West Virginia Was Almost A Different State Called Westylvania

Those of us in West Virginia know all about how the state got its start during the Civil War, but not many people know that it almost became a slightly different state, many years earlier.

At the time of the Revolutionary War, it was proposed that the area that is now West Virginia, as well as some additional land, should become a new state called Westylvania.

WikiMedia Commons/Kmusser The area included what is now West Virginia, parts of southwestern Pennsylvania, and parts of Kentucky, Maryland, and Virginia.

The Eastern border of the proposed state was defined by the Allegheny Mountains.

WikiMedia Commons/Aneta Kaluzna People west of the mountains felt that they were too far from their state governments, and didn’t feel properly represented.

If it had been accepted, Westylvania would have been the 14th state after the original 13 colonies.

WikiMedia Commons/National Atlas of the United States

There was an especially strong push to establish Westylvania after the Mason-Dixon line was fully mapped.

WikiMedia Commons/Tzadik Vanderhoof Before that, the Pittsburgh area was widely considered to be part of Virginia. Many people were dismayed to find themselves Pennsylvanians in reality.

Hugh Henry Brackenridge, a Pittsburgh lawyer, was strongly opposed to the idea of a new state, and convinced the Pennsylvania Assembly to declare that any promotion of Westylvania would be considered treason.

WikiMedia Commons/Gilbert Stuart

Westylvania advocates would face the death penalty.

WikiMedia Commons/Lorraine Cornwell The Pennsylvania government also sent secret agents to the people in the Western counties to talk them out of their desires for a new state.

Pittsburgh is of course still part of Pennsylvania, but West Virginia eventually got its wish to be a new state during the Civil War.

WikiMedia Commons/Snoopywv 153 years later, and we’re still here and full of love for our Mountain State.

For more interesting history of West Virginia, check out these 8 things that most peope don’t know originated in West Virginia.

WikiMedia Commons/Kmusser

The area included what is now West Virginia, parts of southwestern Pennsylvania, and parts of Kentucky, Maryland, and Virginia.

WikiMedia Commons/Aneta Kaluzna

People west of the mountains felt that they were too far from their state governments, and didn’t feel properly represented.

WikiMedia Commons/National Atlas of the United States

WikiMedia Commons/Tzadik Vanderhoof

Before that, the Pittsburgh area was widely considered to be part of Virginia. Many people were dismayed to find themselves Pennsylvanians in reality.

WikiMedia Commons/Gilbert Stuart

WikiMedia Commons/Lorraine Cornwell

The Pennsylvania government also sent secret agents to the people in the Western counties to talk them out of their desires for a new state.

WikiMedia Commons/Snoopywv

153 years later, and we’re still here and full of love for our Mountain State.

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