WEST VIRGINIA - The Mountain State, boasts a unique origin story born directly from the turmoil of the American Civil War. While its name seems straightforward, reflecting its geographical separation from Virginia, the path to choosing "West Virginia" involved debate and consideration of other possibilities. Among these proposed names was "Kanawha," a designation deeply rooted in the region's Native American heritage and geography.
Before "West Virginia": The Naming of the Mountain State and the Proposed "Kanawha"
This article explores what West Virginia was almost called and why "West Virginia" ultimately won out.
The Split from Virginia (1861): A State Forged in Conflict
West Virginia's journey to statehood began in 1861. As Virginia voted to secede from the Union at the outset of the Civil War, the residents of the mountainous western counties, who held strong Unionist sentiments and differed culturally and economically from the eastern part of the state, chose a different path. Delegates met in Wheeling and voted to separate from Virginia, forming a new loyal government. This act of separation necessitated the creation of a new state identity, including a name.
"Kanawha": The First Proposed Name
As delegates gathered in Wheeling to establish the framework for the new state, the question of a name arose. The first and most popular proposal put forward was "Kanawha."
- Origin: "Kanawha" honored the Kanawha Native American tribe that historically inhabited the area.
- Geography: The proposed state featured the Kanawha River valley, a significant waterway within its intended boundaries.
"Kanawha" represented a break from the Virginia identity and acknowledged the region's distinct geography and Indigenous history.
Other Contenders: Vandalia and Allegheny
While "Kanawha" was the leading contender, other names were also considered during the constitutional conventions. These included "Vandalia," referencing a failed pre-Revolutionary War colonial proposal for the region, and "Allegheny," reflecting the dominant mountain range.
The Final Choice: "West Virginia" (1863)
Despite the initial popularity of "Kanawha," the desire to signify the new state's relationship to its parent state ultimately prevailed. When the state was officially admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, during the height of the Civil War, it bore the name "West Virginia." This name explicitly reflected its geographical location west of the Allegheny Mountains relative to Virginia and emphasized its separation from the Confederate state while acknowledging its historical connection.
While West Virginia is firmly established on the map today, its name was not a foregone conclusion. The initial preference for "Kanawha" reveals a desire to forge a distinct identity rooted in the region's geography and Native American heritage. However, the eventual choice of "West Virginia" underscored its creation's specific political and military circumstances during the Civil War – a state born from a division forever linked by name to the state it separated from. The story of its naming is a fascinating footnote in the unique history of the Mountain State.
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Sources:
- West Virginia Archives and History
- West Virginia Encyclopedia
- Historical accounts of West Virginia statehood and the Wheeling Conventions
- Histories of the American Civil War
- U.S. National Archives
