Really serious, as are the Irish, the Swiss, the Germans, the French, the Japanese. The state has lost more than a quarter of its jobs since 2000. Located due east of Huntington in western West Virginia, Barboursville has the fourth highest rate of teenage high school dropouts in the state, with about 21 of every 100 high schoolers opting out of basic education each year. These coal towns, which number in the hundreds across West Virginia start hurting badly and experience economic contraction like never before. I do wish that our local TV stations were more selective in the people they interview. You have permission to edit this article. These towns were almost all governed by the mining companies themselves as well, some even had their own form of credit which could only be used at company stores. We used science and data to determine which of West Virginias cities are dumb as rocks. West Virginia has been struggling with economic issues for a long time. Much of the population lived in towns that were created by companies called coal towns. West Virginia has also been praised for how it used the two weeks between the first vaccine authorization and when the first doses arrived to plan the rollout. West Virginia ranked dead last in such categories (there are 55 of them) as "life evaluation", "emotional health", "physical health" and "healthy behaviors." All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2022 worldatlas.com, 15 Countries With The Most Educated Workforces, The Historical and Ongoing Persecution Of Gypsies In Europe, The 7 Kindest Cities In The United States, The 10 Largest Universities In The United States, 9 Most Sacred Sites From Around The Globe. Why is that? Foster care kids describe CPS, foster experiences - with VIDEO, Indy's Price, Harvey are Class AA first-team captains, Four area teams ready for state cheer competition, Lambert assists in opening win for Warriors, 5 Mavericks, Trail's Harrell, West's Nickell and Holliday on first-team, Key run helps Meadow Bridge stay undefeated, Several area players Class AAA second-team. West Virginia is a pretty homely state as well, much of the coal mining that is or was done is a family affair, a grandfather worked in the coal mines and then when he retired his son took his place, and then when he retired his son took his place and son on. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. The shrinking importance of West Virginias mining economy, both relative to the state and nationally, helps to explain the poor long-term performance of West Virginias mining counties. hu. While the current rate of teenage high school dropout rates in Ripley is right around the state average, it has a much higher rate of uneducated adults than most places in West Virginia. West Virginia is not going anywhere, despite all our protestations that we are a God-fearing (God helps those who help themselves), friendly people, until we get serious about education. Just recently, a young woman from Germany temporarily attending a Raleigh County school was puzzled by the emphasis on sports in our schools, adding sports are no big deal in Bavarian schools. The low number of Bachelor degrees in West Virginia is also linked to the low percentage of West Virginian residents over the age of 25 with advanced degrees of 7.4% which was also the lowest in the country. When the New York Times wanted to do a 50th anniversary story on the War on Poverty, they came to McDowell County, West Virginia. The reason behind West Virginias prominence in the list of least educated states in the US is not entirely known as West Virginia is home to some of the best universities in the country which Poorest Counties Still Losing the War on Want Interestingly, it ranked 14th in The political environment in West Virginia is also unfavorable for economic growth. We also looked at the graduation rates of the entire population, not the current rates for high schoolers. However, statistically, children from low income families generally do not do as well in school as those from wealthier families. West Virginia and Arkansas had the least percentage of Advanced degree holders while Mississippi had the third-lowest percentage of High school graduates in the country. This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Moundsville is the last city to make our disreputable list of the dumbest places in West Virginia, mostly due to the citys super high dropout rate for teenage high school students. On top of that, Hinton has the second highest rate of uneducated adults in the state, with 23.4% of residents over the age of 25 lacking a high school diploma thats about twice as high as the average for West Virginian cities. In this article, well take a look at some of the reasons why West Virginia is so poor and discuss some ways that people can start to change things for the better. Over a span of six years, pharmaceutical companies have sent 400 pain pills to West Virginia for every person living in West Virginia . 2. Its no wonder visitors think West Virginians are stupid. The West Virginia Board of Education meets monthly to determine the educational policies of the elementary and secondary schools and to establish the rules that carry into effect state law regarding education. Read this brief NPR interview. Population: 6,387Adults Without High School Diploma: 25.7%Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%. Still, it seems more worrisome that the current dropout rate for teenagers is even higher than the current rate of uneducated adults, since it pretty much guarantees that Barboursville will only get dumber in the years to come. Places likeEnterprise, West Virginia orGordon, WV . Also in Sports clubs are left to community organizations and games do not compete for the students attention. On the other hand, Switzerland, whose Alps dwarf our West Virginia hills, is packed with high-tech industries. Other thresholds included the percentage of high school graduates as well as residents holding an advanced degree in relation to a states over-25 populations. This low turnout makes it difficult to get legislation passed that could help improve the economy. And is it true that our much vaunted whitewater rafting was developed by Ohioans? West Virginia has a very low GDP per capita compared to other states. Article continues below. These towns were built and administered by mining companies for the purpose of bringing miners and their families next door to work. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Manage SettingsContinue with Recommended Cookies. These factors have combined to keep the state from recovering from the recession it experienced in the late 2000s and into the 2010s. It was why so many regular Americans were drawn to a man like Donald Trump. Plus the availability of a nearby Ohio work force and border West Virginians less tainted by the hillbilly label. Who gets your vote for The Register-Herald Prep Athlete of the Week? The reason for my post was because the original of this thread went on a tangent about republicans and Trump when we've been in And then longwall mining came out in force and instead of having miners hacking at the mine you could simply shear off an thousand foot long wall in the mine and having it packed and ready for transport instantly significantly reducing the number of people needed in the mines. These are among our major competitors. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. October Sky gives you a pretty good idea. Due to these issues, the state has had a difficult time attracting businesses and jobs. When people stop buying coal, many of these mining operations simply dry up and so do the towns. Answer (1 of 4): It's a stereotype that formed in the 17th and 18th century, when handfuls of European townships existed in the then extreme remote mountains. The state has one of the worst voter turnout rates in the nation at just 33%. The state is located in the Appalachian Mountains, which are a very rugged and mountainous region. Yet, their soccer teams repeatedly beat those of America. West Virginia is not going anywhere, despite all our protestations that we are a God-fearing (God helps those who help themselves), friendly people, until we get serious about education. West Virginia has two major disadvantages. Well, our study only deals with the completion of basic education, and since you have to finish high school to go to college, these are the cities that are really giving West Virginia a bad intellectual name on a national level. Respect For Marriage Act Protects Same-Sex Couples, Report on Whitey Bulger's Murder Leaves Unanswered Questions, Remember Pearl Harbor and Lt. Jim Downing. West Virginia is a poor state for many reasons, but one of the most significant factors is its economy. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. In the 1950s more than a fifth of the working population worked in the coal industry. Located in northwestern West Virginia, New Martinsville ranks as the sixth dumbest city in the state overall. That point is clear in a study by researchers at Harvard and StanfordThe Achievement Gap Fails to Close: Half century of testing shows persistent divide between haves and have-nots., (I first read about this study in a column by Robert Samuelson in the Gazette-Mail, followed up and read the study for myself.). Sadly, it is true. Only about 85% of the citys adult population has a high school degree, but thats much less of a long-term stupidity problem than the citys current teenage high school dropout rate. Beckley resident Jim Wood is a former editorial page editor for The Register-Herald. Population: 3,015Adults Without High School Diploma: 21.1%Teenage High School Dropouts: 12.4%. (Politics makes people happy!) Mark Cameron/Flickr. Cupertino High School, a racially diverse school in California in the shadow of big tech. Population: 4,075Adults Without High School Diploma: 16.6%Teenage High School Dropouts: 21.4%. Coal is also running out. Life in West Virginia was based around coal. Well, the biggest factor in determining Hintons stupidity is the citys absurdly high rate of teenagers dropping out high school; currently, about one third of the citys teens are leaving basic education each year, which is the highest rate in the state and six times higher than the state average. Im very liberal and non-religious, and I dont really fit in here culturally. You may also like // 7 Best water places near Bangalore. Population: 2,615Adults Without High School Diploma: 23.4%Teenage High School Dropouts: 32.8%. Why Do People Stay In Abusive Relationships? The states economy is also struggling, and its unemployment rate is high. According to the data, Hinton is the dumbest city in West Virginia by a super wide margin. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device.We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development.An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Neither political party has attracted new industries to our state. The most depressed county in the state, McDowell, is also where Trump is most popular. Why, a century ago, did West Virginians not have the vision to see that we could open our own furniture plants near our forests and make good furniture instead of letting Virginia and North Carolina dominate that industry? The reasons are many and varied, but the bottom line is that West Virginia suffers from many of the same problems that have plagued other Rust Belt states for years poor infrastructure, Today, Ireland is a prosperous country. West Virginia will continue to struggle with these issues unless it can find ways to improve its economy. Manage SettingsContinue with Recommended Cookies. In the 1950s more than a fifth of the working population worked in the coal industry. Another factor in the unemployment situation in West Virginia is automation. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly cloudy. The state has a high poverty rate and low-income levels. And Vermont rules America every year in produce consumption.". According to the data from American Community Survey, Mississippi was recognized as the second least educated state in the United States. One of the great obstacles, however, cannot be solved by passing a bill or changing a policy. The wholesalers are making too much profit to care enough about halting their shipments either. Does Stacey Abramss model for engaging voters die with her election loss? These peoples each had their unique local color reflecting their origins and a lot of them had trouble bringing in The National Census Bureau conducted a research entitled the American Community Survey which was aimed to assess the attainment of persons over the age of 25 years in each state. Your email address will not be published. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's decision to leave the Democratic Party raised immediate questions about whether West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin might follow her out the door, since the two The legislature is expected to take up education reform in a few weeks. West Virginia lags behind the rest of the United States in terms of IQ and standardized test scores, as well as having the lowest rate of college graduate residents of any state in the country. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. The other states that border West Virginia are Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. For example, West Virginia has high taxes and a weak economy. Example: The cost of leveling the site for the new Walgreens drug store at West Neville Street and Robert C. Byrd Drive here in Beckley probably cost more than the building now being erected there. Population: 5,464Adults Without High School Diploma: 15.2%Teenage High School Dropouts: 25.1%. Confessions of a Man Who Has Never Had Sex With His Wife. The main reason for this is the lack of infrastructure. Also in terms of coal sales, Wyoming has been giving West Virginia a run for its money lately. West Virginia is considered the least educated state in the United States based on university education with only 19.2% of West Virginians over the age of 25 years having attained a Bachelors degree. For example, the roads are often unsafe and in poor condition, which makes it difficult for businesses to get set up and flourish. The reasons for this almost have to do entirely with coal. Why? But its not simply that coal companies are moving out because theyre being replaced. How many Raleigh County students know that Bavaria is a large state in Germany? Heres some evidence economically-distressed counties in West Virginia are most likely to like Trump on Facebook. Since most mines were pretty backwoods areas that would require a lot of time and effort for miners to get out there, do their job, transport their product, and then leave, it made more sense for mining operators to just set up coal camps which eventually turned into coal towns. Click here to see an example where you can sign up and play for free. When it comes to specific categories on which single states repeatedly excel, the reports says: Putting on my political hat (yes, I have one and, no, I never really take it off), some of the early voting states in the presidential process are among the happiest too. West Virginia is among the poorest if not the poorest state in the union as well as one of the most uneducated and least economically developed. The state has struggled to create jobs and grow its economy for years, which has led to high levels of poverty and inequality. Answer (1 of 12): I am a transplant from New England and Ive lived in WV for the last five years with my husband. The state was originally part of the Virginia Colony, and later became a part of the Union during the American Civil War. This is due to the fact that there is no fiberoptic cable running through the state. After crunching the numbers, we came up with this list of the ten dumbest cities in the Mountain State: For more West Virginia reading, check out: We realize that formal education isnt everything when it comes to being smart, but on the other hand not knowing the difference between theyre, their, and there is always going to make you look pretty stupid. The state also has one of the highest rates of poverty and unemployment. Population: 5,322Adults Without High School Diploma: 15.0%Teenage High School Dropouts: 8.1%. West Virginia has a long history of poverty. With the current dropout rate even higher than the rate of the citys uneducated adults, Moundsville may climb higher on this list in the years to come. There is only so much in the West Virginia mountains and its been mined heavily and almost nonstop since the mid-1700s. They make too much money off it. Kids are coming from some very, very difficult backgrounds and some of those needs need to be met before we can address their academic needs.. The state Constitution requires that our school system provide a thorough and efficient education, but we consistently fail to meet that standard. Kenova has the fourth highest rate of uneducated adults in the state, with just about 1 in 5 residents over the age of 25 thinking that algebra was too difficult. West Virginia ranks last for Educational Attainment with the lowest shares of people with associate degrees or This has caused businesses to leave the state, which in turn has led to high unemployment and poverty rates. 10 Women Who Gave Creepy Guys A Chance, Describe Their Experiences, A Few Videos Guaranteed To Make You Feel Better About Life. They will also tell you Chasing Chains, LLC. We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. That number is especially significant in West Virginia because of the number of students from low income families. They are all brain washed from a very young age. West Virginia is among the poorest if not the poorest state in the union as well as one of the most uneducated and least economically developed. In this case natural gas. When residents of West Virginia voiced their approval of Democrat Sen. Joe Manchins decision to vote no on Joe Bidens Build Back Better socialist spending behemoth, Hollywood and Big The research also found that the student achievement disparity has not changed in a half-century; its just as large as it was in 1966. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. This makes it difficult to develop businesses and economy, and it also makes it difficult for people to get jobs. The big Republican Latino realignment didnt happen in 2022. Reminder: our communities are strong, our people are compassionate, and our families It points out that while there has been ample commentary on teacher recruitment and compensation policies, few programs and policies have directly focused on enhancing teacher quality [emphasis added], particularly for disadvantaged students.. Located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Charles Towns population has doubled since 2000, but apparently the new folks arent bringing a lot of smarts to the table. That number is especially significant in West Virginia because of the number of students from low income families. Therefore, as a critic of my state, I consider my credentials unchallengable. New Jersey has the lowest levels of depression. In fact, West Virginia has the lowest rate of broadband penetration in the entire country. It wasn't always this way. Iowa is the 9th happiest followed closely by New Hampshire at 10th. 14 Therapist Reveal Unusually Common Things They Often Hear, That People Are Hesitant To Disclose, Confessions of a Man Who Shot Himself In The Head And Survived, Caveman Circus | Contact | Privacy Policy | DMCA Copyright 2022 StomachPunch Media, LLC. The top of the chart has a new number one with North Dakota -- and its booming oil economy -- jumping all the way from 19th in 2012 to first in 2013. The study showed that only 21.1% of persons of 25 years and above in Arkansas possessed a Bachelors degree which was the third-lowest percentage of any state in the country and therefore meant that Arkansas was the least educated state in the United States. The legend of Mothman is pretty creepy. The study first reaffirms what other research has found; there is a significant gap in achievement in the nations public schools that is linked to socioeconomic conditions. Although policymakers have repeatedly tried to break the link between students learning and their socioeconomic background, these interventions thus far have been unable to dent the relationship between socioeconomic status and achievement, the researchers concluded. This means that it has a very low-income level, which makes it difficult to fund government programs and services. Why Democrats wont punish Sinemas betrayal, at least for now. If youre wondering where all the smart folks are hiding, here are the five smartest cities in West Virginia, in order: Pleasant Valley, Williamstown, Bridgeport, Hurricane, and Fayetteville. Only 85 of every 100 adults living in New Martinsville completed high school, which is only slightly worse than the state average. They stay, live in an almost perpetual cycle of unemployment, leading to an alarmingly high level of drug use (not the case in places like WY or ND because a lot of miners are transplants). (The middle of the U.S. may be flyover country but people who live there seem to love it.). It wasnt always this way. Also Read // Best place to live in Florida weather wise, Your email address will not be published. West Virginia has also been praised for how it used the two weeks between the first vaccine authorization and when the first doses arrived to plan the rollout. Population: 8,960Adults Without High School Diploma: 12.1%Teenage High School Dropouts: 12.8%. Business, propped up by coal miner wages and credit, leaves as well. It isnt a new thing either, when the conveyor belt came out a bunch of coal miners lost their jobs. Princeton, West Virginia is a far cry from its collegiate namesake in terms of intelligence; the city has the highest rate of uneducated adults in the whole state. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Based on the data obtained from the American Community Survey, one can establish the least educated states in the country by identifying the states which had the lowest percentage of persons of 25 years or older who holds a Bachelors degree. Is it any wonder why Toyota chose flat bottom land in Putnam County for its huge Camry engine/transmission plant? Nobody in West Virginia is enforcing the law either which requires reporting of conspicuous levels of opioid orders and use. Located 15 miles north of Charles Town, the not-so-great city of Martinsburg is the largest city in West Virginias panhandle and the largest city to make this list. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During the survey, the Bureau relied on a sample of about 3.5 million households from all states in the US with no regard to their respective legal residency status and used phone interviews, questionnaires, and home visits in the collection of the required information. There, mastering subjects that prepare young people for the real world are of overriding importance. Television and National Public Radio commentators repeatedly reminded their viewers and listeners that we are an impoverished state with a racist, hard labor and uneducated population. Welch has the third highest uneducated adult population in the state, with more than a fifth of residents over the age of 25 lacking a GED. Half of the states public schools (336) are classified as Title I, meaning they have a high percentage of poor children. While the current dropout rate for teenagers is an admirable and unbeatable 0%, the adults in Kenova drag down the citys overall smartness score. The state has been controlled by the Democratic Party for most of its history, which has led to poor policies that have hurt the state. This is where you simply cut down the forest on a piece of mountain where you want to mine, and then literally blow up the top of the mountain to get down to the precious coal reserves beneath the soil. That number is especially significant in West Virginia because of the number of students from low income families. Many of these coal mines have just stopped bearing coal. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet West Virginia is the most miserable state in the country. There are a lot of things here that are positives. It is surrounded by other very poor states, and it has few natural resources to support its population. Here's the well-being index in map form. Princeton, West Virginia is a far cry from its collegiate namesake in terms of intelligence; the city has the highest rate of uneducated adults in the whole state. Of the top ten happiest states, only one -- Washington -- is located on either of the nation's two coasts. Sports in West Virginia schools are a poison to education. 1) They dont want to play with other russians (since they're one of the biggest cancer in the online comunity. The economy is also very dependent on coal and other mineral extraction. The three least educated states; West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas performed poorly in all three fronts on the number of high school graduates, Bachelors degree holders, and advanced degree holders. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device.We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development.An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Population: 3,151Adults Without High School Diploma: 19.6%Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%. Naturally, theres nothing that says a child from a poor family cannot do well in school and go on to achieve great things. The young people cant just go into the mines after school for steady employment, so they leave. West Virginias second biggest city, Huntington, ranked as the 13th dumbest city in the state, and Parkersburg was close behind as the 15th dumbest city. This lack of infrastructure makes it difficult for businesses to get started and also limits access to education and health care. All of the new talent we hire for our teams are working in a fast-growing industry and have very little experience or knowledge, nor get enough cannabis training. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'roadsnacks_net-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-roadsnacks_net-medrectangle-3-0');So we narrowed down our criteria to focus both on a citys educational opportunities and what percentage of the population takes advantage of those opportunities. So what happens when a cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient competitor to coal comes out? If our schools, and especially those in West Virginia, do not rise to the challenge, we will eventually decline into a second world power. Additionally, the mountains make it difficult to transport goods and also create environmental hazards. Mothman is West Virginias own monster, and was reported to be seen in the Point Pleasant area in the 1960s. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. West Virginia educators fret over making up snow days, but homework hours lost to school night football and basketball games, and students excused from class to participate in or attend sporting events are never mentioned. West Virginia is among the poorest if notthepoorest state in the union as well as one of the most uneducated and least economically developed. With 25.7% of Princeton residents There are no sports in European and Japanese schools. The low number of degree holders in the state can be linked to the low percentage of high school graduates in the state which at 82.3% of persons over the age of 25 years, was the third-lowest in the country. The Republic of Ireland was once one of the poorest nations in Europe until international big business discovered that it had a well-educated work force. Additionally, West Virginia lacks key resources that are necessary for businesses to thrive, such as a well-educated workforce and access to transportation and infrastructure. The response has been for the schools to take on even more of the responsibilities normally handled by the family. West Virginians have a terrible time with verbs, and visitors from other states and countries who stay overnight in our motels take this all in and think we are stupid. And by the way, smart people in West Virginia likes to play online sweepstakes games where you can win real money. I am certainly an outsider in many ways. Poor and Uneducated: The South's Cycle of Failing Higher Education West Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. The Bavarian girl spoke English. Uneducated. The only similar state that borders West Virginia is Kentucky.