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UNITED STATES : — WEST VIRGINIA
WEST VIRGINIA.
F Government. — In 1862, after the state of Virginia, as a whole, had seceded from the Union, the electors of the western portion ratified an ordinance providing for the formation of a new State, and this new State was admitted into the Union in 1863 under the name of West Virginia.
The Legislature consists of the Senate and the House of Delegates. The right to vote is given to every citizen (Avith necessary exceptions) 21 years of age and resident in the State one year and in the county sixty days prior to the election. The Senate is composed of 30 members elected for a term of four years in such a manner that half the Senate is renewed biennially. The House of Delegates consists of 86 members elected biennially.
Governor.— Henry D. Hatfield, March 4, 1913— March 4, 1917 (5,000 dollars).
Secretary of /S7rt/;c.— Stuart F. Heed.
The State is represented in the Federal Congress by two Senators elected by the Legislature for 6 years, and five Representatives chosen for 2 years, for the election of whom the State is divided into five congressional districts.
For local administration the State is divided into 55 counties. The State Capital is Charleston.
Area, Population, Instruction.— Area, 24,715 s(|uare miles.
V ear
Population
Year
Population
Total
Per sq. mile
25-1 31-0
Total
Per sq. mile
1880 1890
618,457 672,794
1900 1910
958,800 1,221,119
38-9 50-8
In 1910 the population included 644,044 males and 577,075 females; 57,072 were of foreign birth ; 64,173 were negroes ; 36 Indians ; 90 Chinese, and 3 Japanese.
In 1900 the jtopulation by sex and race was : —
—
White
Negro
25,167 18,332
Asiatic 56
Indian
Total
Male Female
474,013 441,220
6 6
499,242 459,558
Total .
915,233
43,499
56 1
12
958,800
Of the total, 22,451 were born in foreign countries and of these 6,537 came from Germany, 3,342 from Ireland, 2,921 from Italy, and 2,622 from England. In 1910 the population of the principal cities was : Wheeling, 41,641 ; Parkersburg, 17,842; Charleston, 22,996; Huntington, 31,161.
The most numerous denominations are Methodists, Baptists, Ronjan Catho- lics, United Brethren and Presbyterians. Most of the denominations have colleges within the State. Elementary education is free for all from 6 to 21 years of age, and school attendance for 20 weeks annually is compulsory for all children between the ages of 8 and 14 years. The public or free schools are non-sectarian. A rigid code of moral instruction is enforced, but no
