You know the feeling. You’re out of town on business or on vacation and you strike up a conversation with someone who finds out you’re from West Virginia. You brace yourself for the questions because you know exactly what they’re going to ask…
- How far do you live from Richmond?
S. A. Mitchell Jr. Sigh. I don’t actually live in Virginia. I live in a whole other state.
- Oh, I have a friend who lives in Virginia, do you know ______?
Taber Andrew Bain/Flickr Again, West Virginia and Virginia are not the same state. We’ve been separated since 1863.
- Did you watch Buckwild?
MTV Yes….unfortunately…
- Are you a coal miner?
Michael McDonough/Flickr No. My grandfather was one, though.
- Why do you all always refer to counties when people ask you where you’re from?
David Benbennick/Flickr I guess because often the towns are so small you’ve never heard of them but you’ve probably heard of the counties.
- Do West Virginians really marry their cousins?
Sweet Pea 0613/Flickr No… You watch too much TV.
- Do you wear shoes?
Betsy Watters/Flickr Only when I have to. 😉 (Just kidding. Of course I wear shoes.)
- You’re from West Virginia? I was there once to go rafting. Have you ever been?
Sherry J. Ezhuthachan/Flickr Yes! And it’s awesome.
- Are you a hillbilly?
Don the UpNorth Guy Harrison/Flickr No, despite what you may see on television. Most West Virginians are actually nothing like what the stereotypes about us make you think we are.
- Do you know where I can get some moonshine?
John Walsh/Flickr …I might.
- What makes West Virginia so great?
Gene/Flickr Do you have an hour? I’ll tell you.
What are some of the questions you hear when you tell people where you’re from? Let me know in the comments.
S. A. Mitchell Jr.
Sigh. I don’t actually live in Virginia. I live in a whole other state.
Taber Andrew Bain/Flickr
Again, West Virginia and Virginia are not the same state. We’ve been separated since 1863.
MTV
Yes….unfortunately…
Michael McDonough/Flickr
No. My grandfather was one, though.
David Benbennick/Flickr
I guess because often the towns are so small you’ve never heard of them but you’ve probably heard of the counties.
Sweet Pea 0613/Flickr
No… You watch too much TV.
Betsy Watters/Flickr
Only when I have to. 😉 (Just kidding. Of course I wear shoes.)
Sherry J. Ezhuthachan/Flickr
Yes! And it’s awesome.
Don the UpNorth Guy Harrison/Flickr
No, despite what you may see on television. Most West Virginians are actually nothing like what the stereotypes about us make you think we are.
John Walsh/Flickr
…I might.
Gene/Flickr
Do you have an hour? I’ll tell you.
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