Most native West Virginians know a sure-fire way to get our blood boiling is when someone calls us “Virginia.” Failing to be aware of the “West” at the beginning of our state’s name is nearly an unforgivable misstep. But we graciously (and calmly) find a way to politely make a correction and then move on. But imagine if West Virginia had taken on an entirely different name – one that didn’t create so much confusion for outsiders. Imagine never having to correct anyone when they get it wrong; ever…
We all know, by this point, that West Virginia became its own state on June 20, 1863. We celebrate our state’s birthday each year with as much significance as our own day of birth.
Wikipedia/Joseph H. Diss Debar (1863) But the Mountain State almost became a state on two separate occasions in the era of the American Revolution. And the two proposed names may surprise you! With either of the proposed names, we wouldn’t be reminding people there is a WEST Virginia on the map of the United States. Here are those names:
- Vandalia
Wikipedia/Nikater (public domain) It was first proposed as a name for a new British Colony in the Americas. If it had been approved by the British Crown, Vandalia would have become the 14th Colony. Wondering how they arrived at the name, “Vandalia?” It’s believed to have been an effort to flatter the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who was thought to have been a descendant of Vandalic tribesmen. Vandalia would have been comprised of most of what is now West Virginia and parts of Kentucky, as small portion of PA. But, alas, the efforts to form the 14th Colony were thwarted by the start of the American Revolution. The pitch made to the British Crown was set aside in lieu of the new war.
- Westylvania
Wikipedia/Kmusser Sounds like (fill in the blank). If you filled in “Pennsylvania,” then you’re right on the money. Part of Pennsylvania’s southwestern region was included in the proposal first drawn up during the American Revolution, but not officially proposed until after the conclusion of the war. In the summer of 1776, folks who had gotten ahead of themselves with excitement about the new Vandalia colony and had already relocated and begun to build their lives in the new (but never approved) 14th Colony, formed a group that still wanted to have their own state. After the conclusion of the American Revolution, Westylvania would have been the 14th state in the newly formed United States.Eventually, after much debate and unsettled business, Pennsylvania and Virginia argued over division of many of the counties that were to become Westylvania. In the end, many of the Virginians who had chosen to move west to live in the newly proposed Westylvania actually ended up living in Pennsylvania! Tensions grew so high during the unrest, as Westylvanians insisted upon calling themselves as such, the government stepped in and declared any recognition of Westylvania would be considered treason against the United States and subject to the death penalty.
Thing were a mess for quite a while back then. But in the end, although Vandalia and Westylvania never came to fruition, West Virginians (and all of those descendants of proposed Vandalians and Westylvanians still living in the region) eventually broke free and established a new state after all.
Wikipedia/Joseph H. Diss Debar (1863)
But the Mountain State almost became a state on two separate occasions in the era of the American Revolution. And the two proposed names may surprise you! With either of the proposed names, we wouldn’t be reminding people there is a WEST Virginia on the map of the United States. Here are those names:
Wikipedia/Nikater (public domain)
It was first proposed as a name for a new British Colony in the Americas. If it had been approved by the British Crown, Vandalia would have become the 14th Colony. Wondering how they arrived at the name, “Vandalia?” It’s believed to have been an effort to flatter the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who was thought to have been a descendant of Vandalic tribesmen. Vandalia would have been comprised of most of what is now West Virginia and parts of Kentucky, as small portion of PA. But, alas, the efforts to form the 14th Colony were thwarted by the start of the American Revolution. The pitch made to the British Crown was set aside in lieu of the new war.
Wikipedia/Kmusser
Sounds like (fill in the blank). If you filled in “Pennsylvania,” then you’re right on the money. Part of Pennsylvania’s southwestern region was included in the proposal first drawn up during the American Revolution, but not officially proposed until after the conclusion of the war. In the summer of 1776, folks who had gotten ahead of themselves with excitement about the new Vandalia colony and had already relocated and begun to build their lives in the new (but never approved) 14th Colony, formed a group that still wanted to have their own state. After the conclusion of the American Revolution, Westylvania would have been the 14th state in the newly formed United States.Eventually, after much debate and unsettled business, Pennsylvania and Virginia argued over division of many of the counties that were to become Westylvania. In the end, many of the Virginians who had chosen to move west to live in the newly proposed Westylvania actually ended up living in Pennsylvania! Tensions grew so high during the unrest, as Westylvanians insisted upon calling themselves as such, the government stepped in and declared any recognition of Westylvania would be considered treason against the United States and subject to the death penalty.
For more historical facts you may not know about the Mountain State, keep reading here!
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