1. West Virginia became a state. On February 1, 1863, West Virginia officially became the 35th state in the United States. The state was created during the Civil War when Virginia seceded from the Union, but the western counties refused to join the Confederacy.
2. The first black coal miner in West Virginia was born. In 1883, Noah Brown, the first known African American coal miner in West Virginia, was born in Fayette County. Brown worked in the mines for over 50 years and was a respected union leader.
3. The first female mayor was elected. On February 1, 1971, Beverly Coyle was elected as the first female mayor in West Virginia history. Coyle served as the mayor of Keyser, a small town in Mineral County, for four years.
4. The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame was founded. In 2005, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame was established in Charleston to recognize and honor musicians who have made significant contributions to the state's music industry. The first induction ceremony was held on February 1, 2007.
5. The "Bridge Day" event began. In 1977, the first "Bridge Day" was held on the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayette County. The annual event, which takes place on the third Saturday in October, attracts thousands of visitors to watch BASE jumpers and rappellers leap from the bridge.
5 Fun Facts About February 1 In West Virginia History
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