Why West Virginia Can't Get Better

[@SomethingDifferentFilms]

Thank you for watching my video on the many problems of West Virginia, if you would like to see a video on how West Virginia could turn things around please let me know here.

[@zyxwut321]

Your video was a very complete analysis on the economic problems of West Virginia. I'd like to see a similar analysis on where you see potential opportunities and areas of growth and development, obviously most if not all of it going AWAY from the coal industry.

[@Jurgensen1]

I'd love to see a video like that, the whole state would be better off if they could just diversify their economy more and make education as good as possible. Anytime I see a state like that I think "man, I wish I could help them fix their problems" rather than most people just hating on the state

[@Skumm93]

@@Jurgensen1 the biggest things are ensuring that coal money would get the heck out of our state government, and rebuilding our agricultural capacity for bespoke resources that do well in our unique landscape. But that can’t happen if coal magnates and the people who still support them keep diverting all our dollars to keeping them happy. We have plenty to offer but we need help removing the roadblocks. However, we keep getting retirees and most young leave, making it difficult to push back.

[@Jurgensen1]

@@Skumm93 good take 👍

[@CAHouseMusic]

1:35 Just an FYI that C. A. House Music is still in business! We've been rocking since 1872 and don't plan to stop any time soon!

[@schrodingersmechanic7622]

This Texan wants to retire there. My grandmother lived in 40 acres in Appalachia and we'd go there every summer when I was a kid, drinking straight from the spring, walking in the woods with dad and grandma's supper. God I miss those days.

[@timothynelson6918]

I did retire here. I own 12 acres on the side of a mountain. I can't see my neighbors and am surrounded by woods in all directions. There are still diamonds hidden all over the state. Lord knows I feel like I found one. I hope you get your dream soon!

[@thefpvlife7785]

Must’ve been far away from these coal pits.

[@xiaoka]

Hope you're not downhill from any tailings ponds!

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

​@@xiaoka Or meth labs.

[@noconsentgiven]

If you have the income West V is definitely worth it. Some of the most beautiful land and down to earth folks you'll ever meet👍.

[@sknowman1424]

One of the most accurate you tube videos on WV, I have watched. I have lived in WV my entire 60 years. Everything was spot on, especially the woman at the close of the video.

[@bonecolecter74]

What's that supposed to mean ?. She's not lying at all..she told it like it is %100 ..oh.. let me guess.. your one of those edge- ah- ma- cated west Virginians or ether from up above Parkersburg or we will just say the northern half of the state or extreme eastern panhandle that's part of the DC Metropolitan area and sound like Yankee Doodle dandy when you talk 😂 and probably tell everyone that no one in West by God really talks like that. . I'm proud of my West Virginia roots and embrace this southern Appalachian accent and I promise you a little bit of twang doesn't subtract points of a person's IQ.. I'm straight from the holler and not only that but a dirt road holler in Leon West Virginia in old tobbacco country and now hay fields .. and most of us do pretty good ourselves. Mason , Putnam, Cabell , Kanawha and Jackson county there's plenty of jobs ..I work as a chemical operator and Kanawha and Cabell there's definitely good jobs for those that want to work and for surrounding counties.. Putnam has several not to mention Toyota plant that employees litterly thousands close to the mason Putnam county border ..Mason county has a steel mill that's almost finished that's going to be the biggest and most modern steel mill on this side of the Mississippi that's going to litterly employ probably over 3 thousand people and Jackson county has a new titanium plant being built right now that's close to finished called west virginia titanium plant that will also employ thousands and a Wes Virginia black top plant and plus in ravens wood theres a huge aluminum plant that one of my cousins has been employed there for 2 decades ..things are looking up and plants are actually starting to move in especially around the Kanawha and Ohio rivers ..and theres always been work for folks that aren't afraid to get off there ass get a slice of the pie.. all these new plants will be a snowball effect and open up even more jobs just like the coal mines did ..anyways most of us hillbillies love that its not the hustle and bussel like other states ..one of the best kept secrets ❤

[@sknowman1424]

@@bonecolecter74 You couldn't be more wrong dimwit. I am from Logan County WV, grew up in a four-room former coal company house along a dirt road and railroad track. Just thought I would mention that since having it rough seems to impress you. Logan was the heart of what used to be coal country but is now a rural version of Detroit or Gary, Indiana. It like much of the rest of the state has been dying a slow death for nearly 50 years. You check the population data recently? All but 5 counties lost population. The only increases were the eastern panhandle, Morgantown and a small increase in Putnam. And again, I am not some Ivy League Elite. I have lived in WV my entire life, recently retired from a Kanawha Valley chemical company after nearly 40 years. And not a day goes by that I am not thankful to have kept that job so long. I was very fortunate after watching the company go from 14 operating units when I hired in to 3 when I left this year. Many times, I thought it was over and I was going to have to leave, Like so many of my family and friends have had to do to survive. I hope all the companies you are pinning your hopes on do locate and open here. I have witnessed too much and therefore will remain skeptical until the population losses stop and the economic data improves.

[@glennblack]

This video doesn’t mention the important chemical manufacturing industry of West Virginia. Therefore, it is skewed.

[@WingsandBeer]

@@sknowman1424 Do they still call it "LA"?

[@sknowman1424]

@@WingsandBeer As far as I know that's what they call what's left of Logan.

[@Mantisman6233]

It's strange how it's losing population yet the price of property has skyrocketed. Other than run down houses in small towns, acreages are eye wateringly expensive. My wife's family is from Greenbrier County and we looked at moving there to a little "town" called Auto. A .25 acre lot was $250,000. 4 and 5 acre lots were $400k-500k. And it was that way everywhere around Greenbrier County, despite the county losing more than 25% of its population since 2000. (Primarily) New York speculators are driving up prices, making it unaffordable for average folks to move in to replace the lost population. Right now, today, it is almost single-handedly NY speculators keeping rural West Virginia from coming back.

[@scottgrindrod]

The thing holding WVa back is their allegiance to coal and capitalism. The CEOs of these coal companies have shown for years, if not decades, that they don't care about the population of the state, yet they still keep voting for the same pro-coal politicians over and over again.

[@djt8518]

@@Mantisman6233 that's happening all over the country

[@gondolagripes1674]

All foreigners. No native residents.

[@flavio-p]

Blackrock

[@chazman4461]

Land prices are up everywhere. I live in WV. There are tons of outside companies trying to buy land and buildings.

[@Evil-dr4bn]

"Profitability for the owner class, while pushing workers off the table they helped build." The truth everywhere, not just WV. That needs to change.

[@kermicgreen3370]

That won't change because "we the people" keep electing the same incompetent representatives over and over again. Our country is full of "if you are not one of my PARTY, then I don't like you." A majority of working-class people don't vote with their brain, as compared with their heart. If Donald Trump can become President of our "so called great country", that says we have a long way to go as a Nation. Until we elect people who actually care about the everyday citizen, and not the Wall Street class, or Fortune 500 elites, our country will never be "a shining city on the hill" like Regan said in his 1988 State of the Union Adress.

[@Talking_Comics]

Unions need to make a comeback big time

[@alabamaal225]

Votin' for Trump and the other Republican clowns aint goin' to do it.

[@Mortablunt]

Bring on Socialism!

[@dew02300]

@@Mortablunt It worked so well in Bulgaria and especially Venezuela. Grow up.

[@yea_itz_shanks]

I’ve lived in Southern WV most of my life. I left a few years back for work but oh I miss her mountains, beauty, rivers, and peace. WV will always be home! 🖤

[@AppalachianHistoryDetectives]

Eastern WV is booming and out of staters are moving into the Eastern Panhandle in droves. I live in Virginia near WV and we vacation there. My Texan wife wants us to retire there. Poor people arent the problem, rich people are.

[@28704joe]

What problems do rich people bring to a poor state? They bring money and need services.

[@Rillosarmory]

@@28704joelol the rich have always screwed over the people of WV nothings changed especially since most of those people are coming from the bubble of DC

[@stanmarcusgtv]

@@28704joe they raise prices for natives and are despised see the movie What About Bob people from NY and CA are despised all around the country

[@TheSaltyAdmiral]

​@@28704joe Rich people moving to a poor state often creates much more problems than they solve. Have you noticed the massive anti-tourism protests in Spain this summer? People are like "why are you complaining about tourists coming and leaving behind loads of cash, you ungrateful f*cks"? Because the money they spend goes straight into the pockets of business owners and landlords, while simultaneously increasing the prices on basically everything there(because of increased wealthy demand). The result being that the native local population either becomes poorer, or is priced out of their own homes and towns entirely.

[@PatrickCoyne-x3v]

@@28704joe They drive up land prices but do not actually bring in that much money since they need to pay for infrastructure, and its not people always spending full time but just part time so they dont get income taxes

[@alabamaal225]

My wife and I recently drove through the southern West Virginia coal country, including McDowell County. In all too many places it was pretty sad; many remnants of better times now apparently abandoned. I suspect one reason why more people haven't moved from this section than have is property ownership. Most of the small homes that nestle between the road and the mountain immediately in the back are likely owned by their inhabitants, perhaps first acquired by the current inhabitant's parents or earlier. This is a very great advantage, illustrating the distinction between having money and having wealth. The homes, in relative monetary terms, may not be worth much, but they are a great source of true wealth. Not having to pay a mortgage or rent, having a modest but secure home enables people whose incomes are well below the poverty line to more capably sustain themselves. When you saw an abandoned home, likely the residents died and only Nature wanted to take it over. Driving by closed schools and observing the apparent median age of the small towns we visited in the coal country indicates that most of the younger generation is not staying. While driving down the roads, many of the billboards either touted church congregations or law offices specializing in claims regarding pensions, disabilities, Social Security, or Medicare. You only see a abundance of advertisements like this in deeply economically troubled areas.

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

Excellent assessment.

[@djt8518]

I would rather live in a shack in wv than a tent in ca at least I own the shack and the land

[@antontsau]

to own a home allows to be poor up to the grave, yes. To be excluded from competition, to sit on foodstamps and welfare but not even try to do something useful. When its 1 pauper with home for 99 workers its working fine. When 1 worker for 99 paupers - this last worker runs away as fast as possible, and only paupers leave. Without any chance to return the life to economy.

[@danp6897]

I'm an Oregonian who spent a few years in DC. I didn't get to explore WV as much as I'd have liked, but what I saw of it reminded me very much of the landscape of the Northwest quadrant of Oregon. The culture reminded me of Northwest Oregon in the 70s and early 80s.

[@billbergendahl2911]

West Virginia is my home and I can't imagine living anywhere else.

[@courthogan3140]

It’s a shithole. But stay there if you’re happy.

[@Dr.Schlitz]

That’s called “lack of imagination.”

[@amandahitchcock106]

I left but I still have family there and I miss it in the fall especially 😢.

[@UltraType_u4d]

move here to virginia you'll love it

[@ntatenarin]

This is really interesting! When I moved out of state, I had to pass West Virginia, and saw the beautiful hillsides and the gold domed-capitol. I should visit it one day, although I'll admit it's a far travel for me.

[@deanosmith7523]

Monongalia County seems to be doing well...every time I go through there, they seem to have added more stores, businesses, and restaurants. Of couse its close proximity to Pittsburgh, PA and West Virginia University being located in Morgantown, helps.

[@f-86zoomer37]

Ahh education, what the republicans of the state hate. So literally everything that’s keeping parts of WV afloat the republicans want to get rid of.

[@josephhoover4542]

Yeah the panhandles plus that county are pretty nice the rest of the state tho is a disaster.

[@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr]

Yes That part of West Virginia is practically in Pennsylvania with Maryland nearby . And near the panhandle of the state between PA and Ohio

[@chazman4461]

@@josephhoover4542 The rest of the state is pretty scenic and mountainous. Not sure how it is a disaster.

[@chazman4461]

@@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr None of those states offer much either.

[@matthewtravisano1097]

California has a very diverse economy. It’s not singly dependent on tech.

[@xiaoka]

far from it! the agriculture business is huge all over the state. Entertainment in the South, tourism everywhere...

[@johnteets2921]

And California is an unlivable dump. An arrogant unlivable dump. Must be some other variables at work.

[@philipthecow]

More importantly, tech isn't going away.

[@412StepUp]

I worked in West Virginia for a while. This video is right. West Virginia is basically screwed. There isn’t even cell phone service in 1/3 of the state.

[@iwant2meetaliens]

It’s very sad though because the people here are the kindest and most genuine you’ll ever meet. I’ve lived here my entire 30 years of living. There’s a lot of opportunity here, I just wish the rest of the country would remember us more..

[@ricki-bobby]

Couple important facts: First, coal is a commodity industry. The market for the ever dwindling consumption goes where it is cheapest to procure coal. Second, automation in the coal production space has greatly reduced the need for workers. The video mentions this. In some market economies that might not matter too much because there are alternative employment opportunities. In WV that's not the case. Third, and most important, most fossil fired power plants have switched to natural gas because it's cheaper, less prone to regulatory issues and we have an abundance of it here in multiple geographic regions including WV. Given that power generation accounts for 90% of coal use with the remaining 10% for steel production it leaves less reliance on coal overall and declining each year

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

Same thing happening on the other side of the Atlantic in the Upper Silesia region of southern Poland, albeit in a controlled manner. Due to the overall rising economic and safety standards of the country (overall beneficial), it is now less expensive to import coal from Colombia or Namibia than mine it locally in Poland. Only 9 coal mines are still operational out of 50 that used to exist, with spare parts taken from salvaged equipment from liquidated mines. Planned shutdown is in 2049. Industrial manufacturing and the tech sector has progressively replaced coal mining.

[@barvdw]

@@A_Canadian_In_Poland which is probably the way to go. It doesn't really matter if we like or hate it, coal is on the way out, just like whaling (once upon a time one of the main sources for industrial fat), sailing (the residual sail ships are mainly for leisure activities), etc. When we understand that it's an ending story, that's when we can hope to prepare for that outcome. They've build coal washing installations in southern Belgium when the mines were already closing, just because they couldn't let it go, if they had invested that money in the transition, they would have been much further than they are today.

[@djt8518]

When you are born here in wv it's coal mines moonshine or move on down the line people don't understand this ain't no other jobs but they will the robots are coming

[@firefalcoln]

I wonder if West Virginia could lean into tourism like Nevada as a viable industry. The trees and mountains are very pretty, and it’s just a few hours drive away from a lot of wealthy regions.

[@12time12]

Nevada has a lot of other industries, aerospace and specialty electronics being one of the primary. WV has to pivot away from the dogma of coal making a comeback.

[@BillLaBrie]

Nevada has gambling, which first formed the basis of the tourism.

[@scottgrindrod]

@@BillLaBrie Truth. Without gambling, Nevada would be an economic wasteland.

[@djt8518]

@@firefalcoln we have some of that not many jobs in that it don't pay much either all they do is get in the way and cause taxes to raise

[@personnesenki4521]

@@BillLaBrie West Virginia has casinos, but so does every other state now.

[@Veretax]

WV also saw a lot of the chemical industry consolidate (union carbide is gone for example)( a lot of jobs outsourced to other states)

[@johnteets2921]

Like China.

[@sneaky56]

I moved to West Virginia about 10 years ago after I retired. Love the mountains, forests, and rural atmosphere. The health care is really bad. I moved from Maryland- think John Hopkins, University of Maryland, and ten other hospitals that rank among the best in the country. In WV the local hospital (yes, we have one) is more like a 24 hr. clinic then a hospital. Went to the ER for a broken ankle and they totally missed that I also had a broken leg. If I need a hospital visit again I'm going to drive to Maryland or Virginia. Yes to the land speculators. House near me sold three times in about 5 years. Sold for 180k, then 250k then over 300k. Now it's valued at $385k. (for a double wide trailer) Crazy.

[@damuredpaw246]

TLDR: Decline in Industrial economy, wealthy + young people move out more than in, etc. To be fair, WV is beautiful like most places in America but also has the same problems as most places in America, there IS a better life somewhere else but can YOU afford it? Most people can’t. Which is why there will always be places like WV

[@Racistobama]

Only until the government has printed so much money that it can't keep places like WV on life support. That said, the entire state consumes much less welfare than NYC, but it has no tax base to help offset those costs.

[@jamesskinner7185]

Best white water rafting in the country is in that state... Like the slogan says wild wonderful and fun

[@bighoss14]

Rafting, biking, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing - its an outdoorsman's dream out there.

[@WLBarton4466]

Elephant in the room is greedy owners, making billions but not helping those who made them rich.

[@iwant2meetaliens]

Exactly. :/ I’ve lived here my entire life, and we are struggling so much compared to just about every other state in the country. If anybody needs help in the USA, it’s us in West Virginia. We’re usually forgotten about though..

[@daveroberts9431]

I live in Fairmont WV. Marion county is growing fast. Our health care at WVU medicines is some of the best in the country.

[@adamcastorp6415]

Very interesting video! I empathize with the people of West Virginia.

[@DianaJewell-jf9ep]

Mountain top mining soured West Virginia for me forever..would have been better if they had chosen tourists instead of mining .

[@wayneanderson8034]

It will be the same as Colorado & Utah. When the mines closed, most of them silver, you could hardly give away lots in mining communities & houses were dirt cheap. Most of the miners left to sustain life. In come developers, & well heeled rich folk looking for a quiet mountain town. Then it all goes mad & 1 acre is a million dollars for the pristine views & clean mountain air. WV will be the same. Poor folk will be gradually gentrified out in the same way until only rich east coasters can afford a tiny cabin on 2 acres.

[@Milarz]

Colorado and Utah are not the same as WV. (Specifically UT had Mormons and CO had military bases, ski resorts, good transportation and universities) There are certainly specific areas in the state that have the manmade infrastructure and natural attractors (rivers, lakes, untarnished wilderness) that will attract wealthy out-of-staters, and a few developed cities that might attract retirees, most of the state is not attractive for development (without government investment).

[@papaicebreakerii8180]

No rich ppl move to Appalachia. That’s the difference. I live in the coal region in PA and coal communities tend to just atrophy and rot away. Some faster than others

[@fordrac1ng81]

The problem is outside of the cities (huntington/charleston/morgantown) most of the towns are supported by coal. The grocery store and the gas station and the pizza shop all require people to spend money and the only ones with money are the coal miners. As much as you'd think coal is declining, since 2016 it's been growing again. With that, it's a great state for steel and other metals. Nucor is building a steel mill, Berkshire is building a titanium mill and there is existing steel and aluminum plants in the region as well as Dupont and other chemical manufacturers. 1/3 of the state is on welfare/SSI/EBT and another 1/3 is retired. Wild, Wonderful West Virginia will turn back into what it once was, which was natural beauty and a very rural setting. Once companies figure out how business friendly and hungry people are for jobs they will start making things here again and it's going to attract workers looking to raise their families on a blue collar wage. West Virginia is a great place for that. I moved my family 2800 miles to be here with like minded people around 10 years ago. We fit right in and have loved it ever since. I was lucky that I work remote and could bring my job with me because there aren't many to be had. Once jobs come back, things will improve.

[@greywolf7577]

The problem is that the coal mining is destroying a lot of the natural beauty and polluting the waterways.

[@barvdw]

But, as also explained in the video, even when coal is (slightly) growing again, the work force in coal has continued its rapid decline. Even when the mine is still in operation, it's employing a handful of skilled technicians instead of the 100s, if not 1000s of miners of yesteryear. That evolution is only going to continue. Coal is a dwindling story however you turn it, and trying to keep it afloat is eventually going to be a money pit. West Virginia isn't an exception, btw, coal is on the way out everywhere. from the 100s of collieries in the motherland of the industrial revolution, there's one anthracite mine left in Britain which faces a dark future since the blast furnace in Port Talbot is announced to close. Coal is also on the way out in Germany and Poland, the last main coal producers in Europe, with but a handful of operations still going, and all operations ceased in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc.

[@iwant2meetaliens]

People here in WV are very hard workers.. we’ve all always worked manual labor jobs. Most people want to work, there’s just no jobs around. And most people live in hollers and there are no Ubers or Lyfts, so you better have a working vehicle to get back and forth. And when you start out poor (like a lot of us do) it’s very hard to get your start.

[@null2470]

Also worth noting that only ~15% of private citizens in WV own the ground rights to their own land, with energy companies having bought it out from under citizens with the help of the local governments and local initiatives for pennies on the dollar. The level of outright corruption and coercion predicated on this outdated dynamic is absolutely insane.

[@uncareid5557]

I have friend who moved there. He works for the power company and is doing quite well. It is a pretty drive to go visit him.

[@nathanbolton4139]

I love my home and would never leave. West Virginia just needs to focus its population and looking out for each other. We need to embrace our weaknesses and fix our hearts to love ourselves again.

[@roytee3127]

Step 2, education.

[@nathanbolton4139]

@@roytee3127 I'm actually getting a teaching degree right now.

[@roytee3127]

@@nathanbolton4139 There's you, and then there's the hillbilly populace. Best wishes educating them.

[@nathanbolton4139]

@@roytee3127 I was raised by my grandfather and he taught me not to assume things about people. I believe even the rednecks are smart in there own right. They just need to have someone there who understands their culture and can convey their potential and show the value in it. These people here are the most resourceful people I have ever met and can make a dollar last. If you just took away the booze and drugs we'd be just fine.

[@silentslayergaming8469]

There needs to be more programs to help the youth, more education on the negative effects of drugs. WV has a huge drug and alcohol problem.

[@be1tube]

Partial solution: strong taxation on the resource extraction assets - use this to create a sovereign wealth fund to make a future for WV. The coal can't leave so the companies need to stay despite taxes. Maybe look into an AI-robotics company with the government as a major shareholder.

[@batman8589]

Live near the WV boarder & my area had a lot of coal mines too. One major issue the mine owners inflicted on the workers is preventing any other type of jobs like manufacturing to start. The wealthy mine owners who controlled the local & state governments used them to deny other businesses an opportunity to compete. Increasing their power over the paychecks & people.

[@guytech7310]

WV with low labor costs would make an excellent area for mfg. N. VA also news more power because of all the Data Centers. New Coal power plants or NatGas Plants would also be a excellent option.

[@stevebell4906]

But you are missing the point that the voters allowed the mine owners to own their politicians...

[@The-Rickster-29]

I am still going to retire there next year. My wife and I love West Virginia. We are going to find a place with some acreage outside a small town and live our lives.

[@SomethingDifferentFilms]

It's naturally beautiful and mostly inexpensive, great for retirement, not so much for young families though.

[@The-Rickster-29]

@@SomethingDifferentFilms That's what I am thinking. We are not going to take away any jobs, we are not going to develop (We'll buy an existing home) and we just want to fade back into the hills and get to know our neighbors when we are in town.

[@markasmus9733]

We moved to southern WV from northern Ohio 5 years ago after retirement. Absolutely loved it. Got 38 acres in the mountains for half of what we sold our place in Ohio.

[@SomethingDifferentFilms]

That sounds peaceful

[@jonathanyoung6803]

@@SomethingDifferentFilms That's false. Housing prices are dirt cheap here, there's very good healthcare in the larger towns, and good education can be found in those same towns if you pay attention to where you're moving. There's also endless outdoor activity available. What are you thinking young families actually need?

[@JH-lc8xd]

One of our biggest problems is most of the private property is owned by out of state companies. The state gov wont force these companies to do anything. The land just sits idle for decades.

[@stevebell4906]

But the Voters keep on electing and reelecting thos politicians....

[@thecheese4255]

As a West Virginian, the biggest impediment to change in this state IMO is a culture of dependency. Poverty and broken lives are job security for state level agencies. I say this after working 20+ yrs in the field of mental health and working closely with social services. WV is a bizarre expression of cognitive dissonance as policy: Mountaineers are always free! Now, give us more money from the productive elements of society to sustain our welfare state. Plus, our politicians are posturing blowhards intent on maintaining the good ol’ boy status quo. Beautiful place, horrible state government.

[@carlbrenda6518]

That's every state....

[@barvdw]

You're not entirely wrong, but assuming that workers will get a job just because they want to work is dreaming, I'm afraid. And without the right incentives, I'm pretty sure you can forget about rebuilding a strong industry again in a state with probably the most difficult terrain to build roads and infrastructure. Sure, those people can find work... by leaving. But having to start afresh, with no home (and real estate is absolutely madness everywhere), often no proper schooling, no network in their new place of residence... And it doesn't resolve the situation of WV, only their individual situation elsewhere.

[@thecheese4255]

@@barvdw I’d be fine with a leaner, healthier WV I mean that in terms of the state govt, the population number and the ppl themselves We lost a U.S. House seat due to population decline and I guarantee all of the registered Rs in this state their team will be looking to import more refugees and ‘newcomers’ I don’t care about the GDP & replacement population lamentations The old, sick culture(s) in this state that persist in both govt and too many ppl here need to go the way of coal We are developed… by nature. It baffles me how ppl complain there’s nothing to do here. Go outside! I guess the big scheme now is to put up windmills and solar fields. Funny how that’s ’beautiful & progressive’ to do considering what must be done to the mountains to make that happen… Heck, we can’t even legalize weed here due to ppl thinking Reefer Madness is a compelling documentary… now here’s your pills! SMH It’s okay to be wild and wonderful IMO

[@barvdw]

@@thecheese4255 but what would a leaner WV actually look like? I'm not convinced that it would guarantee a healthier WV. You may not care about demographics, but when your active population leaves, there's little rebuilding going on, worse if whoever is staying behind is further burdening the state's healthcare services without even the manpower to keep those clinics and care homes properly staffed. There are no simple answers to the issues WV is facing, but a government retreating is rarely what made a turnaround happen. On the contrary, it's governments investing in better infrastructure, affordable terrains for businesses to set up, workers who are educated and skilled, and everyone showing commitment to make something of it. I can understand why you're critical about WV's governance, and I agree, bad decisions have been made, and are continuing to be made, but starving the beast won't change that. They'll cut everything before they cut those bad decisions, and by then, you won't have a state to save anymore. Unless you change the beast...

[@thecheese4255]

@@barvdw Let it expire You’re speaking my language 😜

[@RobbsHomemadeLife]

West Virginia recently had the highest high school graduation rate of every state in the country

[@ryancialone3045]

And they will all look to leave after college and never come back

[@AngelicoCiudad]

​@ryancialone3045 Lol, this isn't the 80s or 90s where graduate high schoolers backed up and start a new life. Too expensive and struggling for that nowadays.

[@Skumm93]

@@AngelicoCiudad Actually, as a West Virginian, if you can get out, you tend to get the fuck out and generally at least half of the population can get out, so they leave. Then they get replaced by older folks who want somewhere to settle in for their retirement.

[@josephhoover4542]

Among newer graduates yes but among 25+ adults with a diploma its actually below average so a whole group of uneducated adults has overshadowed the educated youth of the state unfortunately in everyway.

[@AnlStarDestroyer]

I grew up in West Virginia and lived there until I was 27, I moved a year ago. I do eventually plan on going back, it’s home to me, but for now I’m exploring other parts of the country

[@bertilliozephyrsgate6196]

I used to live in West Virginia. Now I live in Vermont. Vermont is more scenic to start with, and it doesn't have the debris of the mine-it-and-leave-it model of the extraction industries everywhere.

[@chazman4461]

Your graph is out of date and your data is wrong. There are tons of spillover from Northern Virginia into Jefferson, Berekley, Morgan, and Hampshire counties due to the affordibility. The same thing is happening in the Charleston area. There are areas growing in the state. If we had not sent manufacturing across the ocean we could be bringing life back to a lot of states. Getting rid of manufacturing and smart jobs in the USA is an agenda and being done on purpose. PA and some others are examples of this. All they are now are storage warehouses alongside the interstates because nothing is manufactured here.

[@samdp8497]

Yes, our government sold us out, especially with NAFTA. Same problem is true for southwestern VA. We now all know that this federal government absolutely hates the people so badly that they are willing to assassinate their political opponent, Trump. And then try to deny it.

[@charliejdk]

Live (somewhat reluctantly, non-native) in Central PA. Lots of trips to WVA & lots of Mountaineers moved to where I live. . . Can say that West By God Virginians are much nicer than most others. More like my own Texans. For what it’s worth.

[@crazyburkey3677]

Used to be call West By God, then God moved...

[@johnbrentford5513]

The East side of West Virgina that is suburbs of Washington DC is doing very well.

[@tabithan2978]

I live in Massachusetts and West Virginia feels like a completely different country. We are complete opposites.

[@Okraknife]

WV is a beautiful state. I hope the state sees a steady stream of improvement soon.

[@hobbyfarmer62]

For all coal industry took from West Virginia it gave so very little back to the state and her people. They deserve so much better from the industry.sadly if just the inferstructer had been built up more they would be in such a better position no. But because it wasn't other industry znd business is unsure about going there.

[@ShirleyFerrin]

I love West Virginia I was born an raised here. Everyone to there own opinions. I am 76 years old and I wouldn't live anywhere else.Born and breed I Almost Heaven WEST VIRGINIA. I. Think our governor is doing a great job. Money doesn't buy happiness. ❤❤❤❤

[@greywolf7577]

It seems like West Virginia went Republican for cultural reasons even though economically it suffers under Republican policies. The Republican politicians are all for helping wealthy people get more wealthy at the expense of everyone else. That is a large part of why West Virginia still struggles economically.

[@Nigelrathbone1]

Landlocked, mountainous, coal mining declining

[@jamesmooney8933]

West Virginia's problem started just after the Revolutionary War. Pittsburgh was originally settled by George Washington. Gov. Dinwiddie sent Washington up to Ft. Duquesne to tell the French, that the forks of the Ohio was Virginia's. After the French abandoned Ft. Duquesne, Washington layed out Pittsburgh. Washington own land in South West Pennsylvania. After the Revolutionary War, Virginia and Pennsylvania disputed Pittsburgh. Washington wanted the Nation Capital to be near Virginia, and gave up claim to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania was a bad idea, because the Appalachian Mountains divide Pennsylvania. While Pittsburgh had better access to Northern Virginia. If Pittsburgh had been in Northern Virginia, then it would have been the economic power house for West Virginia.

[@bobnolin9155]

How did you produce a video about how coal has destroyed WV without once mentioning Joe Manchin?

[@ertman110]

Or Jim Justice?

[@EagleExplores]

Thank you for your video, it’s very good.

[@gregorall9779]

I moved to WV around 1998, and the one thing I learned was that in spite of the state putting all their eegs in one basket when it comes to how the state would profit, they never seemed to see the writing on the wall and kept spiraling down the drain through the inability to diversify and encourage different options. WV has the mentality of circling their wagons and turning away help that would only benefit them. I left WV 5 years ago and haven't looked back. I think they prefer to put their head in the sand.

[@carlbrenda6518]

Nope. You know nothing. West Virginia was an agrarian society. Rich individuals came in and forced them off the land. The solution was to house them in exchange for working in the coal mines that was fueling the industrial revolution. When the husband was killed in the mine, the wife and kids were put on the side of the road immediately. Read about the mine wars in the early 1900s and how the federal government used troops against the miners.... WV doesn't receive anywhere near the federal funding say a NY or Florida or California does. They've been abused and kicked down from the start....

[@ronhoy8913]

We are currently sitting on the largest Gas field ( Marcellus shale ) The highest yield area is in our POOREST County ! Coal , oil and gas ! We have the resources to power the world here and someone is playing games with it. We are the victims of the environmental movement, and big capitol both.

[@gregorall9779]

@ronhoy8913 may I ask which county do you live in?

[@ronhoy8913]

@@gregorall9779 Kanawha Co.

[@gregorall9779]

@@ronhoy8913 And it seems obvious that where you live shares the same train of thought I described in my original comment. If one door closes, open another.

[@ganymede242]

2:34 "Rocky Hackworth" is such a fitting name for a mine manager!

[@CAHouseMusic]

1:35 - C. A. House Music has been in business since 1872, and we're still rocking!

[@greenbrown7776]

For any locals in the know: What's the general situation like in Wheeling and Ohio County? You don't hear much about it vs. impoverished southern counties or more prosperous places like the Eastern Panhandle.

[@Harrys.Truman-fanpage]

It’s poor but it’s making a slow comeback

[@greenbrown7776]

@@Harrys.Truman-fanpage / Thanks for that. It's kind of what I figured. Boom areas and bust areas tend to grab the most attention. As long as a comeback ain't too slow, there's something to be said for slow growth. I've never been to Wheeling, but it's always intrigued me. Pretty setting and I like the architecture there that I see in pictures and videos.

[@sithalchemist]

As a resident of Wheeling we had a boom do to fracking in the 2010s but after the frackers left everything went up in costs as many people bought up property to rent to the frackers skyrocketing housing and now no one wants to get stuck with the bill so housing is extremely expensive compared to other parts. City has recently been trying to dress up the place but construction is slow resulting in many locals avoiding downtown

[@cliffhanger1466]

I live in south central WV my wife and daughter both have good paying online jobs my 23 year old daughter already has a degree she got online and owns her own house. Things opened up quite a bit with online work after COVID and there seems to be a few good jobs online if you can find them. .

[@rmi5895]

Wv has been getting way better. Let alone all the remodeling being done in the captial city

[@carlbrenda6518]

REALLY? Do tell....

[@crazyquilt]

This was a really good, if brief, piece. WV is a sad, proud place. There's a much longer doc by Wendover Productions that delves deeper into the story of WV that I highly recommend if you enjoyed this video, as I did.

[@SnowLord-dn6tl]

Not to mention West Virginia refuses to innovate. We have more dollar stores then anything

[@robertsole9970]

Glad I got the hell out of there....

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

Very smart move, for so many reasons.

[@tyme5]

Coal is only important to the people who actually live in coal country. I've lived in WV my entire life. I grew up only 30 mins north of Charleston and I've never knowingly met a coal miner. This video states that some WV counties doing well make it appear that things are better here than they really are. I think it's the opposite. It's so bad in coal country that it makes the rest of the state look like it's doing worse than it actually is.

[@cpob2013]

Coal is still useful in manufacturing for steel but the us isnt making enough steel

[@dbjkatz]

Except for high tech steel, most of the rest is imported from China. Or, steel has given way to plastic.

[@failranch9542]

When I went to school at WVIT, I clearly remember the man coming in and showing slides of a large machine called a Joy Longwall Miner. You could see right away that that was going to be the end of prosperity for all but a select few. That and some other large and impressive machinery meant that a dozen or so skilled operators were going to be able to harvest as much coal as a crew of a thousand could in 1950. That's just growth and while it's unfortunate for some, it's an essential invariable if we are to continue moving forward on the world stage.

[@JohnA-ch4sc]

WVIT class of 84

[@WingsandBeer]

WVIT class of 86

[@williammartin6510]

I retired from Joy Mining Machinery (Komatsu) one year ago. When my coworkers complained about the latest liberals wanting to shutdown mining I told them that Joe Joy (the founder) has put more coal miners out of work than other person.

[@danspawn85]

@@williammartin6510 Why use machinery to make jobs easier and work half days, when you can fire almost everyone and keep all the money for yourself? The first would keep the local economy healthy by keeping more wealth in an area, the latter harms everyone in the town, meanwhile the same pricks run for election and try to blame others.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

They need to get those land prices down so that people can move back in.

[@johnteets2921]

They ? You mean out of state speculators ? They'd rather take the money and run. Thank you very much, Brandon.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

@@johnteets2921 “Brandon”?

[@Comm0ut]

I'll save some time. GEOGRAPHY. BTW if WV gets "better" than it will become UNAFFORDABLE. Growth inevitably destroys affordablity.

[@timfremstad3434]

When I was in Clarksburg a few years ago, they were doing a lot of natural gas exploration, from what I heard

[@Userprofilename]

Sorry Bro but you are way off with the statics of WV having more farmland and more forests than any other US state. West Virginia @ 79.1 % forest is # 3 not # 1 state with most forests within it. 1. Maine, 89.46% ; 2. New Hampshire, 84.32% And for farmland which US states have the most West Virginia is not even in the top ten but not even close to most other sates farmland percentages. West Virginia. - Total cropland: 781,000 acres - Cropland as a percent of all state land: 5.1% (#12 lowest among all states)

[@davidyoder5890]

My family and I will move to WV before the end of this year.

[@brianhelmick1105]

You never mention the WV education system but its showcased at the end

[@timsimmons5190]

Thats mean. Its hope in everywhere

[@johnleca]

Thanks I want to move there.

[@b_bogg]

There’s no where else on earth i would rather live!

[@courthogan3140]

Stay there!! No one envies you lol

[@davidwilliams4498]

I was born in WV. Economy was really good till late 70s. When Reaganomics big corp wall st greed took over many old plants just shut down. CSX rerouted freight an closed many miles of track that killed tax base for city's. Many in the big biz world didnt like Rockefeller and Byrd. I left WV in 1987 an worked in Richmond VA till i retired a few years ago an moved back to wv to retire. 1 thing about many miles of WV its many hills an mountains. Not enough flat land for big biz or people within 50 miles to work there that's 1 thing that hurt the state thru many years.

[@muratpolar5281]

This sounds like a history of a third world mineral extraction exploitation situation. The money from the coal should have brought newer investments into that small state of 1.8 million.

[@ZitaZone]

We really needed to hear something bad about our state (Again). We need to latch on to one of our surrounding states and become part of them

[@mikescarlett3186]

I have been there a time or two. Its a depressing ass place. Every ones broke all the business are closed. Its real shit hole. I wouldnt want to live there. Hell no not me.

[@hull5768]

I'd rather live in West Virginia than ever set foot in Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis or most of New York City.

[@shaunmalay4165]

Ok…live there.

[@xiaoka]

have you ever been to any of those cities? Don't believe everything you see on Fox News...

[@dbjkatz]

I live in the Baltimore area. I agree with you. Most of the city has spiraled into a nightmare in the last 25 years.

[@carlbrenda6518]

Don't worry, the riffraff will continue to filter there. So they bringing the city to you!

[@larrysmith2655]

Very true.. not worth the danger

[@ElkoJohn]

Much obliged.

[@javiermoretti1825]

I have a half-dozen friends who are originally from WV. They are all well-educated, and they all left the state, never to return.

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

Smart people get out of West Virginia. Or better yet don't come here in the first place.

[@frankblangeard8865]

"Mountainous little West Virginia has more forests and farmland than any other U.S. State." 1:06 Maine is the most forested with about 90% of the land covered with forest. Texas has 86% of its land as agricultural which includes ranchland. On an acre to acre comparison instead of a % comparison West Virginia can't compete with many other States.

[@glass8289]

Other than economic issues, Western Virginia must be a heaven. My Friend John Denver made a song about this state. I hope things will get better for people of West Virginia.

[@peterroberts4415]

You know the song is about Virginia, not West Virginia

[@Scofari]

Maryland ​@@peterroberts4415

[@mickeymckenna4869]

The song is about west Virginia; not West Virginia

[@tzazarizona2676]

State has beautiful landscape and an older culture then most other states, shame that it is declining so much.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

'wide open spaces'??? I don't think so. More like the few narrow open spaces of a 'holla'

[@gg-eo6ez]

With the exception of a few valleys like in the Potomac Highlands

[@christophertaylor1575]

Wide open along the Ohio river.

[@gg-eo6ez]

​@@christophertaylor1575 I have never been in the Ohio River Valley but I'm gonna take your word for it

[@cybersean3000]

I would not even drive through W.VA. The state Road Pirates are corrupt as all get out, while the county and municipal Road Pirates are looking for any convenient victim to abuse. I did not hear that in your 3rd grade report!

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

Corruption runs rampant here in Martinsburg West Virginia.

[@hearmeout9138]

I’ve heard a lot of people that have moved to West Virginia in the past few years speak glowingly about the state. It’s full of friendly, self-sufficient people but that eagerly help each other. They believe in living as you wish as long as you don’t hurt others, they believe in free speech, freedom of religion, freedom from dystopian government control, the right to bear arms, and enjoy the lower population density and relative lack of “Karens” and other busybodies that are always sticking their nose in others’ business. Many have fled from the urban sprawl along the East coast. While academics, politicians, and people who exclusively base subjective, qualitative opinions on subjective, quantitative parameters might conclude that West Virginia is getting “worse”, there are a lot of relatively affluent, well-traveled professionals that apparently like “worse”. Don Henley and the Eagles had a lyric “Call a place paradise and watch it disappear.” West Virginians probably welcome your poor opinion of them as long as it preserves what they have.

[@GamecockFloyd]

A lot of my family is from West Virginia. The people there are NOT friendly. Most people there are bitter racists who blame everyone but themselves for their problems. WV is not even remotely self-sufficient. It's one of the states that is most heavily dependent on welfare and subsidies. They don't at all believe in letting people live how they wish. They are some of the most racist, homophobic people in the US. They don't at all believe in freedom of religion. They believe in forcing christianity on everyone and get very upset about other religions and atheists. They love government control over abortion and book bans, and they love sticking their noses into other people's business. Small town drama and politics means everyone is in everyone's business. It's also the single worst state in the country for opioids and meth. Worst hospitals, highest cancer rate, highest obesity rate, shortest life expectancy. And it's 94% white christian. You can try to put your maga spin on it, but WV is the armpit of the developed world.

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

​@@GamecockFloyd You are one hundred percent right, all of it. You'd better be just like them, or stay far away. The native good ole boy culture doesn't fool around.

[@kaizersolze]

This could be a haven for people who work from home and don't want to be near traffic or urban noise. The whole population should take up education that enables them to work from home. It will bring money into the state. And even though places are remote, Amazon can get you what you need.

[@peterbathum2775]

More concentration of wealth and power in the hands of very few without any merit .

[@Dr.Schlitz]

“Tech in California“? The biggest industries in California are agriculture, film and television, and tourism.

[@mikeogden5256]

I ❤ West Virginia and the Ladies from West Virginia 😊

[@markrichards6863]

To be fair, the state and federal government should help fund startups in clean energy in WV. Manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels would pay a lot better than fast food and retail. They should also fund the training needed t to fill those jobs. WV actually has a pretty good location, adjacent to both the Northeast and the South.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

The topography and meteorology of WV makes your suggestion very prohibitive. To build solar and wind to scale, an enormous amount of flat terrain is needed.

[@weirdo1060]

Issue is convincing WV people to accept. Too many seem to believe that coal will come back and do not want to change over to renewable energy.

[@draneym2003]

​@@WillsJazzLoftIt's a fair point. But at some point you can't just throw your hands up. Pittsburgh is very hilly, so they pivoted to education, tech, and healthcare. But you can't do it when you demonize education like WV does.

[@fredholley6248]

@@WillsJazzLoft There are some wind farms in WV, mostly up on peaks and ridgelines.

[@sknowman1424]

Thats a good idea. And from what I read the Federal Government had a plan to develop some of the clean energy startups. But the state government refused the funds, saying it was detrimental to coal companies. Most all the politicians in WV are bought and funded by the coal industry. It's always been that way. And they have the population convinced that coal is coming back and will be the future. I think there is a place/market for coal in WV and it shouldn't be totally abandoned. But other industries shouldn't be ignored as a favor to coal.

[@CyborgZeta]

West Virginia gets crapped on a lot, but I think it's a beautiful state. I've met some lovely people there too.

[@TheSoulCrisis]

I always wondered why I never hear anyone talk about West Virginia, Virginia is booming in comparison; I guess the geography and initial development are certain roadblocks.

[@katiedid1851]

Do not forget; Destruction of ground water, mountaintops, black lung with no retirement or sick benefits...

[@RoscoPColtrane17]

“As coal declined” Right because it just declined, no explanation as to why.

[@bighoss14]

West Virginia and her people are some of the best this country has to offer. I've been all over this country and BEST Virginia is by far my favourite state to visit.

[@iwant2meetaliens]

Thank you so much! I’ve lived here my entire 30 years of living and no matter how much we struggle, the people here are the kindest you’ll ever meet. ❤

[@bighoss14]

@iwant2meetaliens I wish you all the best. People pretend its nothing but hillbillies and banjos down there, and you absolutely have those - but don't change a thing (other than jobs, I hope you guys can get more work down there).

[@derekthemountaindawg467]

I live in WV and don't know where all the farm land is. It's coal mines or something to do with coal or rich retired folks. The rest of us are poor.

[@tim31415]

"...more forests and farmland than any other US state." Huh?? Have you ever been to any other US states? Pennsylvania literally mean Penn's forest.

[@jbm71]

Probably WV is the state with the highest percentage of its land area being forest and farm.

[@DSAK55]

"farmland" 😛 dafuq! it's all mountains, that's why it's been poor since *the beginning*

[@jbm71]

@@DSAK55 Not totally mountains. There are, for example, many sizable, productive, lovely farms in the broad valleys between the mountain ridges in the Eastern parts of the state (like the Greenbrier Valley), plus the Ohio and Kanawha River valleys. And of course, there are many smaller farms nestled in the narrower valleys found in the rest of the state.

[@brickahedron]

Yes it was worded badly but then there was a "almost 99%" figure stated. PA has plenty of forest and farms, but also much larger urban/suburban areas than WV.

[@crazyquilt]

Yes, all those other states have other things except forested mountains and whatever farms can be squeezed into the lowlands and hollers. Look, when they wanted to make an airport in Charleston, they literally had to chop the tops off two mountains and fill between them so they could make enough space for a runway. No place for dense population means no tax base, which means no functional government. You want to compare it to another state? Its two "major" cities each have a population of less than 50,000 -- comparable to Wilkes Barre or Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, but utterly dwarfed by Pittsburgh (300k) & Philly (1.5m). And WV population just keeps dropping the farther the state falls behind, creating a vicious cycle.

[@Highley1958]

As coal production went up in WV, the number of coal miners went down because of automation. More recently, fracking changed the math so that generating BTUs is cheaper with natural gas than with coal.

[@traviskerns299]

I live in NC and plan to buy a cabin in WV.

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

Meth production is very common out on those unpaved backroads where those cabins are. I bought one, then sold it within the year after petitioning the local law enforcement for help that never came. Keep your head on a swivel and good luck.

[@shingshongshamalama]

West Virginia has everything to be the Rural Retirement Dream of Americans across the continent, but that would require the state's economy being largely propped up by the federal economy, not strictly self-sufficient. And we can't have that. For some reason.

[@StevenHughes-hr5hp]

Do you know what a house in rural West Virginia that would sell for the same price as a shoebox sized condo in Manhattan would look like?

[@kellys.6047]

Glad my ancestors migrated to Ohio long ago.