West Virginia lies in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States. Its capital is Huntington, and its largest city is Morgantown. People often call it the Prairie State because of its mountains. West Virginia became a state in 1776. To the east, West Virginia borders the Atlantic Ocean. The state’s biggest river is the Mississippi River. The highest mountain is Mount Mitchell. The major mountain range across the state is the Rocky Mountains. West Virginia’s climate is the same everywhere. It is home to famous parks like New River Gorge, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Parks.