you're more racist for a northern state.
@@Musicmixer1366 that is not always true there is good places and people in WV. People from all other states stereotype WV because of some bad people and places.
The # 1 con is truly aggravating and frustrating. My husband and I were visiting Pittsburgh, while on the Duquesne incline the couple beside us heard us talking and asked where we were from, obviously heard our accent. She literally asked me if my husband was my cousin then said “I’m surprised you have shoes on.” It was so rude and uncalled for and I’ll never forget it. I’m proud to be multigenerational mountaineer and I will continue to stand up for and defend our beautiful state!
I've run into a lot of that snide attitude from Pittsburgh people over the years, usually the standard 'no shoes' and inbreeding crap. I guess they don't get out much.
Should’ve told them that they looked like the immature ignorant uneducated ones. I swear.. the farther north you go, the ruder the sheeple get! Make fun of us till your heart’s content, just know we’ll remember your nonsensical stereotyping when you’re running for the hills begging for help, as only the country boy can survive!
Usually, it's from people who praise big cities as being the end all be all. It's just another way for people to feel superior to others by putting them down. If waiting in traffic for hours to go 2 miles, pollution, high crime, etc... is your thing WV won't interest you ;) I could never go back to living in Charlotte, NC, bars on windows, bullet proof glass, felt like I was a possible criminal or in jail already. I've argued with people online what good are big cities if you're always broke and can't go out? But but there's so much to do!?!?! Not when you're broke from paying $3k for an apartment a month, lol. Not to mention how expensive it can be to own a car in big cities. I don't see how most people afford to live there???
I moved to WV in 2018 from Las Vegas. I worked there for a project for about a year and decided that WV is where I belong. I knew the work was scarce but since I always work in different states that didnt bother me. The cost of living is unbelievably cheap as well as the price of property. Also the people I befriended there were so kind and the scenery is beautiful. I will never live in another state.
I too am planning to move to West Virginia next year when my lease is up here in Las Vegas. I'm thinking Harper's Ferry area and commute to Maryland for work.
My oldest son is currently in school to become a forest service member and has been told that West Virginia is the best place to go for this. He's pretty excited about the possibility.
Many Folks in West Virginia grow their own crops. Our Gardens do fine and produce great crops in West Virginia. We have plenty of good weather and time to do it in. Ask Me How I Know.
This is very true! My next video is likely to be an update on my own homestead among the hills. Plenty of growing time... but those coming from warmer climates or who have their hearts set on growing certain things need to know what they're getting into. 🙂
I love my life in West Virginia. I have to take into account I have a well paying job as a college professor, and the lower cost of living here helps a lot. I'm a biologist, so I love the biodiversity (many species hanging on in spite of industrialization), and my periodically flooding garden does very well. I'll freely admit that our state has its problems. One is that people get beat down as something inferior. West Virginians are no worse off than New Yorkers, Californians, or any other state.
The old saying, you can take a boy out of West Virginia but you can't take the West Virginia out of a boy. I use to live at Coopers, WVa when I was a youngster, miss WVa a whole lot.
I currently live in California but im from Elkins WV. I’m also moving home for a reason. For people watching this that’s never visited the state just know we are a proud bunch of people and despite whatever you hear on these videos is nothing compared to what the state had to offer. If you have the chance move to it, visit it often and you will understand why I will forever call it my home.
No money, jobs or growth. Dark, gloomy depressing and 0 opportunities for a sucessful proffesiional life. School system suck. Graduates cannot compete on a country level. Whats so good about this place? Let me know because I hate it
This a nicely done video containing truth. I was born and raised in WV and was one of those who had to move away for a better career. 29 years later I am finally able to return to my beautiful home, WV. Living those many years in the south I have heard all the jokes, the stereotype opinion about my beloved home. I would always just smile and go about my day. Most can never understand what draws us to love WV, I won't even attempt to explain it. But will say what I missed the most. It's people. The best I have ever met. We are the sort of people to say good morning and mean it. When we say if you need anything, we mean that too. I can't wait to get back home. I'm packing at the time of this post and will be a mountaineer again next week. Thank God. I love WV.
I'm from Chapmanville, West Virginia. From a holler, outside of town, so deep between 3 cliffs that we only got 3 hours of sunlight a day. Everyone worked in the mines. I was barefoot every day, washed my clothes in the creek. I loved it and miss it every day.
And poeple like you are the reason for the stereo type boone, logan and mingo are full of thieves and dope heads it would be good place to do nuclear testing im sure its be a improvement
In about 3 weeks I'm moving from South Florida to West Virginia. People act like I've lost my mind at first ... and then they kinda act like they wish they were coming with me. The one thing I have leaned in the months it took to get this far is that a vast majority of residents absolutely adore the state even with its faults. It's almost heaven for a reason. I hear her voice in the morning hour she calls me.
Yes WV has its challenges but it feels like home always will. Lived in Florida 3x and have come back here once again in retirement. This is my 3rd time living here and I love it! It's a slower pace, change of seasons is wonderful, and most people are very friendly. Welcome to Wild and Wonderful WV!!!
Born and lived in WV and also went to Florida. They had a saying then: Go on vacation, come back in violation and in ... it's been a long time. Now in a state of goodness with much gratitude. Learned lessons 🙏
@TurnedLeftAtTheRockyMountains Well my house has a bit more than an a 1/2 acre of land but it is in a small city. I have deer on or near my land every day and it feels far more country than it is. The house is built on the identical one it replaced which was built around the civil war and burned down in the late 1890's. It was rebuilt in 1901. We're in the Ohio Valley part of WV. I've learned that god fearing people know how to behave in public.
I grew up just south of Fairmont, left for a career in the military, I have traveled and lived in many different parts of the US and WV is home. I will be retiring to WV in a few years and already spend about half of my time in WV on the piece of property I grew up on. When I die, I will be buried in WV, there are cons to any place but for me, I am looking forward to the permanent homecoming.
So Happy for you! I grew up in TN but visited my mother's family in WV throughout my childhood. I always thought WV was absolutely magical - like no other place in the world! Wonderful, indeed!
I grew up on river bottom land in Boone county. My dad grew a large garden every year which produced so many vegetables that we gave food away ever year. The soil was back as coal producing fishing worms galore. I kept a coffee can hanging on the plow so I could fish the Little Coal river.
Oh, before I forget. To those of you who are planning to move to WV, or who have already done so, PLEASE do NOT bring your horrible manners and bad driving habits with you! Thank you!
As long as you dont make assumptions based on my Ohio plates! :) I always feel soo self conscious about my plates. We are dual citizens so our plates are still Ohio, I feel the judgements! lol
I live in Grant County and I'm off the grid. We get lots of sunshine. I depend on solar power, the only challenge I have is during the winter when days are short and the sun is low in the sky. My water source is rainwater, haven't come close to running the two 1500 gal tanks low yet. I love this state, best place by far I've lived.
@@JohnDoe-sx2zk I'm not sure what you mean by solar power unit. I have 12 pole mounted 255w solar panels, a Morningstar 30A TriStar MPPT charge controller, 8 Crown RE 6 volt batteries in series to equal 48 volts, and a Magnum Energy MS4448PAE Inverter. I hope that answers your question.
The only thing that keeps me here in Wva is family an friends also hunting an fishing .there are no good jobs here,that's what is disappointing about Wva.
Only thing keeping me here is my old lady, i want to move states for a better job, dont get me wrong make way above minim wage, and we live comfortably. But i want better for me and the family and not a hole lot of jobs here.
We have jobs here in West Virginia. Good paying jobs. But no one wants to do them. Everyone wants a lot of pay for little work. We have about 700 teaching vacancies in the state. That’s 700 well paying jobs that need filled! If you want a good job, learn a trade or I don’t know, become a teacher!
@@boballard2355 you can’t take an Uber in these little towns, people are poor. And it’s hard to even get a start when you’re poor. Sounds like you’ve never experienced that.
W.V. is a beautiful state and a "free" state not like many other restrictive states (that's why the split from VA). No matter where you go no state is perfect and all have the their good and not so good points. With that being said only narcissistic ignorant people make fun of other people and cultures. Thank you for the video very nicely done. 😊
Own a sweet little vacation rental cottage in historic district of beautiful Fayetteville, WV. I have no CONS except wanting to retire there but too far away from family. Love this little town with longest arch bridge in western hemisphere !!
You are killing it way harder than anybody you know knows how substantially hard you are KILLING it having a retirement spot out there....one of the best places the state has to offer
We recently stayed in a Historic B&B place in Fayetteville. Loved the place run by a young couple. Ate and drank in local pub there. Wonderful hospitality.
Fayetteville, WV is my home town, lived here since i was born 30 years ago and am less than a mile away from the New River Gorge Bridge, could walk to it in 5 minutes. But no matter how much or to where I travel I always long for home sweet home. It might sound odd but when returning to WV from somewhere else you get this feeling of comfort and subconcious knowledge that you're home. It's a difficult feeling to describe to those who haven't lived here or felt it, but once you cross state lines into WV and get into the mountains it' a comforting and reassuring feeling that you get all through you even in your bones. No matter where this life takes me I know I'll always return home to this little slice of heaven that is WV.
I don't mind them. I spent early childhood in N. California which has the same terrain, just upside-down. I find landscapes like Kansas a little unsettling. I live near Wheeling, by the way. I DO think it's funny that we have a local baseball park at a 15-20 degree angle (not average, the whole thing is at that angle) because around here, that counts as "flat".
IM TOTALLY CHOOSNG WV FOR A RETIREMENT SPOT ITS ON THE EAST COAST CLOSE TO THE THEME PARKS N VA BEACH PLUS TOTALLY ISOLATED N PRIVATE N AFFORDABLE . I LUV THAT
I was born in Beckley West Virginia but was moved to Ohio after birth but my whole family lives there!! WEST VIRGINIA IS WILD AND WONDERFUL!! I've been think of moving to West Virginia it's the most beautiful state I've ever seen especially in the fall time!! 😊✌🙏
Beckley has built up quite a bit. There's still nice small towns like Hinton with lots to do and nice people (close to where I live). I'm not far from Beckley, Princeton, or Lewisburg, 3 bigger cities with more to do/places to eat/jobs.
@@worldserpent731 I'm from Rupert, its about 30 miles from Lewisburg. super small town, no grocery stores, just gas stations and churches, closest grocery store is about 8 miles away in Rainelle. I now live in the SF bay Area and will never go back to Rupert, WV
I left WV for Ga in 2005 to further my career, worst mistake I ever made. Fortunately it's looking like I may be able to move back in the next year or two.
@@dalewr38 Your painting with a pretty broad brush, just saying the same things that anger you when others talk the same way about West Virginia. Cities can be wonderful places to live, many very nice things about Chicago, Baltimore, and especially Atlanta. The country and country folk have many of the same problems as cities and city folk.
Dont let looks fool you come here in January and you will see a place that looks like its been ravaged with fire they only show fall pics truth is its not that pretty
@@JamesSmith-rm6to Exactly every time someone says how beautiful West Virginia is the first thing I wonder is have you ever been anywhere else. Virtually every inch of this state has been either timbered, fracked, or mined.
Awww! So glad to hear it! Forgive me if I'm wrong, but based on your profile pic it appears you (or someone you love) may be a person of color... If so, can you comment on how welcome/safe you feel here? I get asked all the time how the reception/racism is in WV but feel very under qualified to comment. I love all people equally and assume that everyone around me does too, but it would be great to hear your thoughts. I believe it could be very helpful to others looking to relocate. Is WV 90%+ white because we are racist or just because others haven't discovered how wonderful it is here yet?
Yes!! Please tell me how it is for y’all? My husband and i are mixed and Hispanic from the south, i would love to hear how people react or if they do to your family ❤️ we were forced to move to ID and people stare etc. hate it.
@@ajg9758 People stare here. I don't like it either. It's rude & uncomfortable. It feels good to know that I'm not weird for noticing. I hope yall will have a different experience.
@@SedSeddy Thanks so much for replying, yeah that's a no-go for us. Might venture to vacation/visit up there some time instead. But looking to start a family and missing that southern hospitality, I had hoped it'd be like that up there. I was weary - so I really appreciate the response. I've had people at a 4 stop way drive across slowly staring at me in my car. It's very rude. Hoping to find beauty close to that in Tennessee or North Carolina! It's GOTTA be gorgeous out up there in WV. I Guess pros and cons, huh?
That was a very good presentation but, there are a few more things you have to adjust to living here in West Virginia. One: we are not New York so if you like the city life you will not like living here. Two: we don't have all the different retail stores you are probably use to having close by. Three: Along with the Retail store you should note that also goes for restaurants. Most non-fast food restaurants are Bob Evans, Applebee's, Fat Patty's, Outback, Olive Garden and with a Shoney's or two still around. There are other family restaurants that have great food and good pricing. West Virginia is not a fast-paste style of living. We enjoy our slower paced living just as it is, no frills. We may not have all the things available you're use to but in most cases you won't miss it anyway.
I'm a proud born and raised West Virginian, from McDowell County ,Coal Country,and i agree with you ,too many people listen to the negative instead of looking deeper within. I thank you for posting this video, I just subscribed to your channel, I love my home WVa but i had to move because of the floods that were back to back, took my home from me, but no matter where i'm living my home is West Virginia
Thanks so much! It's something I had to make for conscience sake. :) I'd hate for someone to get here and realize it wasn't what they'd expected. When you're ready to move back give me a shout. :)
I know how you feel Alan. I can't Maryland any more and want to go somewhere more scenic. I figured if I am going to be poor, rather be poor in West Virginia than be poor in Maryland.
My husband and I just jumped in with both feet and are waiting to close on our little slice of heaven in WV. We visited it often and during all the various seasons. This made it easier for us to narrow down an area that felt good to us. Honestly, I can’t wait!
At least WV is sunnier than London or Seattle! And you can get vitamin D from sunflower seeds and fish. All, if not only most, of the level ("flat" doesn't mean "level" -- a cliff could be flat) land is prone to floods.
I plan on moving there asap.washington state was great once upon a time, but not anymore. Need a mellow change where we can start fresh and still have my mountains.
Give me a shout! I'd love to do a free consultation with you to help you out and answer any questions you might have. Feel free to call or text: 681-404-2332
My husband and I just left WA for WV. I am Southern, but my husband was born and raised in WA and said his state has been totally hijacked. It is sad but we are happy to be in a state that still has its spine intact.
Your money will go a lot further, rent/property prices are much much cheaper here. Some people bought a house next door to me for $20k 5 bedroom, 2 bath, etc... but it needed work. Still a great purchase
Moved to WV from Chicago almost 2 decades ago. No regrets. This is home. Soggy weather and all. The beauty here, outweighs anything 'negative'. There is a magic here, I haven't found anywhere else.
I lived there for work for a few years. For most people from outside the region, it would be a very difficult transition. Some other cons to consider: 1) social, cultural and economic isolation 2) Poverty - it fluctuates between poorest, and second poorest state 3) lack of innovation - 200 years of being company towns, and completley dependent on the coal owners, a culture which lacks innovation is apparent 4) Fatalism of much of the population (related to # 3)
These are very true observations for most of the small towns. I'd say they only slightly apply to the larger or more upper class cities/towns like Morgantown and Bridgeport.
I'm originally from West Virginia. I love it there but i've lived out of state for almost 30 years because there's no work down there. I'll probably move back when in retire.
I tried to move there 2 years ago. I fell in love. I’m closing in on a job that will allow me to go back and I’m so excited to be looking for property in the Mountain State again!
I know like 30 people that go to Florida in the winter. Like literally one dude did a reverse mortgage on his house so he could do winters in Florida till he dies. West Virginia winters can suck sometimes. We do get a kick watching people from Florida drive in WV. 😂
Great presentation I like your truthfulness. I'm already in the process of buying some land in Braxton county. I'm near retirement I want to live in a nice community. I spent a month with my wife in a mountain area around Rosedale. Met a lot of beautiful wonderful people. Heard stories about people whose house is burned down in the community and neighbors helped build them another one. Farmers who would help their neighbor with septic tanks. Everywhere you go people wave and love to have a friendly conversation. When I went to the town of Gasaway I found the people very very friendly. It's about a half an hour away from where we will be in the mountains. They have a Kroger's there. I was enamored by the friendliest people I've met. And the church that had overwhelming love for each other in the congregation. I have a lot of respect for the loving hard-working people of West Virginia. They have won my heart.
Grandparents were from w.v. in an isolated area. It was like going back in time when we visited there was nothing my grandmother couldn't do they had a huge garden they smoked their meat she could even can meat made her own butter. I can remember as a child when we would visit from Ohio yep dad came up here find work that's what you did. They had a pot belly stove in the living room no running water and the outhouse didn't care much for the outhouse. Dad and My uncles ran some pipes down the well into the house got Grandma some running water they even put a bathroom in for them. Hard work sometimes they had to hunt their own food but still wonderful place.
Update: I found a nice old house on .6 of an acre in Parkersburg with a nature preserve (Ft. Boreman) across the street. I absolutely love it here (came from South Florida). There is so much wildlife and the people are very nice. Lots of jobs around here too. The red clay is the worst part. It is often muddy and very slippery.
Born and raised fellow wv girl here. I have moved away twice but my mountain mama always calls me home. I love in bluefield now and I guess this will be where I keep my roots for my kids. Our drug problem here is terrible and so sad but it's like that so many other places too. Something that you will find here are some of the best and kindest people on the planet! Out of everywhere I have ever been you will never find people like you.do here on wv 💙💛
Bluefield is becoming bad, but there's small communities around you to avoid the drama and stay out of trouble. I like to live on the outskirts of city.
@@worldserpent731 I agree. I live right in bluefield but I was raised in bluewell and montcalm. My parents still live in bluewell and tbh it's getting pretty bad there now too. The only thing left there is four wheeler riders and dope. But I still consider it my home and I love it
@@kaylasprettynails2848 I believe in the future I might move to Princeton. The police seem to do their job and Princeton is starting to grow. My small town is dying, but that seems to be what most people want. Try to keep it a secret or something. Wonderful people here though, and it's very pretty if you enjoy nature. I'm kinda tired of having to drive all the way to Princeton or Bluefield for something small, lol.
Isn't every other place a drug problem? That is just the norm everywhere. Those who want to do it, do and those who don't, don't. So I don't think that is really an issue unless its on your property of on your site. I don't know of a state or country that doesn't have these issues.
As far as "bad reputation" being the number 1 con against WV, I would answer that if John Denver can write such a beautiful song about the State, it's good enough for me! ( I am born, raised and live in Western Canada)
Good video hun and you are very honest. I enjoy living here (40 years now) but I must say another CON would be the tons of abandoned/dilapidated houses that seem to be everywhere nowadays. P.S. I think it might be "stay tuned"...not "stay toon".
Completely agree! My husband and I are in the process of rescuing one of those abandoned houses but I must say, I know why more don't do so. 😔 P.S. Thanks, that's what you get when you make TH-cam videos at midnight while the kiddos are sleeping. 😅
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia While I 100% agree with you, I still think it's even a bigger problem that non-home buildings are abandoned here in large amounts. By non-home, I mean commercial or public buildings that are empty. So many towns are loaded with them, including my town. If you're lucky, the first floor is at least used, with all upstairs floors vacant, but in many cases, it's just run-down, abandoned buildings. I just wish there were a way to condemn and remove them and replace with natural WV habitat.
@@happycamper6352 very true. Locally for me the city of Fairmont just recently changed their rules about parking spaces being available for these buildings. I didn't personally know it, but for us, the reason a lot of these buildings weren't being used was because there were rules requiring a certain number parking spaces per square foot of used commercial space, making it impossible to do anything with a lot of the old buildings crammed into downtown a hundred years ago when cars were a big thing. With the new rules, these buildings should be more attractive to investors and businesses. 🤔
Hi Amanda, thanks again for a very nicely done video. Your delivery and subject coverage is excellent; you hit on all of things I would expect to hear about just from visiting other sites and hearing the issues you mentioned here. To me, there is no perfect place to live, there is always concessions here and there and it all depends on what matters most or bothers you the most. Personally, I am sick of sky high property taxes, overcrowding on the roads and witnessing beautiful farmland being gobbled up by developers who take advantage of tax breaks (someone funds this, probably the taxpayers) to build monstrous sized warehouses and then just leave them empty due to speculation. Roads are overrun with cars and trucks so crowded it is accident-ridden. I still find the State of WV appealing on so many other levels. These videos really do help me in the decision process of moving there. Again, thank you for this posting!
I can add a couple of other cons to West Virginia. 1) health care. WV has the lowest life expectancy and the highest death rate in the country. Due to poverty and a bad healthcare system with an almost monopoly of availability from WVU Healthcare System in the state with fair to horrible services. Research is the priority, medical neglect and malpractice has no oversight. 2) Education is generally poor. There are teenagers that can't read, and college students that can't write a complete sentence. That doesn't deter the state colleges from charging high tuition and overcharging students with no receipts. 3) Corrupt politics. The governor is worth two billion dollars from success in the coal industry while having indictments against him for unsafe working conditions. 4) Gov. Justice ran as a democrat but turned to a republican after getting elected. The first thing he did was eliminate the resource tax which put WV in the red for close to half a billion dollars, which caused cutbacks and some school closures. Now fossil fuel, mining, and logging companies can take the resources and leave toxic waste or dump in the water. 5) Taxes. WV has every type of tax on its residents. From income tax to personal property tax, to high sales tax being raised again to include food. This in one of the two poorest states in the country. So, WV is beautiful but there are many disadvantages to living here. You don't have to worry about too many tourists. WV does not encourage tourism, another lack of income.
Thank you for the politics analysis part, it's sad that the corrupt politicians destroy this beautiful and humble state. Hope that the new national park can bring in some tourist.
@@jason4554123 Agree. Unfortunately, people keep voting in corrupt coal tycoons that foster legislation that devastates our state with mining, mountain top removal, unregulated chemical plants, and massive toxic dumping into our ground and surface waters. All for their profit while doing nothing for the people. I hope that people will realize what is happening, because we could have a good tourist industry with jobs and businesses that wouldn't ravage our environment like North Carolina, Tennessee, and other states with the Appalachian range going through. First we have to get rid of corrupt fossil fuel business owners like Justice and Manchin.
Another con is the opiate prob we have here, one of the highest , ha ha, overdose rate in the country , the younger ones suffer the most,they just cant get away from other addicts, it spreads like a disease
@@petunialuna4801 I know about the mountain top removal mining in Kentucky, it's devastating... And I'm hoping that it had been mostly stopped. I've also came across a little town called Mindon WV that it's residents are suffering from cancer and blood clot due to the poisonous water , yet EPA and the State just ignored them cause that it's only 200 plus people there. I always feel sad and heartbreaking to all these humble people who power up our nation and so many of them just get left behind and abandoned by the nation. I really hope that WV can be a happy small state and young people can find jobs and support their family, hopefully tourism and the small town charm can replace the endless mining and boost the economy.
Don't worry about the lack of sunlight. We make up for it with moonshine. ;) My grandfather always said, "You gotta have the gray to get the green." I was raised here, but lived in several places, with most of my time outside West Virginia having been spent in Colorado. Moisture isn't abundant on the east side of the Rockies. The vegetation can be sparse & dry riverbeds aren't uncommon. After ten years out there, I swore to myself to never complain about the rain & snow in West Virginia.
When I first read the quote from your grandfather I thought it ment gray (matter - brain) to get green (money) 🤣 guess it's technically right both ways but I was so confused how that applied. 🤦🏼♀️ I do agree though... I'd would never trade the lush green we have for sunshine 🙃
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia That's amusing/interesting. It shows how much of how we think is applied to what we read. I was thinking vegetation & you thought of money. "Papaw" was full of aphorisms like that. He was an illiterate coal miner who worked in the mines from the age of 8, but he was so sharp-witted that I was in my late teens before I realized he couldn't read. Another of his observations was, "The man is always the head of the household, and the woman is the neck. You end up turning whichever way she wants, no matter what you think about it."
@@sharonwamsley3987 I think that depends on where you live in the state. I've heard that Weirton gets more sun than rain. Where I live we have about even days of rain and sun, BUT we have a majority of cloudy days with no rain OR sun. 🙃
Great video! Born and raised in WV and living there now, I like to say that I have lived in all three of the states people make the most fun of -- WV, NJ, and FL. I actually loved all three. Guess life is what you make of it.
@@hgoatt107 Morgantown isn't a town. There's racism just about everywhere. I've heard a lot of racist crap from a man who lived in Detroit Michigan. Depends on where you go and who you choose to be around.
I think if you think WV has a lack of sunshine, visit the PNW in fall and winter. Visit England. I used to live in England. Born and raised in WV. I've never thought of WV as being short on sunshine, but maybe it depends on where you live. If you're living deep in the mountains, I can see the weather there being more like you describe. The Eastern Panhandle weather is quite different from that. We get a lot of sunshine in spring, summer and fall and it gets VERY hot here in summer.
Good to know. I'm in North Central and our weather is VERY similar to the PNW. We do see very hot summers (we've already been in the 90s) but the winter is very wet, cloudy, and the shorter days only add to the 😔
I live in the eastern panhandle also and after moving here from Virginia love it ! People are freindly and taxes are lower then va lots of jobs in Berkeley County
This is a great analysis of the problems in your state, and you addressed it beautifully. It is sad that people get Virginia and West Virginia confused, wow!
😅😅 Yup, they definitely do. I even watched an episode of "It's a Southern Thing" recently and the lady definitely didn't know WEST Virginia was a place. 🤦🏼♀️
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia That is scary, that people who think that are out there. There is a part of my brain that thinks that is funny though. No way they passed a geography course.
I'm an adopted Mountaineer, from Northern California. I live in Charleston now, a city of which I am growing fonder every day. Not to discount your video, but here are my top 3 "cons": 1) It takes a long time to get anywhere. The mountains are certainly spectacular, but you need to devote some time to get from "holler to holler" only 5 windy and curvy miles away. Carsickness isn't a joke, either. Be prepared for an hour or more wait if there is some traffic accident or something like that blocking the road. 2) Random DUI checkpoints. I am not a drunk driver or anything like that, however- I've stumbled across these three times in the last few months, and they back up traffic for miles. Friday and Saturday seem to be the common time, and yes, they do publish them on the Highway Patrol website however I don't make visiting a law enforcement website part of my day-to-day activities. Be prepared for them if you are a drinker, I hear that DWI fines are intense. 3) The Turnpike tolls and EVERYTHING about the 64/77 Interstate. If you want to get into the populated area of WV, where all the jobs and people are, be prepared to spend around $14 each way into Charleston, thanks to their "88 Miles of Hell" called the WV Turnpike. It is an extremely dangerous and substandard Interstate freeway, with sharp bends, slow-moving trucks, and significant grades and declines. Don't follow anybody too closely because you WILL NOT see a 30-gallon water container lying in the middle of the road, fallen off someone's truck. It's a hair-raising, white-knuckle ride from either of the VA borders and the toll booths are lame too- even if you have an EZ pass, expect a wait for all the lane spillovers from the pay-by-cash people. Hope this helps- don't let my list of "cons" fool you, prospective homesteader. I assure you, my list of "pros" far outweighs this list.
nice video . from here in europe we actualy have no idea what is where in america while we being brought up with 60% of tv programs are american movies and series . trough these type of vids in covid times i learned a lot . and west virginia looks like a beautifull state , there is no such place as just good things . you earned a sub )
Born and raised in Huntington, WV and moves to Los Angeles, California for a decade...... recently moved back and I am so much safe, happier, and well taken care of.... No regrets for moving away or moving back. Life is good where you make it and I love my hometown. I could easily life here for the rest of my life. Country Roads took me home and I'm very thankful.
I fell in love with the Mountaineer State..Wonderful Strong, cheerful , independent ,brilliant folks...fantastic hunters...extremely hard workers...I hugely admired and respected the Mountain folks...
It definitely is different in one area to the next. It's a completely different world when I travel down south of the state. What area are you visiting?
From southern michigan love riding my motorcycle and that's what i want to do alot when i retire been looking into the ozarks in arkansas and west virginia just a simple type of guy here that likes the same type of people such a beautiful state
Such a great video! I spent a year working in Bridgeport remodeling the Maplewood retirement center and absolutely loved the area. Now a decade later I'm hoping to move to a rural property outside of Charleston.
Okay here's my take on West Virginia. I live two states away, just outside Raleigh, NC. I'm a native of NC and can reach just about everywhere in WV in five or six hours. But until last year I had never really been to West Virginia other than passing through. I grew up on a tobacco farm and I hunted and fished and enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle. But now my hometown has morphed into a place with over two million people The average home price---if you can even find one----is bumping $500 k. So, last year when I drove to WV and spent a couple of weeks there, well, I absolutely loved it. The people were great and the scenery was just beautiful. Just up my alley. I saw lots of wildlife and, since I'm a hunter I plan to spend some time there on a hunting trip next year. Sure, there are drawbacks to any place. I noticed that the roads are indeed pretty bad and lot's of areas look really poor. But I must admit that I really like West Virginia. I'm gonna spend more time there in the future.
I am planning to retire to WV to homestead on land I bought in 2018. I have a tiny house on my land which I have used for weekends but I am planning to get bigger home before moving there permanently. It is a very beautiful state, very nice people, and very affordable. I think with improved cell towers or star link it will become very attractive to more retirees and people who are tele-working from home.
Moved to WV a couple of years ago. Best decision I have made. I can watch barges go up and down the Ohio river. I also can watch deer in the woods from my front porch. I have the best of both worlds.
Almost every wild plant in WV is edible. No need for cultivation, plantin. Some irrigation and tree-prunin is usually needed. Plants will resist bugs without aid, if the soil is rich and wet enough. Just harvest and dry or can the stuff. . You can grow potted ginger indoors. Bury some dried root with the nodes on it in a pot.
One of the greatest facts for me is I have traveled across the country and lived in other states such as Ohio, North Carolina for a couple years each. I have seen Canada. I have been to some very beautiful places. But there’s no where I would rather be than living in West Virginia. You can live where ever you desire that’s your choice. But I like small towns with less people. Anywhere else you go you have no privacy. I don’t like sitting on the streets waiting 5 minutes for a break in traffic. I’ll stick to West Virginia any day.
I moved here from Washington, DC in 2005. I love WV! Yea, my friends in the city think I'm nuts. I just tell them being nuts can be fun. We have a beautiful state!
@@Porklion actual diversity. Not 97% white and 3% black and even smaller Asian and Latin population that decide to sell subpar Chinese and Mexican food bc they know that West Virginia doesn’t know any better. I won’t even to touch the fact that even a high school dropout can leave WV and get a decent job somewhere else.
I moved into WV in 2015.. I love the state and the people.. The property tax on vehicles takes a bit to get used to.. But other than that, this is a state I will live in until the day I die.. It is an amazingly beautiful state.. It has the worlds largest moveable Telescope in Green Bank.. It has amazing food.. And the roads, if you have a bike or a trike.. LOTS to love about it here.
Left NJ in 1967 for WVU and after graduation went back to NJ for 18 months then came back to WV (Huntington area) in 1973 and have been here since then. Wonderful people, wonderful rivers, mountains and forests, you really can get lost here, really. Great fishing, great festivals, interesting history, and great education opportunities. Internet access is very good in and around the urban centers. That access is getting better for rural areas thanks to her congressional reps and governor. I’d recommend it.
true.I missed the beautiful scenery ,river, mountain and forest.I did my degree at WVIT Montgomery in 80s.Good and nice people .now living in my home country , Malaysia.😊
the ONLY thing on this list that is something to turn me away is lack of cell/internet service. I live in Ohio so pretty much everything you said is a pro, I am used to already. I fell in love with the state during my first visit to Pt. Pleasant and absolutely will move to West Virginia at the earliest convenience.
15 years ago I moved from Philadelphia to West Virginia, near Bluefield. It was not planned, a course of actions led me here. It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I did put an alarm system on my house and stayed back in my home state for four of the 15 years. One of the first things I noticed coming from the north is that people in West Virginia will ask, and tell you anything. They consider it being friendly, whereas in the north, we consider it being nosey...lol. It is just too conservative here for me. And boy does it rain a lot . Yes, there is a lot of natural beauty. And I have met some really good people. But, it's just not for me. I'm currently waiting for my senior dog to cross the Rainbow Bridge and I'm selling my house and I'm out of here and never looking back. If you are considering a move to West Virginia I suggest renting a place before buying and trying it out. Also, if you are not from West Va it will take awhile for the locals to trust and accept you. I'm sure this is going to irritate some people but it is just my view and experience. Lastly, a couple things I do like is the fact that the summers are not too hot. I live close to America's air-conditioned City (Lemonade days) and that really is wonderful. If the temperature breaks 90 the town celebrates with free lemonade. And we don't have many lemonade days. Also, taxes are ridiculous here. I have a huge beautiful Cape Cod and my taxes are 380 a year. Because of homestead exemption I get 280 back. So it cost me $100 a year in property tax. But, West Virginia has something called personal property tax. Which was new to me. You pay taxes on your vehicles, recreational vehicles motorcycles Etc. I actually pay more money in taxes each year for my car than my house! Anyway, peace to you all.
Thank you so much for your well thought out comment! It is very true, if your not conservative... You likely won't be happy in WV. Most I know come here for the conservative values.
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia I love your video, I'm a Western Pennsylvanian, and have been to West Virginia countless times (and really love It), but the conservative/liberal divide is very disturbing. We are all Americans and should treat each other accordingly. I'm not necessarily for big government, but the current leaders have seemingly done little to improve the day-to-day living conditions of many West Virginians.
My Mom was from Mount Hope, WV and Dad was born in Oswald, WV, a mining camp that I don't think exists anymore and I am not sure where it was. My parents grew up in the Great Depression there and had opposite views of the place. Mom couldn't wait to leave, and Dad always wanted to go back, but was never able to.
You got that right!!!!! It's definitely a tradition handed down for generations in these parts. It's not hard to find, if you earn the trust of the right people.
Lived here for 30 yrs and I still don’t like it. Don’t know if I ever will. Poverty, drugs, weather is ugly most of the year except for summer & it’s very depressing, lack of bigger opportunities, very little to no exposure to other cultures, very little entertainment, most have zero goals to expand their knowledge of the world or be open minded to things outside tradition…the list goes on. I have valid points. I refuse to argue with anyone on my personal experience of this place. It has killed my spirit living here.
Thank you for your brutally honest comment. I hope you’re able to find a better place to call home…This is exactly how I feel in Alabama, and I’ve been trying to find ANY place better. I’ve heard horror stories on WV (and I was nervous because of other obvious reasons), but people started convincing me WV was the best kept secret. I’m not trying to leave one struggle to move to another one though!😖
I love WV. I was not born there, but my father was from there, and we lived in the Bluefield/Princeton area for 5 years when I was young. My biggest annoyance is people asking where in Virginia I lived. When I was in 3rd grade we had to know every state on the map and the Capitol of that state.
Same here in Taylor County. If you plan on digging a post hole or burying a pet, be ready with some hardcore rock cracking tools. And, if you plan on backfilling said holes, be sure to keep your topsoil separate from the other stuff so that you can backfill it last so that you can plant grass in it and expect it to grow. Also, don't expect a traditional septic system to percolate properly. Expect to double the already high price with an aeration system. These are all lessons I have learned while living here when it comes to soils. Still a nice place to live though.
Yeah we live in a mountain range. Back before you could buy cinderblocks you would use the rocks on your property to build your foundation to your home and remove rocks from your garden. When my parents or kids you could buy TNT at the local hardware store
When I tell people we are planning to move to WV their eyes roll back into their heads. I just don’t get it. I found it and the people there, at least around Bluefield and Princeton to be super nice. It’s the last affordable place in America with moderate weather.
Public utilities in WV are generally more expensive than many other areas. Water and Sanitation are definitely higher , Electricity (heating and cooling) is higher (even though we have the coal and many power plants). The people that I have spoken to about electric costs say it averages about $250 to $300 during the winter months, and only slightly less during the summer. We have natural gas in abundance as a less expensive heating fuel, the problem is availability because of the rural makeup of the state. Another real problem is transportation, very little public access, and personal vehicle fuel (gasoline) is more expensive than surrounding states. Roads are horrendous, and unsafe for all but the experienced drivers. Housing is less expensive, but that is a small reward to having little industry and jobs. Public education is very iffy, some counties meet national standards, but many fall far short. I have traveled and worked throughout the country, this is home, but I have found many places superior to WV for families. The hills and mountains are beautiful, but that is about it for this state.
Healthcare is cheaper. I go to west virginia from ohio. The healthcare costs where I go are way less then ohio. But we have high deductable on our insurance, So its saved us a lot of money. If you are on medicare, then doesnt matter. We lived in Florida 25 yrs. We are in Ohio bordering W VA. Compared to Florida, everything is much cheaper. Everything.........
Larry, thanks for your well thought out comment. According to data from national research companies, utilities on average are about 10% less than the national average in WV, but I would bet that varies depending on where you live. I've heard the electric company in the southern part of the state charges an arm and a leg. 😱 My electric is never over $100, personally. Our water bill feels high to me but its about the same as it was when we lived in KY. As for fuel, in my area people cross over from PA all the time to grab gas because the price for gasoline in PA is outrageous.
@@sharoncrawford3042 Some things perhaps. I go to the Cleveland Clinic because of better care, technology, and they are actually much less expensive than CAMC, the large medical facilities in Charleston WV. I have had the exact same procedures (Pacemaker and Atrial Ablation) performed at both places, and locally it costs about 33% more.
I’m from cali born and raised (northern cali its a lot more country than you would expect i swear we’re not all like Los Angeles) I went to West Virginia 2 years ago fell in love with it it is the most beautiful place we have ever seen and me and my wife decided that’s where we wanted to raise our son we just bought our home there 77 acres no close neighbors can’t wait for the peace and quiet
I lived in West Virginia almost all my life , born here & will die here . My dad was a coal miner & mom was a house wife & 4 kids to take care of .. never once did we go hungry or go dirty , we had a nice house & lived pretty good compared to some others . But are we all bare foot, pregnant, no teeth ??? NO , we are not ! I kinda laugh when I go out of state & people hear me talk & ask where I’m from ?? I say , West Virginia, and proud of it ! There are poor & rich , pretty , ugly , smart , and not so smart people here … but it’s everywhere in this world ! So if you come to West Virginia, I hope you have a great time & just relax .. and I hope you meet some nice folks , cause most of us are wonderful people & love to talk !! 💗💗
YESSSS!!! Thank you for putting it so well! Someone else commented on here that she was in Pittsburgh, which is literally less than 2 hours from my house so you'd think they get plenty of people from WV there. She said she had someone find out she was from WV and ask if her husband was her husband and say they were impressed she had shoes on. 😱🤯 How could people be so ignorant and rude at the same time. 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I love WV, been here all my life but I will be leaving soon. The taxes, lack of good jobs and drug epidemic has gotten to be too much. I want more opportunity for my kids and the education system here is horrible. It's just not worth it anymore. I will miss you all. Come to Florida and visit me cuz!
@@robbygood9718 hey cuz ! Sorry you are going , but I wish you the best luck & thank you for being a good friend to me ! I wish you & your family the best ! But , don’t forget where you are from !
Guessing $110k.
That's about as close as anyone could get! It's actually $112k last time I checked. 😊
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia Cool. but soon all property prices will drop. watch
@@johnnyreb8030 Very likely for homes, the land prices here haven't actually gone up much.
@@johnnyreb8030 why do you expect the drop? Just curious.
I'll be selling my place soon , to big for me now, kids are all up and grown, I love it here , dead end rd surrounded by steep grade on teo sides , joining larger tracts all owned by same neighbors for generations, I've been here since 02 and love it, 10 min from town but secluded and secure, just want further out
20 years ago I visited WV and fell in love with this state. 8 years later I moved from Germany to WV. Best decision I ever made.
Lived here my entire life. A lot of people I grew up with moved out and left and I’ve always been told how bad it is here but I LOVE West Virginia. I love hiking, I love jumping in the lakes and kayaking. I love having land between me and the neighbors, I love nature and waking up to deer in my yard, once even a bear. I wouldn’t want to live in a city… every time I see NY or other cities I always gasp and think “ not a single tree in sight! No grass!…WHAT” lol I love to travel but I love coming home.
We're in Germany and thinking about moving to WV as well! Bis bald
@@TimewarpTV U will love it and u will be welcomed by down to earth country folks. But we have our bad apples just like any state.
why are Germans so curious about West Virginia?
I hope this is a trend. I'm in South Carolina and love rain/snow. If Germans are moving to West Virginia, that is definitely a plus on my list.
I have been here for 63 years, I'm not going anywhere soon and they can lay my bones here. I've dug coal under these mountains, fished the rivers, kayaked much of its whitewater, climbed most of its rock cliffs, hunted and trapped lots of wildlife, and seen most of its beautiful mountains. I have never been to a beach in my life, what would be the use?
This is what I plan on getting to. I’ve been here since 2001...ice never met a nicer bunch, and fell in love instantly. My mother misses me, but I can always visit Colorado. WV til I die!
WV girl here and I always will be. I've been to the beaches you're not missing a thing. Our mountains are CLEANER!!!! People here are more respectful....
I Only Been There For 9 Years
Most people in West Virginia think exactly the same way. Which is sadly why it is dying. Nobody does anything but what their parents before them did. Coal is a dying job. I’ve watched so many people die tragically in this state. And now everything is closing.
Your intent is great, and you should have the right to say what you said. The younger generation, my generation, can’t live on welfare and oxycodone, and we need to build this state into one where our elders can say “Lay my bones here.”
Sincerely,
A young man who has watched 4 of his family members die in the last two years. Their children leaving them to hang dry, only for cousins out of state to pick up their duties.
You're probably in your 30s and just trollin everyone
I escape Northern VA just about every weekend to WVA. If it wasn't for your State, I would lose my shit with the people in Northern VA. I am happy to spend my money in a wonderful state. The people are great and brutally honest (I respect that).
My fiance did too. Arlington, VA. He LOVES WV!
@@Ms.GreenJeans what about you?
I bought a house in Wheeling West Virginia and I love it! Thanks to Betsy Sweeney
@@allseeingeyezz why?
Brutally honest is a very nice way to describe their rudeness, lol...manners, apparently, were never taught in WV...
Just a little reminder. The correct spelling is "West by God Virginia".
Right, or is it hyphenated
🤔😅
Correct Sir.
And smile when you say it.
West almost heaven by God Virginia
Damn straight David, damn straight
West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places in America !!!! 💯🇺🇸🦅🗽⚔️💖
From what I've seen no just no thats why I hate WV because you guys think you're state is the best state virginia is just a beautiful if not more also you call virginia racist but you're more racist for a northern state.
P
@@Musicmixer1366 that is not always true there is good places and people in WV. People from all other states stereotype WV because of some bad people and places.
america itself sucks
@@Musicmixer1366 you sure you're not thinking of Virginia? They're the ones who wanted to stay with the south during the civil war.
The # 1 con is truly aggravating and frustrating. My husband and I were visiting Pittsburgh, while on the Duquesne incline the couple beside us heard us talking and asked where we were from, obviously heard our accent. She literally asked me if my husband was my cousin then said “I’m surprised you have shoes on.” It was so rude and uncalled for and I’ll never forget it. I’m proud to be multigenerational mountaineer and I will continue to stand up for and defend our beautiful state!
OMGoodness! Some people. 🤦🏼♀️
I've run into a lot of that snide attitude from Pittsburgh people over the years, usually the standard 'no shoes' and inbreeding crap. I guess they don't get out much.
Should’ve told them that they looked like the immature ignorant uneducated ones. I swear.. the farther north you go, the ruder the sheeple get! Make fun of us till your heart’s content, just know we’ll remember your nonsensical stereotyping when you’re running for the hills begging for help, as only the country boy can survive!
Usually, it's from people who praise big cities as being the end all be all. It's just another way for people to feel superior to others by putting them down. If waiting in traffic for hours to go 2 miles, pollution, high crime, etc... is your thing WV won't interest you ;) I could never go back to living in Charlotte, NC, bars on windows, bullet proof glass, felt like I was a possible criminal or in jail already.
I've argued with people online what good are big cities if you're always broke and can't go out? But but there's so much to do!?!?! Not when you're broke from paying $3k for an apartment a month, lol. Not to mention how expensive it can be to own a car in big cities. I don't see how most people afford to live there???
You should have said: no he’s my brother and what are shoes?
I moved to WV in 2018 from Las Vegas. I worked there for a project for about a year and decided that WV is where I belong. I knew the work was scarce but since I always work in different states that didnt bother me. The cost of living is unbelievably cheap as well as the price of property. Also the people I befriended there were so kind and the scenery is beautiful. I will never live in another state.
Wow, I am currently in Las Vegas and looking to move to WV. Any tips for moving or any tips about the state?
I too am planning to move to West Virginia next year when my lease is up here in Las Vegas.
I'm thinking Harper's Ferry area and commute to Maryland for work.
@@mariannawusstig1048 lol I am also in Las Vegas and looking to move to WV
@@ZuZaarr everyone is trying to leave Vegas lol especially the locals.
@@mariannawusstig1048 I fled to Vegas from San Diego for cost of living reasons. (Not gonna bring CA politics with me)
My oldest son is currently in school to become a forest service member and has been told that West Virginia is the best place to go for this. He's pretty excited about the possibility.
Many Folks in West Virginia grow their own crops. Our Gardens do fine and produce great crops in West Virginia. We have plenty of good weather and time to do it in. Ask Me How I Know.
This is very true! My next video is likely to be an update on my own homestead among the hills. Plenty of growing time... but those coming from warmer climates or who have their hearts set on growing certain things need to know what they're getting into. 🙂
But there aren't any nearby wealthy city people to sale to, to make some money
@@nerdhomestead sounds to me like you live in the southern part of the state?
Yes, I've never had a problem with gardening and canning to get through our Winters.
@Alieff Farwell Still waiting for the answer.
I would rather just keep Wv a secret.
I agree!!
Lol.. good job..
No doubt!!
Right!?
Totally
I love my life in West Virginia. I have to take into account I have a well paying job as a college professor, and the lower cost of living here helps a lot. I'm a biologist, so I love the biodiversity (many species hanging on in spite of industrialization), and my periodically flooding garden does very well. I'll freely admit that our state has its problems. One is that people get beat down as something inferior. West Virginians are no worse off than New Yorkers, Californians, or any other state.
The old saying, you can take a boy out of West Virginia but you can't take the West Virginia out of a boy. I use to live at Coopers, WVa when I was a youngster, miss WVa a whole lot.
@@erniemartin4667 same here Ernie👍 WV born and raised in Berkeley County. Hedgesville and Back Creek Valley to be specific. I now live in Texas
West Virginia is known for kind people
Unlike NY and CA
@@zyx7478 agreed
I live in wv aswell, it's really nice around here, very beautiful
I currently live in California but im from Elkins WV. I’m also moving home for a reason. For people watching this that’s never visited the state just know we are a proud bunch of people and despite whatever you hear on these videos is nothing compared to what the state had to offer. If you have the chance move to it, visit it often and you will understand why I will forever call it my home.
No money, jobs or growth. Dark, gloomy depressing and 0 opportunities for a sucessful proffesiional life. School system suck. Graduates cannot compete on a country level. Whats so good about this place? Let me know because I hate it
This a nicely done video containing truth. I was born and raised in WV and was one of those who had to move away for a better career. 29 years later I am finally able to return to my beautiful home, WV. Living those many years in the south I have heard all the jokes, the stereotype opinion about my beloved home. I would always just smile and go about my day. Most can never understand what draws us to love WV, I won't even attempt to explain it. But will say what I missed the most. It's people. The best I have ever met. We are the sort of people to say good morning and mean it. When we say if you need anything, we mean that too. I can't wait to get back home. I'm packing at the time of this post and will be a mountaineer again next week. Thank God. I love WV.
Welcome home!!
Welcome home, we're happy to have you back. Born and raised in Northern Panhandle, no plans of ever leaving. Wv grows deep roots.
I'm glad there's so many people coming back to retire : )
When you drive down the road, people on the porches will wave to you rather they know who you are or not. The people of W.Va is its greatest asset.
God speed!
I'm from Chapmanville, West Virginia. From a holler, outside of town, so deep between 3 cliffs that we only got 3 hours of sunlight a day. Everyone worked in the mines. I was barefoot every day, washed my clothes in the creek. I loved it and miss it every day.
You see any RV’s traveling out there??
@@uplift56 No, why? Many of the places between the mountain cliffs aren't wide enough to fit a car through.
And poeple like you are the reason for the stereo type boone, logan and mingo are full of thieves and dope heads it would be good place to do nuclear testing im sure its be a improvement
From Logan and I work in chapmanvill, didn’t expect to see someone who lived so close in the comments
Buddy I am in what is called Brushlick Hollar in in June I do not see the sun until 10 AM I get it!
In about 3 weeks I'm moving from South Florida to West Virginia. People act like I've lost my mind at first ... and then they kinda act like they wish they were coming with me. The one thing I have leaned in the months it took to get this far is that a vast majority of residents absolutely adore the state even with its faults. It's almost heaven for a reason. I hear her voice in the morning hour she calls me.
Yes WV has its challenges but it feels like home always will. Lived in Florida 3x and have come back here once again in retirement. This is my 3rd time living here and I love it! It's a slower pace, change of seasons is wonderful, and most people are very friendly. Welcome to Wild and Wonderful WV!!!
Born and lived in WV and also went to Florida. They had a saying then: Go on vacation, come back in violation and in ... it's been a long time. Now in a state of goodness with much gratitude. Learned lessons 🙏
I'm from SF too and looking to move to WV as well! Hello like minded ally!
@TurnedLeftAtTheRockyMountains Well
my house has a bit more than an a 1/2 acre of land but it is in a small city. I have deer on or near my land every day and it feels far more country than it is. The house is built on the identical one it replaced which was built around the civil war and burned down in the late 1890's. It was rebuilt in 1901. We're in the Ohio Valley part of WV. I've learned that god fearing people know how to behave in public.
a lot of wv relies on SNAP and the trump administration tried to remove that from them. People rly went hungry during covid
I grew up just south of Fairmont, left for a career in the military, I have traveled and lived in many different parts of the US and WV is home. I will be retiring to WV in a few years and already spend about half of my time in WV on the piece of property I grew up on. When I die, I will be buried in WV, there are cons to any place but for me, I am looking forward to the permanent homecoming.
Cburg here! Howdy neighbor! TY for your service 🇺🇸 God Bless
I moved to WV because of the beauty I’m from Tennessee and WV is my Now my home 💕
So Happy for you! I grew up in TN but visited my mother's family in WV throughout my childhood. I always thought WV was absolutely magical - like no other place in the world! Wonderful, indeed!
TN is beautiful too!
I want to travel there in my RV; will the roads be acceptable for RV’s??
I’m looking in either TN OR WV I can’t choose. I hear TN is very beautiful and has better weather than TN. What made you choose WV over TN?
I’m also from Tennessee and considering moving to WV.
I grew up on river bottom land in Boone county. My dad grew a large garden every year which produced so many vegetables that we gave food away ever year. The soil was back as coal producing fishing worms galore. I kept a coffee can hanging on the plow so I could fish the Little Coal river.
I’m from Boone county too!
Oh, before I forget. To those of you who are planning to move to WV, or who have already done so, PLEASE do NOT bring your horrible manners and bad driving habits with you! Thank you!
Yeah, we have enough bad drivers and rude people already. Don’t need any more.
🙌🏽🙌🏽
This means you, Virginia.
As long as you dont make assumptions based on my Ohio plates! :)
I always feel soo self conscious about my plates. We are dual citizens so our plates are still Ohio, I feel the judgements! lol
OR your smart ass North eastern ways with you . Do not talk about gun control either!
I live in Grant County and I'm off the grid. We get lots of sunshine. I depend on solar power, the only challenge I have is during the winter when days are short and the sun is low in the sky. My water source is rainwater, haven't come close to running the two 1500 gal tanks low yet. I love this state, best place by far I've lived.
which solar power unit do you use may i ask?
@@JohnDoe-sx2zk I'm not sure what you mean by solar power unit. I have 12 pole mounted 255w solar panels, a Morningstar 30A TriStar MPPT charge controller, 8 Crown RE 6 volt batteries in series to equal 48 volts, and a Magnum Energy MS4448PAE Inverter. I hope that answers your question.
I love west virginia. I've traveled around different places, but always come home.
The only thing that keeps me here in Wva is family an friends also hunting an fishing .there are no good jobs here,that's what is disappointing about Wva.
Learn a trade, thats how you excel....then you can have a job and have worth to work a side job, which you might desire
Only thing keeping me here is my old lady, i want to move states for a better job, dont get me wrong make way above minim wage, and we live comfortably. But i want better for me and the family and not a hole lot of jobs here.
We have jobs here in West Virginia. Good paying jobs. But no one wants to do them. Everyone wants a lot of pay for little work. We have about 700 teaching vacancies in the state. That’s 700 well paying jobs that need filled! If you want a good job, learn a trade or I don’t know, become a teacher!
I’m from Braxton. And it’s the same there.
@@boballard2355 you can’t take an Uber in these little towns, people are poor. And it’s hard to even get a start when you’re poor. Sounds like you’ve never experienced that.
W.V. is a beautiful state and a "free" state not like many other restrictive states (that's why the split from VA). No matter where you go no state is perfect and all have the their good and not so good points. With that being said only narcissistic ignorant people make fun of other people and cultures. Thank you for the video very nicely done. 😊
Own a sweet little vacation rental cottage in historic district of beautiful Fayetteville, WV. I have no CONS except wanting to retire there but too far away from family. Love this little town with longest arch bridge in western hemisphere !!
You are killing it way harder than anybody you know knows how substantially hard you are KILLING it having a retirement spot out there....one of the best places the state has to offer
We recently stayed in a Historic B&B place in Fayetteville. Loved the place run by a young couple. Ate and drank in local pub there. Wonderful hospitality.
Fayetteville, WV is my home town, lived here since i was born 30 years ago and am less than a mile away from the New River Gorge Bridge, could walk to it in 5 minutes. But no matter how much or to where I travel I always long for home sweet home. It might sound odd but when returning to WV from somewhere else you get this feeling of comfort and subconcious knowledge that you're home. It's a difficult feeling to describe to those who haven't lived here or felt it, but once you cross state lines into WV and get into the mountains it' a comforting and reassuring feeling that you get all through you even in your bones. No matter where this life takes me I know I'll always return home to this little slice of heaven that is WV.
Love my WV hills. It’s like a security blanket around me. I’ve traveled quite a bit and still LOVE coming home. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing! I so agree about the hills! Anytime I travel to flat land I feel so exposed and insecure... and bored. 😅
I don't mind them. I spent early childhood in N. California which has the same terrain, just upside-down. I find landscapes like Kansas a little unsettling.
I live near Wheeling, by the way. I DO think it's funny that we have a local baseball park at a 15-20 degree angle (not average, the whole thing is at that angle) because around here, that counts as "flat".
I hope we’re welcome there We planned to move there ❤️
IM TOTALLY CHOOSNG WV FOR A RETIREMENT SPOT ITS ON THE EAST COAST CLOSE TO THE THEME PARKS N VA BEACH PLUS TOTALLY ISOLATED N PRIVATE N AFFORDABLE . I LUV THAT
Yup, someone bought the house next door to me for $20k, lol. That's a really good price even for WV!
It's amazing
I was born in Beckley West Virginia but was moved to Ohio after birth but my whole family lives there!! WEST VIRGINIA IS WILD AND WONDERFUL!! I've been think of moving to West Virginia it's the most beautiful state I've ever seen especially in the fall time!! 😊✌🙏
Beckley has built up quite a bit. There's still nice small towns like Hinton with lots to do and nice people (close to where I live). I'm not far from Beckley, Princeton, or Lewisburg, 3 bigger cities with more to do/places to eat/jobs.
@@worldserpent731 I'm from Rupert, its about 30 miles from Lewisburg. super small town, no grocery stores, just gas stations and churches, closest grocery store is about 8 miles away in Rainelle. I now live in the SF bay Area and will never go back to Rupert, WV
I left WV for Ga in 2005 to further my career, worst mistake I ever made. Fortunately it's looking like I may be able to move back in the next year or two.
If you do get that chance look me up. I'd love to help you find a place worth moving back to. :)
A good job is hard to find, but I really miss WV.
My goodness !! West Virginia is really one of the most beautiful places in US honestly
Ya its a great place 2 score oxycontin
@@Ergo8152 And Chicago, Baltimore and Atlanta is a great place to get shot. You should visit them.
@@dalewr38 Your painting with a pretty broad brush, just saying the same things that anger you when others talk the same way about West Virginia. Cities can be wonderful places to live, many very nice things about Chicago, Baltimore, and especially Atlanta. The country and country folk have many of the same problems as cities and city folk.
Dont let looks fool you come here in January and you will see a place that looks like its been ravaged with fire they only show fall pics truth is its not that pretty
@@JamesSmith-rm6to Exactly every time someone says how beautiful West Virginia is the first thing I wonder is have you ever been anywhere else. Virtually every inch of this state has been either timbered, fracked, or mined.
My husband moved us back to West Virginia. I love the Wild and Wonderful life here 💙 💛
Awww! So glad to hear it!
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but based on your profile pic it appears you (or someone you love) may be a person of color... If so, can you comment on how welcome/safe you feel here? I get asked all the time how the reception/racism is in WV but feel very under qualified to comment. I love all people equally and assume that everyone around me does too, but it would be great to hear your thoughts. I believe it could be very helpful to others looking to relocate. Is WV 90%+ white because we are racist or just because others haven't discovered how wonderful it is here yet?
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia Although I'm not of color, here in southern WV we all get along just fine regardless of race.
Yes!! Please tell me how it is for y’all? My husband and i are mixed and Hispanic from the south, i would love to hear how people react or if they do to your family ❤️ we were forced to move to ID and people stare etc. hate it.
@@ajg9758 People stare here. I don't like it either. It's rude & uncomfortable. It feels good to know that I'm not weird for noticing. I hope yall will have a different experience.
@@SedSeddy Thanks so much for replying, yeah that's a no-go for us. Might venture to vacation/visit up there some time instead. But looking to start a family and missing that southern hospitality, I had hoped it'd be like that up there. I was weary - so I really appreciate the response. I've had people at a 4 stop way drive across slowly staring at me in my car. It's very rude. Hoping to find beauty close to that in Tennessee or North Carolina! It's GOTTA be gorgeous out up there in WV. I Guess pros and cons, huh?
That was a very good presentation but, there are a few more things you have to adjust to living here in West Virginia. One: we are not New York so if you like the city life you will not like living here. Two: we don't have all the different retail stores you are probably use to having close by. Three: Along with the Retail store you should note that also goes for restaurants. Most non-fast food restaurants are Bob Evans, Applebee's, Fat Patty's, Outback, Olive Garden and with a Shoney's or two still around. There are other family restaurants that have great food and good pricing. West Virginia is not a fast-paste style of living. We enjoy our slower paced living just as it is, no frills. We may not have all the things available you're use to but in most cases you won't miss it anyway.
I'm a proud born and raised West Virginian, from McDowell County ,Coal Country,and i agree with you ,too many people listen to the negative instead of looking deeper within. I thank you for posting this video, I just subscribed to your channel, I love my home WVa but i had to move because of the floods that were back to back, took my home from me, but no matter where i'm living my home is West Virginia
So sorry to hear about your loss! I'm sure you're missed.
They say home is where your heart is where your heart is.
Mcdowell county is the worst place in the state you wanna talk about drugs and inbreeding your from the Mecca of sh!# holes
This is a very honest video. I hope that we can escape Maryland and move the family back to WV.
Thanks so much! It's something I had to make for conscience sake. :) I'd hate for someone to get here and realize it wasn't what they'd expected. When you're ready to move back give me a shout. :)
Yes move back home. I lived away for 2 years in the Blueridge Mountains, It was nice but there's no place like home.
Please come back, and get away from them pan handles!!!!
I know how you feel Alan. I can't Maryland any more and want to go somewhere more scenic. I figured if I am going to be poor, rather be poor in West Virginia than be poor in Maryland.
Maryland sucks.
My husband and I just jumped in with both feet and are waiting to close on our little slice of heaven in WV. We visited it often and during all the various seasons. This made it easier for us to narrow down an area that felt good to us. Honestly, I can’t wait!
Welcome!! I hope all goes well for you! 😊
Good for you! I love it here
Hope you didn’t move to Boone County.
@@project_nihilist lol that where you from?
@@hgoatt107 DAS RAYCISS!!! Is that all you know how to say?
At least WV is sunnier than London or Seattle! And you can get vitamin D from sunflower seeds and fish. All, if not only most, of the level ("flat" doesn't mean "level" -- a cliff could be flat) land is prone to floods.
I plan on moving there asap.washington state was great once upon a time, but not anymore. Need a mellow change where we can start fresh and still have my mountains.
Give me a shout! I'd love to do a free consultation with you to help you out and answer any questions you might have.
Feel free to call or text: 681-404-2332
Did the twilight fans run you away or was it all the vampires?
My husband and I just left WA for WV. I am Southern, but my husband was born and raised in WA and said his state has been totally hijacked. It is sad but we are happy to be in a state that still has its spine intact.
Your money will go a lot further, rent/property prices are much much cheaper here. Some people bought a house next door to me for $20k 5 bedroom, 2 bath, etc... but it needed work. Still a great purchase
Truer words have never been spoken.
I just moved to WV, and it is my dream to homestead one day.
Moved to WV from Chicago almost 2 decades ago. No regrets. This is home.
Soggy weather and all. The beauty here, outweighs anything 'negative'. There is a magic here, I haven't found anywhere else.
I lived there for work for a few years. For most people from outside the region, it would be a very difficult transition. Some other cons to consider: 1) social, cultural and economic isolation 2) Poverty - it fluctuates between poorest, and second poorest state 3) lack of innovation - 200 years of being company towns, and completley dependent on the coal owners, a culture which lacks innovation is apparent 4) Fatalism of much of the population (related to # 3)
These are very true observations for most of the small towns. I'd say they only slightly apply to the larger or more upper class cities/towns like Morgantown and Bridgeport.
I'm originally from West Virginia. I love it there but i've lived out of state for almost 30 years because there's no work down there. I'll probably move back when in retire.
It's becoming a good place to retire, hope you come back.
I tried to move there 2 years ago. I fell in love. I’m closing in on a job that will allow me to go back and I’m so excited to be looking for property in the Mountain State again!
We've been looking for property in WV to homestead, our state of Florida is getting too crowded. I need a little bit of WV right now
Give me a shout and I'll see if I can help you out. :)
I know like 30 people that go to Florida in the winter. Like literally one dude did a reverse mortgage on his house so he could do winters in Florida till he dies. West Virginia winters can suck sometimes. We do get a kick watching people from Florida drive in WV. 😂
Great presentation I like your truthfulness. I'm already in the process of buying some land in Braxton county. I'm near retirement I want to live in a nice community. I spent a month with my wife in a mountain area around Rosedale. Met a lot of beautiful wonderful people. Heard stories about people whose house is burned down in the community and neighbors helped build them another one. Farmers who would help their neighbor with septic tanks. Everywhere you go people wave and love to have a friendly conversation. When I went to the town of Gasaway I found the people very very friendly. It's about a half an hour away from where we will be in the mountains. They have a Kroger's there. I was enamored by the friendliest people I've met. And the church that had overwhelming love for each other in the congregation. I have a lot of respect for the loving hard-working people of West Virginia. They have won my heart.
W.V. has all 4 seasons i love it here
Grandparents were from w.v. in an isolated area. It was like going back in time when we visited there was nothing my grandmother couldn't do they had a huge garden they smoked their meat she could even can meat made her own butter. I can remember as a child when we would visit from Ohio yep dad came up here find work that's what you did. They had a pot belly stove in the living room no running water and the outhouse didn't care much for the outhouse. Dad and My uncles ran some pipes down the well into the house got Grandma some running water they even put a bathroom in for them. Hard work sometimes they had to hunt their own food but still wonderful place.
Update: I found a nice old house on .6 of an acre in Parkersburg with a nature preserve (Ft. Boreman) across the street. I absolutely love it here (came from South Florida). There is so much wildlife and the people are very nice. Lots of jobs around here too. The red clay is the worst part. It is often muddy and very slippery.
Born and raised fellow wv girl here. I have moved away twice but my mountain mama always calls me home. I love in bluefield now and I guess this will be where I keep my roots for my kids. Our drug problem here is terrible and so sad but it's like that so many other places too. Something that you will find here are some of the best and kindest people on the planet! Out of everywhere I have ever been you will never find people like you.do here on wv 💙💛
Bluefield is becoming bad, but there's small communities around you to avoid the drama and stay out of trouble. I like to live on the outskirts of city.
@@worldserpent731 I agree. I live right in bluefield but I was raised in bluewell and montcalm. My parents still live in bluewell and tbh it's getting pretty bad there now too. The only thing left there is four wheeler riders and dope. But I still consider it my home and I love it
@@kaylasprettynails2848 I believe in the future I might move to Princeton. The police seem to do their job and Princeton is starting to grow.
My small town is dying, but that seems to be what most people want. Try to keep it a secret or something. Wonderful people here though, and it's very pretty if you enjoy nature. I'm kinda tired of having to drive all the way to Princeton or Bluefield for something small, lol.
@@worldserpent731 Princeton is definitely where it's at anymore. It's growing more and more everyday.
Isn't every other place a drug problem? That is just the norm everywhere. Those who want to do it, do and those who don't, don't. So I don't think that is really an issue unless its on your property of on your site. I don't know of a state or country that doesn't have these issues.
As far as "bad reputation" being the number 1 con against WV, I would answer that if John Denver can write such a beautiful song about the State, it's good enough for me! ( I am born, raised and live in Western Canada)
Good video hun and you are very honest. I enjoy living here (40 years now) but I must say another CON would be the tons of abandoned/dilapidated houses that seem to be everywhere nowadays. P.S. I think it might be "stay tuned"...not "stay toon".
Completely agree! My husband and I are in the process of rescuing one of those abandoned houses but I must say, I know why more don't do so. 😔
P.S. Thanks, that's what you get when you make TH-cam videos at midnight while the kiddos are sleeping. 😅
You say Abandoned house, I say a deal waiting to happen ;)
I like how you think.
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia While I 100% agree with you, I still think it's even a bigger problem that non-home buildings are abandoned here in large amounts. By non-home, I mean commercial or public buildings that are empty. So many towns are loaded with them, including my town. If you're lucky, the first floor is at least used, with all upstairs floors vacant, but in many cases, it's just run-down, abandoned buildings. I just wish there were a way to condemn and remove them and replace with natural WV habitat.
@@happycamper6352 very true. Locally for me the city of Fairmont just recently changed their rules about parking spaces being available for these buildings. I didn't personally know it, but for us, the reason a lot of these buildings weren't being used was because there were rules requiring a certain number parking spaces per square foot of used commercial space, making it impossible to do anything with a lot of the old buildings crammed into downtown a hundred years ago when cars were a big thing. With the new rules, these buildings should be more attractive to investors and businesses. 🤔
I live and work in NC but i bought a house in Quinwood, it's SO quiet there its amazing, quieter than a library!!
Hi Amanda, thanks again for a very nicely done video. Your delivery and subject coverage is excellent; you hit on all of things I would expect to hear about just from visiting other sites and hearing the issues you mentioned here. To me, there is no perfect place to live, there is always concessions here and there and it all depends on what matters most or bothers you the most. Personally, I am sick of sky high property taxes, overcrowding on the roads and witnessing beautiful farmland being gobbled up by developers who take advantage of tax breaks (someone funds this, probably the taxpayers) to build monstrous sized warehouses and then just leave them empty due to speculation. Roads are overrun with cars and trucks so crowded it is accident-ridden. I still find the State of WV appealing on so many other levels. These videos really do help me in the decision process of moving there. Again, thank you for this posting!
I can add a couple of other cons to West Virginia. 1) health care. WV has the lowest life expectancy and the highest death rate in the country. Due to poverty and a bad healthcare system with an almost monopoly of availability from WVU Healthcare System in the state with fair to horrible services. Research is the priority, medical neglect and malpractice has no oversight. 2) Education is generally poor. There are teenagers that can't read, and college students that can't write a complete sentence. That doesn't deter the state colleges from charging high tuition and overcharging students with no receipts. 3) Corrupt politics. The governor is worth two billion dollars from success in the coal industry while having indictments against him for unsafe working conditions. 4) Gov. Justice ran as a democrat but turned to a republican after getting elected. The first thing he did was eliminate the resource tax which put WV in the red for close to half a billion dollars, which caused cutbacks and some school closures. Now fossil fuel, mining, and logging companies can take the resources and leave toxic waste or dump in the water. 5) Taxes. WV has every type of tax on its residents. From income tax to personal property tax, to high sales tax being raised again to include food. This in one of the two poorest states in the country. So, WV is beautiful but there are many disadvantages to living here. You don't have to worry about too many tourists. WV does not encourage tourism, another lack of income.
Thank you for the politics analysis part, it's sad that the corrupt politicians destroy this beautiful and humble state. Hope that the new national park can bring in some tourist.
@@jason4554123 Agree. Unfortunately, people keep voting in corrupt coal tycoons that foster legislation that devastates our state with mining, mountain top removal, unregulated chemical plants, and massive toxic dumping into our ground and surface waters. All for their profit while doing nothing for the people. I hope that people will realize what is happening, because we could have a good tourist industry with jobs and businesses that wouldn't ravage our environment like North Carolina, Tennessee, and other states with the Appalachian range going through. First we have to get rid of corrupt fossil fuel business owners like Justice and Manchin.
We have a fair amount of tourism in southern wv, the Hatfield & McCoy trails are going wide open, and all the support that comes with that
Another con is the opiate prob we have here, one of the highest , ha ha, overdose rate in the country , the younger ones suffer the most,they just cant get away from other addicts, it spreads like a disease
@@petunialuna4801 I know about the mountain top removal mining in Kentucky, it's devastating... And I'm hoping that it had been mostly stopped. I've also came across a little town called Mindon WV that it's residents are suffering from cancer and blood clot due to the poisonous water , yet EPA and the State just ignored them cause that it's only 200 plus people there. I always feel sad and heartbreaking to all these humble people who power up our nation and so many of them just get left behind and abandoned by the nation. I really hope that WV can be a happy small state and young people can find jobs and support their family, hopefully tourism and the small town charm can replace the endless mining and boost the economy.
Don't worry about the lack of sunlight. We make up for it with moonshine. ;)
My grandfather always said, "You gotta have the gray to get the green." I was raised here, but lived in several places, with most of my time outside West Virginia having been spent in Colorado. Moisture isn't abundant on the east side of the Rockies. The vegetation can be sparse & dry riverbeds aren't uncommon. After ten years out there, I swore to myself to never complain about the rain & snow in West Virginia.
When I first read the quote from your grandfather I thought it ment gray (matter - brain) to get green (money) 🤣 guess it's technically right both ways but I was so confused how that applied. 🤦🏼♀️
I do agree though... I'd would never trade the lush green we have for sunshine 🙃
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia That's amusing/interesting. It shows how much of how we think is applied to what we read. I was thinking vegetation & you thought of money.
"Papaw" was full of aphorisms like that. He was an illiterate coal miner who worked in the mines from the age of 8, but he was so sharp-witted that I was in my late teens before I realized he couldn't read. Another of his observations was, "The man is always the head of the household, and the woman is the neck. You end up turning whichever way she wants, no matter what you think about it."
I didn't know it rained a lot in WV, good to know. I believe that property at the end costs $175,000.00.
Good guess, it actually sold in April for $104k 😊
I've lived in W.V. all my life it doesn't seem to rain to much at all imo
@@sharonwamsley3987 I think that depends on where you live in the state. I've heard that Weirton gets more sun than rain. Where I live we have about even days of rain and sun, BUT we have a majority of cloudy days with no rain OR sun. 🙃
Maybe in some areas lol
I left ten years ago and became very successful however I still miss home and I’m planning on returning home for retirement. I miss WV
Great video! Born and raised in WV and living there now, I like to say that I have lived in all three of the states people make the most fun of -- WV, NJ, and FL. I actually loved all three. Guess life is what you make of it.
should add Alabama to that list lol
Heading for Retirement age I like the idea of W.V. more and more !
Not having to look for work or raise kids makes that decision so much easier.
I’m so happy to have found your channel! I’m thinking about moving to West Virginia! I think it’s the most beautiful state we have!
Cool! Let me know if you have any questions. :)
I from India so happy to have watch your channel and l want to live in WV is veri beautiful atmosphere
@@nageswararaju2176 People are awesome here. So many kind people.
@@hgoatt107 I hope not cause I’m not used to that stuff here
@@hgoatt107 Morgantown isn't a town. There's racism just about everywhere. I've heard a lot of racist crap from a man who lived in Detroit Michigan. Depends on where you go and who you choose to be around.
I think if you think WV has a lack of sunshine, visit the PNW in fall and winter. Visit England. I used to live in England. Born and raised in WV. I've never thought of WV as being short on sunshine, but maybe it depends on where you live. If you're living deep in the mountains, I can see the weather there being more like you describe. The Eastern Panhandle weather is quite different from that. We get a lot of sunshine in spring, summer and fall and it gets VERY hot here in summer.
Good to know. I'm in North Central and our weather is VERY similar to the PNW. We do see very hot summers (we've already been in the 90s) but the winter is very wet, cloudy, and the shorter days only add to the 😔
I live in Southern WV, it's not bad here. Maybe in Spring it rains too much, but not the rest of the year.
I live in the eastern panhandle also and after moving here from Virginia love it ! People are freindly and taxes are lower then va lots of jobs in Berkeley County
I love west virginia I actually am studying right now for the golden horseshoe contest
Awesome!! I did the golden horseshoe when I was in school. 😊
This is a great analysis of the problems in your state, and you addressed it beautifully. It is sad that people get Virginia and West Virginia confused, wow!
😅😅 Yup, they definitely do. I even watched an episode of "It's a Southern Thing" recently and the lady definitely didn't know WEST Virginia was a place. 🤦🏼♀️
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia That is scary, that people who think that are out there. There is a part of my brain that thinks that is funny though. No way they passed a geography course.
I'm an adopted Mountaineer, from Northern California. I live in Charleston now, a city of which I am growing fonder every day. Not to discount your video, but here are my top 3 "cons":
1) It takes a long time to get anywhere. The mountains are certainly spectacular, but you need to devote some time to get from "holler to holler" only 5 windy and curvy miles away. Carsickness isn't a joke, either. Be prepared for an hour or more wait if there is some traffic accident or something like that blocking the road.
2) Random DUI checkpoints. I am not a drunk driver or anything like that, however- I've stumbled across these three times in the last few months, and they back up traffic for miles. Friday and Saturday seem to be the common time, and yes, they do publish them on the Highway Patrol website however I don't make visiting a law enforcement website part of my day-to-day activities. Be prepared for them if you are a drinker, I hear that DWI fines are intense.
3) The Turnpike tolls and EVERYTHING about the 64/77 Interstate. If you want to get into the populated area of WV, where all the jobs and people are, be prepared to spend around $14 each way into Charleston, thanks to their "88 Miles of Hell" called the WV Turnpike. It is an extremely dangerous and substandard Interstate freeway, with sharp bends, slow-moving trucks, and significant grades and declines. Don't follow anybody too closely because you WILL NOT see a 30-gallon water container lying in the middle of the road, fallen off someone's truck. It's a hair-raising, white-knuckle ride from either of the VA borders and the toll booths are lame too- even if you have an EZ pass, expect a wait for all the lane spillovers from the pay-by-cash people.
Hope this helps- don't let my list of "cons" fool you, prospective homesteader. I assure you, my list of "pros" far outweighs this list.
nice video . from here in europe we actualy have no idea what is where in america while we being brought up with 60% of tv programs are american movies and series . trough these type of vids in covid times i learned a lot . and west virginia looks like a beautifull state , there is no such place as just good things . you earned a sub )
Born and raised in Huntington, WV and moves to Los Angeles, California for a decade...... recently moved back and I am so much safe, happier, and well taken care of.... No regrets for moving away or moving back. Life is good where you make it and I love my hometown. I could easily life here for the rest of my life. Country Roads took me home and I'm very thankful.
What made you move back? I’m a LA native and looking to move to west VA. Im conservative and seeking a slower pace of life
@@Evettecord we can move there together E C. I'm in FL. Did you end up making the move hun?
We Love West Virginia and vacation there several times a year as we drive down from NYC!!! Almost heaven is 4 Real!!!
I've lived in WV my whole life, traveled to many other states, and I always love to see the welcome sign when I come home
I’m looking to purchase 32 acres there for homesteading cant wait...
I suggest north central WV
@@project_nihilist exactly what we did
I fell in love with the Mountaineer State..Wonderful Strong, cheerful , independent ,brilliant folks...fantastic hunters...extremely hard workers...I hugely admired and respected the Mountain folks...
I'm coming to visit WV this weekend! Trying to find a state I like to move to :)
Awesome! Give me a shout if you need help finding the right place. 🙂
Me too. I am thinking about retiring in WV. But I am not sure where exactly. Blessings.
Pocahontas County, "Nature's Mountain Playground". Research it. People are the kind of people who are always willing to help you.... as it should be.
@@FromTheBiggining I'd suggest north central area.
It definitely is different in one area to the next. It's a completely different world when I travel down south of the state. What area are you visiting?
West Virginia
Is beautiful and safe
From southern michigan love riding my motorcycle and that's what i want to do alot when i retire been looking into the ozarks in arkansas and west virginia just a simple type of guy here that likes the same type of people such a beautiful state
Love this! I've been to the Ozarks. Nice place... but I'm gonna be bias and say WV is better. 😁
Such a great video! I spent a year working in Bridgeport remodeling the Maplewood retirement center and absolutely loved the area. Now a decade later I'm hoping to move to a rural property outside of Charleston.
Okay here's my take on West Virginia. I live two states away, just outside Raleigh, NC. I'm a native of NC and can reach just about everywhere in WV in five or six hours. But until last year I had never really been to West Virginia other than passing through. I grew up on a tobacco farm and I hunted and fished and enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle. But now my hometown has morphed into a place with over two million people The average home price---if you can even find one----is bumping $500 k. So, last year when I drove to WV and spent a couple of weeks there, well, I absolutely loved it. The people were great and the scenery was just beautiful. Just up my alley. I saw lots of wildlife and, since I'm a hunter I plan to spend some time there on a hunting trip next year. Sure, there are drawbacks to any place. I noticed that the roads are indeed pretty bad and lot's of areas look really poor. But I must admit that I really like West Virginia. I'm gonna spend more time there in the future.
I always have a big and plentiful garden and orchard with lots of berries what else do you need
I am planning to retire to WV to homestead on land I bought in 2018. I have a tiny house on my land which I have used for weekends but I am planning to get bigger home before moving there permanently. It is a very beautiful state, very nice people, and very affordable. I think with improved cell towers or star link it will become very attractive to more retirees and people who are tele-working from home.
Where I live reception isn't bad. Really good high speed internet also.
Moved to WV a couple of years ago. Best decision I have made. I can watch barges go up and down the Ohio river. I also can watch deer in the woods from my front porch. I have the best of both worlds.
Almost every wild plant in WV is edible. No need for cultivation, plantin. Some irrigation and tree-prunin is usually needed. Plants will resist bugs without aid, if the soil is rich and wet enough. Just harvest and dry or can the stuff.
.
You can grow potted ginger indoors. Bury some dried root with the nodes on it in a pot.
One of the greatest facts for me is I have traveled across the country and lived in other states such as Ohio, North Carolina for a couple years each. I have seen Canada. I have been to some very beautiful places. But there’s no where I would rather be than living in West Virginia. You can live where ever you desire that’s your choice. But I like small towns with less people. Anywhere else you go you have no privacy. I don’t like sitting on the streets waiting 5 minutes for a break in traffic. I’ll stick to West Virginia any day.
I loved this video and yes I have been researching WV for months now!!! I would love to work with you in the near future looking for homes.
Sure! Give me a call, text, or email anytime. ☺️
Me too! Although, I’m years away from being serious about buying. In NC now.
I moved here from Washington, DC in 2005. I love WV! Yea, my friends in the city think I'm nuts. I just tell them being nuts can be fun. We have a beautiful state!
Love this place! Almost Heaven!
Great tour and overview of the cons... all put in perspective by your love of your state. Thank you and God bless you.
The low cost of living is the one and only reason to live in WV . If you’re a home body and get a decent paying job then you’ll be fine.
Try living in Morgantown. It's too expensive!
It’s definitely not the only reason to live here.🙄
@@triedntru8049 I’m originally from Ft. Lauderdale . In actuality there is absolutely no reason to move here unless you’re a fugitive .
What makes living anywhere else any better?
@@Porklion actual diversity. Not 97% white and 3% black and even smaller Asian and Latin population that decide to sell subpar Chinese and Mexican food bc they know that West Virginia doesn’t know any better. I won’t even to touch the fact that even a high school dropout can leave WV and get a decent job somewhere else.
I moved into WV in 2015.. I love the state and the people.. The property tax on vehicles takes a bit to get used to.. But other than that, this is a state I will live in until the day I die.. It is an amazingly beautiful state.. It has the worlds largest moveable Telescope in Green Bank.. It has amazing food.. And the roads, if you have a bike or a trike.. LOTS to love about it here.
Me and we wife just moved here to Beckley from Vegas we love it
Welcome!
WOW! Vegas to Beckley quite a change. Glad you like it here. 🙂
Beckley is growing quite a bit
Left NJ in 1967 for WVU and after graduation went back to NJ for 18 months then came back to WV (Huntington area) in 1973 and have been here since then. Wonderful people, wonderful rivers, mountains and forests, you really can get lost here, really. Great fishing, great festivals, interesting history, and great education opportunities. Internet access is very good in and around the urban centers. That access is getting better for rural areas thanks to her congressional reps and governor. I’d recommend it.
true.I missed the beautiful scenery ,river, mountain and forest.I did my degree at WVIT Montgomery in 80s.Good and nice people .now living in my home country , Malaysia.😊
Moved to West Virginia following a 22 year Navy career. I absolutely love the Mountain State… as of now, I plan to make it my forever home!!!
Thank you so much for your service! So glad you found your home among the hills. We are honored to have you here.
You look like you would like West Virginia
the ONLY thing on this list that is something to turn me away is lack of cell/internet service. I live in Ohio so pretty much everything you said is a pro, I am used to already. I fell in love with the state during my first visit to Pt. Pleasant and absolutely will move to West Virginia at the earliest convenience.
15 years ago I moved from Philadelphia to West Virginia, near Bluefield. It was not planned, a course of actions led me here. It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I did put an alarm system on my house and stayed back in my home state for four of the 15 years. One of the first things I noticed coming from the north is that people in West Virginia will ask, and tell you anything. They consider it being friendly, whereas in the north, we consider it being nosey...lol. It is just too conservative here for me. And boy does it rain a lot . Yes, there is a lot of natural beauty. And I have met some really good people. But, it's just not for me. I'm currently waiting for my senior dog to cross the Rainbow Bridge and I'm selling my house and I'm out of here and never looking back. If you are considering a move to West Virginia I suggest renting a place before buying and trying it out. Also, if you are not from West Va it will take awhile for the locals to trust and accept you. I'm sure this is going to irritate some people but it is just my view and experience.
Lastly, a couple things I do like is the fact that the summers are not too hot. I live close to America's air-conditioned City (Lemonade days) and that really is wonderful. If the temperature breaks 90 the town celebrates with free lemonade. And we don't have many lemonade days. Also, taxes are ridiculous here. I have a huge beautiful Cape Cod and my taxes are 380 a year. Because of homestead exemption I get 280 back. So it cost me $100 a year in property tax. But, West Virginia has something called personal property tax. Which was new to me. You pay taxes on your vehicles, recreational vehicles motorcycles Etc. I actually pay more money in taxes each year for my car than my house! Anyway, peace to you all.
Thank you so much for your well thought out comment!
It is very true, if your not conservative... You likely won't be happy in WV. Most I know come here for the conservative values.
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia Thank-you, but I really didn't put too much thought into it. I was just speaking from the heart. Blessings!
@@HomesteadingWestVirginia I love your video, I'm a Western Pennsylvanian, and have been to West Virginia countless times (and really love It), but the conservative/liberal divide is very disturbing. We are all Americans and should treat each other accordingly. I'm not necessarily for big government, but the current leaders have seemingly done little to improve the day-to-day living conditions of many West Virginians.
@@paulmech3610 So, you are going to return to Philly? REALLY?!!!!
You’ve been paying taxes on 4-wheelers? Nobody actually does that. I’ve never done it. I only pay taxes on the cars I actually drive on the road.
My Mom was from Mount Hope, WV and Dad was born in Oswald, WV, a mining camp that I don't think exists anymore and I am not sure where it was. My parents grew up in the Great Depression there and had opposite views of the place. Mom couldn't wait to leave, and Dad always wanted to go back, but was never able to.
You failed to mention the best trout fishing in the world. Or great moonshine lol
Lol, I'm not actually a fisher so I can't comment on it... but glad to hear you find good fishing here... where's your favorite place to go fishin?
Seriously
You got that right!!!!! It's definitely a tradition handed down for generations in these parts. It's not hard to find, if you earn the trust of the right people.
Gotta love that Apple Pie out of a Mason Jar.
Lived here for 30 yrs and I still don’t like it. Don’t know if I ever will. Poverty, drugs, weather is ugly most of the year except for summer & it’s very depressing, lack of bigger opportunities, very little to no exposure to other cultures, very little entertainment, most have zero goals to expand their knowledge of the world or be open minded to things outside tradition…the list goes on. I have valid points. I refuse to argue with anyone on my personal experience of this place. It has killed my spirit living here.
Thank you for your brutally honest comment. I hope you’re able to find a better place to call home…This is exactly how I feel in Alabama, and I’ve been trying to find ANY place better. I’ve heard horror stories on WV (and I was nervous because of other obvious reasons), but people started convincing me WV was the best kept secret. I’m not trying to leave one struggle to move to another one though!😖
My home state of Kentucky borders West Virginia .And the culture of eastern Kentucky and West Virginia is very similar so I love WEST VIRGINIA !
I love WV. I was not born there, but my father was from there, and we lived in the Bluefield/Princeton area for 5 years when I was young. My biggest annoyance is people asking where in Virginia I lived. When I was in 3rd grade we had to know every state on the map and the Capitol of that state.
Soil, you mean you have soil? Where I live we have 4 " of top soil , then it's all rocks. LOL Good video! Kudo's from Eastern Kanawha Co.
Lol, thanks! And yes we definitely do have soil... Some of it is actually really nice and rich... Some of it, not so much 😅
Same here in Taylor County. If you plan on digging a post hole or burying a pet, be ready with some hardcore rock cracking tools. And, if you plan on backfilling said holes, be sure to keep your topsoil separate from the other stuff so that you can backfill it last so that you can plant grass in it and expect it to grow. Also, don't expect a traditional septic system to percolate properly. Expect to double the already high price with an aeration system. These are all lessons I have learned while living here when it comes to soils. Still a nice place to live though.
@@happycamper6352 good stuff to know. Thanks 😊
Yeah we live in a mountain range. Back before you could buy cinderblocks you would use the rocks on your property to build your foundation to your home and remove rocks from your garden. When my parents or kids you could buy TNT at the local hardware store
@@happycamper6352 I live in Taylor County too
When I tell people we are planning to move to WV their eyes roll back into their heads. I just don’t get it. I found it and the people there, at least around Bluefield and Princeton to be super nice. It’s the last affordable place in America with moderate weather.
Public utilities in WV are generally more expensive than many other areas. Water and Sanitation are definitely higher , Electricity (heating and cooling) is higher (even though we have the coal and many power plants). The people that I have spoken to about electric costs say it averages about $250 to $300 during the winter months, and only slightly less during the summer. We have natural gas in abundance as a less expensive heating fuel, the problem is availability because of the rural makeup of the state. Another real problem is transportation, very little public access, and personal vehicle fuel (gasoline) is more expensive than surrounding states. Roads are horrendous, and unsafe for all but the experienced drivers. Housing is less expensive, but that is a small reward to having little industry and jobs. Public education is very iffy, some counties meet national standards, but many fall far short. I have traveled and worked throughout the country, this is home, but I have found many places superior to WV for families. The hills and mountains are beautiful, but that is about it for this state.
Healthcare is cheaper. I go to west virginia from ohio. The healthcare costs where I go are way less then ohio. But we have high deductable on our insurance, So its saved us a lot of money. If you are on medicare, then doesnt matter. We lived in Florida 25 yrs. We are in Ohio bordering W VA. Compared to Florida, everything is much cheaper. Everything.........
Larry, thanks for your well thought out comment.
According to data from national research companies, utilities on average are about 10% less than the national average in WV, but I would bet that varies depending on where you live. I've heard the electric company in the southern part of the state charges an arm and a leg. 😱
My electric is never over $100, personally. Our water bill feels high to me but its about the same as it was when we lived in KY.
As for fuel, in my area people cross over from PA all the time to grab gas because the price for gasoline in PA is outrageous.
@@sharoncrawford3042 Some things perhaps. I go to the Cleveland Clinic because of better care, technology, and they are actually much less expensive than CAMC, the large medical facilities in Charleston WV. I have had the exact same procedures (Pacemaker and Atrial Ablation) performed at both places, and locally it costs about 33% more.
I’m from cali born and raised (northern cali its a lot more country than you would expect i swear we’re not all like Los Angeles) I went to West Virginia 2 years ago fell in love with it it is the most beautiful place we have ever seen and me and my wife decided that’s where we wanted to raise our son we just bought our home there 77 acres no close neighbors can’t wait for the peace and quiet
I lived in West Virginia almost all my life , born here & will die here . My dad was a coal miner & mom was a house wife & 4 kids to take care of .. never once did we go hungry or go dirty , we had a nice house & lived pretty good compared to some others . But are we all bare foot, pregnant, no teeth ???
NO , we are not !
I kinda laugh when I go out of state & people hear me talk & ask where I’m from ?? I say , West Virginia, and proud of it !
There are poor & rich , pretty , ugly , smart , and not so smart people here … but it’s everywhere in this world !
So if you come to West Virginia, I hope you have a great time & just relax .. and I hope you meet some nice folks , cause most of us are wonderful people & love to talk !! 💗💗
YESSSS!!! Thank you for putting it so well!
Someone else commented on here that she was in Pittsburgh, which is literally less than 2 hours from my house so you'd think they get plenty of people from WV there. She said she had someone find out she was from WV and ask if her husband was her husband and say they were impressed she had shoes on. 😱🤯
How could people be so ignorant and rude at the same time. 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I love WV, been here all my life but I will be leaving soon. The taxes, lack of good jobs and drug epidemic has gotten to be too much. I want more opportunity for my kids and the education system here is horrible. It's just not worth it anymore. I will miss you all. Come to Florida and visit me cuz!
@@robbygood9718 hey cuz ! Sorry you are going , but I wish you the best luck & thank you for being a good friend to me !
I wish you & your family the best ! But , don’t forget where you are from !