Happy Birthday Hillbillies!
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| Capital building in Charleston, WV |
Happy 150th Birthday West Virginia!!!
It's our time to celebrate...and remind the world that we are NOT part of Virginia.
This is West Virginia-
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| Find the Map Man Here! |
This is Virginia-
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| From Enchanted Learning |
We are no longer united. We are two independent states sitting
side-by-side...border to border.
Holy smokes!! When did that happen?
Well, here's a quick history...in a nutshell:
Once upon a time, there was unity in the Virginias...
But then this little skirmish called the Civil War broke out.
And well, Mountaineers are always free, but they aren't exactly rebels. No matter how irate we get with the excessive laws and the taxes set by the feds...hillbillies still have loyalty to this flag.
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| Old Glory |
So, what's a patriot to do when the south votes on secession?
Well, you secede yourself. On October 24, 1861 WV declared they were no longer part of Virginia.
It wasn't a popular idea outside the state...even Abe Lincoln wasn't a fan!
But we had rail roads, and the war was heating up, soooo...
Welcome West by God Virginia to the Union as the 35th state!
On June 20, 1863 West Virginia was officially a state.
Sadly, that's only given the rest of the nation 150 years to get used to the fact that WEST Virginia is NOT just the western part of the southern state of Virginia. Just listen to ESPN's Brad Nessler:
As a wise WV commenter on YouTube said to Brad's gaffe, "Cut him a break. We became a state when he was just a baby."
But we won't complain- John Denver showed us some love. ;)
*and for all the wise-apples who say he was he was singing about Virginia...check your geography: the Shenandoah River runs through the Eastern Panhandle and so do the Blue Ridge Mountains
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/opalsson/6496355073/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/branditressler/1079313492/
Happy birthday, West Virginia! Great rundown on the history to, Liz :-)
ReplyDeleteI should have been a history teacher ;)
DeleteNow, that he shares the same birthday, maybe the new prince will be called Westie?
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, WV, and I have fond memories of driving through you in 2011 :)
I think Kanye and Kim naming their baby North was strange enough for one summer. I'm betting on James.
DeleteHappy birthday, West Virginia! I've drive through it - beautiful state.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a beautiful state. Living here all my life sometimes makes me take that beauty for granted.
DeleteLove the title of this post LOL. Happy Birthday to West Virginia! I'll be singing "Almost Heaven... " in my head now for the rest of the day. :D
ReplyDeleteEnjoy that...hehe. Having a song loop in my head is so special ;)
DeleteLol! Great post. Thanks for the interesting history lesson. ;)
ReplyDeleteI should start cliff notes version of history. Hmm...
DeleteI've always thought that West Virginia was an interesting state for doing what it thought was right. Not to mention, there aren't many opportunities to split a state. Ask northern California, they've been trying to secede from California for pretty much the last century...
ReplyDeleteIt took a war for us to do it, so I'm not hoping northern California gets its way any time soon!
DeleteIt has to be frustrating to be such a big state and feel like you have no voice.
This was quite an interesting post today Liz. Little Jamaican me learned a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to join you in Jamaica and learn your island's history first hand. ;)
DeleteHappy birthday, West Virginia.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the history lesson. I didn't know all this.
I didn't realize we just finished paying off our debt from the split until I was double checking my facts. Talk about extended payment plans!
DeleteAs a Kentucky Hillbilly, I wish my West Virginia cousins a happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThe icing on the cake was you posting John Devner's "Country Road"...one of my all time faves.
Also, thank you and your son for the great feedback on my last post...I appreciate it! :)
He had fun throwing his two cents in. His super hero fascination knows no bounds!
DeleteGo, West Virginia! And thanks for teaching me something new today.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Shallee! Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteLet's goooo Mountaineers! I'm a WVU alum. :)
ReplyDeleteMy son is about to start his second year there...you guys can party together!
DeleteHappy Birthday to WV! John Denver celebrates all the good states (CO, too) :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's true. We must both come from inspiring places ;)
DeleteLoved your quick history recap. Here's to that loyal state and it's great people. Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee. I've found loyalty is a quality pretty thick in the hillbilly blood lines.
DeleteHappy Birthday, West Virginia. A beautiful state.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't feel bad. Some idiots in this country believe New Mexico is part of Mexico, not the U.S.
You know, when I travel around the US, I have to explain at least once or twice how WV is a separate state from Virginia...so I am not at all surprised!
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