WEST VIRGINIA - West Virginia's creation is unique in American history, a state forged in the crucible of the Civil War. Born from a political and cultural split with its parent state, its modern name reflects a clear geographical distinction. However, before the name "West Virginia" was officially adopted, the founders of this rugged mountain state had a different and historically significant name in mind: the State of Kanawha.
A State Forged in Conflict:
Before 1863, the land that is now West Virginia was simply the western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Deep-seated political, economic, and social differences had long existed between the mountainous western counties and the plantation-dominated eastern part of the state. These tensions reached a breaking point in 1861 when Virginia voted to secede from the Union.
Delegates from the staunchly pro-Union western counties refused to join the Confederacy. They convened a series of meetings in Wheeling, known as the Wheeling Conventions, to form their own loyal government and chart a path to separate statehood.
The State of Kanawha:
During these conventions, as the framework for a new state was being drafted, the delegates initially chose a name that honored the region's geography and Native American heritage. In August 1861, an ordinance was approved to form a new state named Kanawha.
The name was chosen in honor of the Kanawha River, one of the state's most prominent waterways, which itself was named after a local Native American tribe. For a time, it seemed the 35th state would be known as the State of Kanawha.
From Kanawha to West Virginia:
The name "Kanawha" was the frontrunner until a constitutional convention in late 1861. During the debates, delegates raised concerns that having a "State of Kanawha" and a "Kanawha County" within it would be confusing. More importantly, many delegates expressed a strong desire to retain a connection to their Virginian heritage, even as they were separating from it politically.
Several other names were suggested, including "Allegheny," "Augusta," and "New Virginia." When a final vote was taken, the name "West Virginia" won by a landslide, with 30 of the 44 delegates choosing it. The name perfectly balanced the two key sentiments: it signaled a clear geographical separation while still honoring their historic roots as Virginians.
While the state was officially admitted to the Union as West Virginia on June 20, 1863, its original proposed name was the State of Kanawha. This piece of history is a fascinating glimpse into the minds of the state's founders as they navigated the complex task of creating a new identity, torn between honoring their regional geography and retaining a link to their shared past.
Sources:
- The West Virginia Encyclopedia (e-WV)
- Encyclopedia Virginia
- The National Archives
- History.com
- West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information
- Wikipedia - "State of Kanawha"
