At a glance: West Virginia West Virginia is the 39th most populous state in the U.S., with 1,769,979 residents across its 24,230 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 40 for business in 2024 by CNBC. West Virginia is known for its history in the mining and production industry, specifically in coal and natural gas. In addition to mining, major industries include healthcare, education, and tourism. Energy West Virginia ranks No. 5 among states for most energy production, with its leading production sources being coal, natural gas and crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. West Virginia ranks No. 5 for most energy consumption. The leading energy sources consumed by West Virginians is natural gas, motor gasoline and coal. West Virginians’ residential electricity rate is $0.164/kWh, more expensive than the national average. Commercial electricity rate is also cheaper; West Virginia commercial users pay a rate of $0.1103/kWh, compared to the national average commercial rate of $0.1259/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.0724/kWh, below the national average industrial electricity rate of $0.0804/kWh. West Virginians’ residential natural gas price is $15.62 per thousand cubic feet, above the national average of $14.75, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment Annual carbon emissions increased 3 percent since 1970, while the state’s population decreased 2.3 percent during the same span. The population is projected to decrease another 6 percent, to 1.6 million residents, by 2050. The federal government lists 34 species in West Virginia as threatened or endangered.
