the four regions of west virginia

The Four Regions The Four Regions of West Virginiaof West Virginia

Human and Environmental Human and Environmental InteractionInteraction

► HEI – The way we use, HEI – The way we use, affect, and are affected affect, and are affected by our environment.by our environment.

► Animals eliminated Animals eliminated from WV because of from WV because of human interactionhuman interaction wolf, bison, elkwolf, bison, elk

► Railroad helped the Railroad helped the industries in WV boomindustries in WV boom


► 3 major industries that 3 major industries that are examples of are examples of human/environmental human/environmental interactioninteraction MiningMining LumberLumber ChemicalChemical

► Surface mining=strip Surface mining=strip miningmining

► Chemical industry great Chemical industry great site in WV because of the site in WV because of the available elementsavailable elements Kanawha Valley “the Kanawha Valley “the

Chemical Valley of the World”Chemical Valley of the World”

Surface MiningSurface Mining


► LumberingLumbering Early settlers saw that the Early settlers saw that the

entire state was covered entire state was covered with forest. They cut down with forest. They cut down the trees and used them for the trees and used them for two purposes: two purposes: ► To provide building materials To provide building materials

for housesfor houses► FuelFuel ► (later used to build boats)(later used to build boats)

Lumbering brought other Lumbering brought other jobs, such as:jobs, such as:► SawmillsSawmills► Pulp mills-converts wood chips Pulp mills-converts wood chips

or other plant fiber source into or other plant fiber source into a thick fiber board which can be a thick fiber board which can be shipped to a paper mill for shipped to a paper mill for further processing further processing

► Tanneries-workplace where Tanneries-workplace where skins and hides are tanned skins and hides are tanned

MovementMovement

► Movement-the way we Movement-the way we are linked through are linked through exploration, trade routes, exploration, trade routes, settlement, migration, settlement, migration, and invasionand invasion

► WV was first settled in the WV was first settled in the Potomac regionPotomac region

► Early settlers searched for Early settlers searched for food, water, and safety.food, water, and safety.

► Settlers traveled the least Settlers traveled the least restrictive way, by valleys restrictive way, by valleys and following rivers. and following rivers.

RegionsRegions(an area that is bound by common (an area that is bound by common

characteristics)characteristics)

Geographic regions are defined by:Geographic regions are defined by: Common ClimateCommon Climate

Common LandformCommon Landform

EconomicEconomic

Recreational activitiesRecreational activities

West Virginia has 4 Regions:West Virginia has 4 Regions:Potomac SectionPotomac Section

Allegheny HighlandsAllegheny Highlands

Allegheny PlateauAllegheny Plateau

Ohio River ValleyOhio River Valley

The Potomac SectionThe Potomac Section► Geography:Geography:

In the Eastern Panhandle In the Eastern Panhandle Gently rolling farmland Gently rolling farmland

(Rural) (Rural) Potomac River is its Potomac River is its

northern border (the northern border (the river gives the region its river gives the region its name)name)

Contains lowest point in Contains lowest point in WV (Harpers Ferry 247 WV (Harpers Ferry 247 feet above sea level)feet above sea level)

► A place where A place where urbanurban (city or town)(city or town) workers flock to the workers flock to the region from region from Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

The Potomac SectionThe Potomac Section

► History:History: It was the first region It was the first region

settled by Europeanssettled by Europeans In 1912 US Supreme Court In 1912 US Supreme Court

ruled that the Fairfax Stone ruled that the Fairfax Stone would be the starting point would be the starting point of the boundary between of the boundary between WV and MDWV and MD

► IndustriesIndustries Livestock (sheep and cattle) Livestock (sheep and cattle)

because of excellent grassbecause of excellent grass Peach & Apple orchards Peach & Apple orchards

because of great soilbecause of great soil► Apple Butter FestivalApple Butter Festival► Mountain State Apple Mountain State Apple

Harvest FestivalHarvest Festival

The Potomac SectionThe Potomac Section

► Natural FeaturesNatural Features (Warm springs) Berkeley Springs(Warm springs) Berkeley Springs

► SpaSpa (health resort)(health resort) Whitewater rafting on the Shenandoah RiverWhitewater rafting on the Shenandoah River Potomac Eagle (The Trough)Potomac Eagle (The Trough) State Parks- Cacapon and Berkeley SpringsState Parks- Cacapon and Berkeley Springs

► Harper’s Ferry Harper’s Ferry (picture on front of text)(picture on front of text)

The Allegheny HighlandsThe Allegheny Highlands

► Geography:Geography: Mountainous Region - Mountainous Region -

Forms the dividing line Forms the dividing line between eastern and between eastern and western WVwestern WV

Contains Highest Point in Contains Highest Point in WV - Spruce Knob 4862 WV - Spruce Knob 4862 feet above sea levelfeet above sea level

► The Allegheny Highlands is the region that gave WV its nickname the “Mountain State”


► HistoryHistory ImmigrantsImmigrants (ones who moves into (ones who moves into

a new country to settle)a new country to settle) ► SwissSwiss and Germans settled and Germans settled

much of the region in the 1740s much of the region in the 1740s and early 1800sand early 1800s

HelvetiaHelvetia (Latin for (Latin for “Switzerland”) settled in 1869“Switzerland”) settled in 1869

► Southern and Eastern Europeans Southern and Eastern Europeans came into the region in the late came into the region in the late 1800’s and earl 1900’s (due to 1800’s and earl 1900’s (due to coal and timber industries)coal and timber industries)

► IndustriesIndustries Tourism! Tourism! Sparsely populated (largest city: Sparsely populated (largest city:

Beckley)Beckley)

The Allegheny HighlandsThe Allegheny Highlands(Helvetia)(Helvetia)


► Natural FeaturesNatural Features Premier Skiing Premier Skiing

FacilitiesFacilities – Snowshoe, – Snowshoe, Winterplace, Silver Winterplace, Silver Creek Ski Area and Creek Ski Area and othersothers

Hiking, rock climbing, Hiking, rock climbing, spelunking, mountain spelunking, mountain bicyclingbicycling► Peter’s MountainPeter’s Mountain► Seneca RocksSeneca Rocks► Smoke HoleSmoke Hole► Seneca, and Lost Seneca, and Lost

World CavernsWorld Caverns► Dolly SodsDolly Sods

The Allegheny PlateauThe Allegheny Plateau

► GeographyGeography PlateauPlateau (an elevated tract of (an elevated tract of

more or less level land)more or less level land)

Rivers cut gorges and Rivers cut gorges and canyons across the plateaucanyons across the plateau► New River GorgeNew River Gorge► New River – second New River – second

oldest river in the worldoldest river in the world

The largest city is located in The largest city is located in this region: Charlestonthis region: Charleston (State (State Capital)Capital)

The Allegheny PlateauThe Allegheny Plateau

► HistoryHistory The influence of Native The influence of Native

Americans is evident in the Americans is evident in the regionregion► Kanawha (river of evil Kanawha (river of evil

spirits)spirits)► Logan County was named Logan County was named

after a Mingo chief whose after a Mingo chief whose family was killed by a band family was killed by a band of white men of white men

► Mingo County named after Mingo County named after tribe of Indianstribe of Indians

The Region is rich in ethnic The Region is rich in ethnic diversitydiversity► Italians, Belgians, Czechs, Italians, Belgians, Czechs,

Greeks, Irish, and Greeks, Irish, and Spaniards.Spaniards.

► Mining Industry attracted Mining Industry attracted many immigrants to the many immigrants to the regionregion

The Allegheny PlateauThe Allegheny Plateau► Natural FeaturesNatural Features

Contains a variety of natural Contains a variety of natural resourcesresources► Limestone, sandstone, shale, Limestone, sandstone, shale,

coal, oil, natural gas and saltcoal, oil, natural gas and salt

Whitewater rafting Whitewater rafting ► (Gauley River and New (Gauley River and New

River)River)

Windsurfing, boating, scuba Windsurfing, boating, scuba diving, water skiing, fishingdiving, water skiing, fishing► (Summersville Lake)(Summersville Lake)

New River Gorge BridgeNew River Gorge Bridge► (Construction completed in (Construction completed in

October of 1977)October of 1977)► Bridge Day (3Bridge Day (3rdrd Saturday of Saturday of

Oct)Oct)

The Ohio River ValleyThe Ohio River Valley

► GeographyGeography Lies next to Ohio River, the Lies next to Ohio River, the

river dominates this regionriver dominates this region Many cities located in this Many cities located in this

area- Huntington, area- Huntington, Parkersburg, Point Pleasant, Parkersburg, Point Pleasant, WheelingWheeling

Islands are found in the Islands are found in the Ohio river with unique flora Ohio river with unique flora and faunaand fauna► (Ohio River Island National (Ohio River Island National

Wildlife Refuge)Wildlife Refuge)► Blennerhassett IslandBlennerhassett Island


► HistoryHistory Area was inhabited for Area was inhabited for

thousands of years by thousands of years by IndiansIndians

First settled by French in First settled by French in mid 1700s. French called mid 1700s. French called the Ohio La Belle Riviere the Ohio La Belle Riviere “The Beautiful River”“The Beautiful River”

1763 French surrendered 1763 French surrendered Ohio Valley to Britain Ohio Valley to Britain after French and Indian after French and Indian War War

The historic The historic Blennerhassett IslandBlennerhassett Island

West Virginia’s “floating West Virginia’s “floating capitol” capitol”

The Ohio River ValleyThe Ohio River Valley(Blennerhasset Island)(Blennerhasset Island)

► Aaron Burr Conspiracy (1805 – Aaron Burr Conspiracy (1805 – 1807)1807) Aaron Burr - Former Vice President Aaron Burr - Former Vice President

under Thomas Jefferson; orchestrated a under Thomas Jefferson; orchestrated a plot to create a new government plot to create a new government opposed to America in the Southwest opposed to America in the Southwest

Harman Blennerhasset – Wealthy Irish Harman Blennerhasset – Wealthy Irish born lawyer that owned an island on the born lawyer that owned an island on the Ohio River where Burr and his Ohio River where Burr and his conspirators plotted; also financed conspirators plotted; also financed Burr’s conspiracyBurr’s conspiracy

Edward Tiffin, governor of Ohio, brought Edward Tiffin, governor of Ohio, brought militia to Blennerhasset Island, raided it militia to Blennerhasset Island, raided it and stopped the conspiracyand stopped the conspiracy

Burr and Blennerhasset were accused of Burr and Blennerhasset were accused of treasontreason (the crime of trying to (the crime of trying to overthrow the government of one’s overthrow the government of one’s state or country)state or country)

The Ohio River ValleyThe Ohio River Valley(West Virginia's “Floating Capitol”)(West Virginia's “Floating Capitol”)

► When West Virginia became a state in When West Virginia became a state in 1863, the Capitol building was at the 1863, the Capitol building was at the Linsly Institute in Wheeling. Linsly Institute in Wheeling.

► In 1870, the State Legislature designated In 1870, the State Legislature designated Charleston as the Capital city. Charleston as the Capital city.

► In 1875, the Legislature voted to return In 1875, the Legislature voted to return the Capital to Wheeling. This was the Capital to Wheeling. This was appealed by the citizens of Charleston and appealed by the citizens of Charleston and finally settled by the West Virginia finally settled by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals on September Supreme Court of Appeals on September 13 in favor of Wheeling.13 in favor of Wheeling.

► The Legislature struck once more in 1877 The Legislature struck once more in 1877 and ordered an election to be held on and ordered an election to be held on August 7 for the citizens of West Virginia August 7 for the citizens of West Virginia to select a permanent location for the to select a permanent location for the Capital. The vote was between Charleston, Capital. The vote was between Charleston, Martinsburg and Clarksburg. Thirty days Martinsburg and Clarksburg. Thirty days after the election, Henry M. Mathews after the election, Henry M. Mathews proclaimed that after eight years, proclaimed that after eight years, Charleston would be the government's Charleston would be the government's permanent seat permanent seat

VS


►The new Capitol opened on May 1, The new Capitol opened on May 1, 1885, and served for 36 years until its 1885, and served for 36 years until its destruction by fire on January 3, 1921 destruction by fire on January 3, 1921

►Luckily, the Legislature had authorized Luckily, the Legislature had authorized the construction of the present Capitol the construction of the present Capitol on the north bank of the Kanawha River on the north bank of the Kanawha River in 1921. This building was completed in in 1921. This building was completed in 1932 at a cost of $10 million 1932 at a cost of $10 million


►Major manufacturing:Major manufacturing: SteelSteel GlassGlass TextilesTextiles

ReviewReview

► 7 River Basins in WV7 River Basins in WV

► The climate of WV is Humid ContinentalThe climate of WV is Humid Continental ► The New river has 4 tributariesThe New river has 4 tributaries► The Kanawha river has the greatest number of tributariesThe Kanawha river has the greatest number of tributaries► The county that is often referred to as the birthplace of rivers The county that is often referred to as the birthplace of rivers

is Pocahontasis Pocahontas► WV has one natural lakeWV has one natural lake► WV location can be described as relative and absoluteWV location can be described as relative and absolute► WV boundaries- natural and man-madeWV boundaries- natural and man-made► Fairfax Stone- WV and MarylandFairfax Stone- WV and Maryland► Mason-Dixon Line- WV and PennsylvaniaMason-Dixon Line- WV and Pennsylvania

ReferncesRefernces

► http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Helvetia_WV-Shield_Sign.jpgImage:Helvetia_WV-Shield_Sign.jpg

► http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/6192/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/6192/► http://www.freebase.com/view/wikipedia/images/http://www.freebase.com/view/wikipedia/images/

commons_id/556019commons_id/556019► http://www.newriverwv.com/http://www.newriverwv.com/► http://www.wvbridgeday.com/http://www.wvbridgeday.com/► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Charleston,_West_VirginiaCharleston,_West_Virginia► http://www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com/http://www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com/► http://www.electricearl.com/parkersburg/island.htmlhttp://www.electricearl.com/parkersburg/island.html► http://www.blenkoglass.com/http://www.blenkoglass.com/► http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgID=80http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgID=80

the four regions of west virginia

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