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. The reasons for this 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. There was a particular trend seen among the least educated states when all three thresholds were analyzed. State policy makers, teachers, school administrators, parents and other taxpayers are now debating how to improve outcomes. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly cloudy. 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. However, statistically, children from low income families generally do not do as well in school as those from wealthier families. 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. 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. 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. 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. While the current dropout rate for teenagers is an admirable and unbeatable 0%, the adults in Kenova drag down the citys overall smartness score. 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. One is our rugged, raw terrain. Apparently, stupidity and crime go hand in hand; Martinsburg is the second most dangerous and fifth dumbest city in West Virginia. Neither political party has attracted new industries to our state. Population: 4,075Adults Without High School Diploma: 16.6%Teenage High School Dropouts: 21.4%. 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. 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 1) They dont want to play with other russians (since they're one of the biggest cancer in the online comunity. Politics has nothing to do with our decline. This means that it has a very low-income level, which makes it difficult to fund government programs and services. Located in southern West Virginia, Welch ranks as the second dumbest city in the state, mostly due to its high rate of uneducated adult residents. What now? The other states that border West Virginia are Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Additionally, West Virginia has a low population density, which means there are a lot of isolated areas in the state. They will also tell you If youre measuring the locations in West Virginia where there are a high number of teenage dropouts and adults who never received a formal education, this is an accurate list. Low 33F. First, it is the only state entirely within Appalachia, so yes, you Plus the availability of a nearby Ohio work force and border West Virginians less tainted by the hillbilly label. Answer (1 of 12): I am a transplant from New England and Ive lived in WV for the last five years with my husband. Another example: Our state has wonderful hardwood forests, and yet we cut down our timber and ship it to other states and the Far East where it is sent back to us as fine furniture. Business, propped up by coal miner wages and credit, leaves as well. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. West Virginians are not a resourceful people. 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. These social issues are intertwined with economic conditions, and they are difficult to address without simultaneously addressing the states low education levels, poor health outcomes, and high poverty rates. The lowest-paid jobs in the state are in service industries such as health care and food services. Uneducated. Two-thirds of the states school children (67 percent) qualify for free or reduced price meals. 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. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. This has caused businesses to leave the state, which in turn has led to high unemployment and poverty rates. 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. 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. West Virginia Republican Senator Shelly Moore Capito responded to the insults: LOTS of WV talk today. 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. West Virginians are among the least educated people in the country, and their poverty rates are among the highest. Its just thiswe have a lot of poor families in West Virginia. Iowa is the 9th happiest followed closely by New Hampshire at 10th. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. These towns were built and administered by mining companies for the purpose of bringing miners and their families next door to work. ), and would be our 1-stop shop. 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. The state Constitution requires that our school system provide a thorough and efficient education, but we consistently fail to meet that standard. Green states are the 10 most happy followed by blue, yellow, orange and red. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Interestingly, it ranked 14th in "work environment. Go figure. 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. 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. He has also been linked to the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge, which led to the deaths of 46 people. Also in terms of coal sales, Wyoming has been giving West Virginia a run for its money lately. Many of these coal mines have just stopped bearing coal. 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. All rights reserved. If you aren't in medical care, tourism or oil and gas there is no point to "Colorado, for example, is always at or near the best in the nation for the lowest obesity rate. Due to these issues, the state has had a difficult time attracting businesses and jobs. Today, West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the United States.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smartexplora_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',141,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smartexplora_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the United States. The current high school dropout rate for teenagers in New Martinsville is 8.1%, which is the eleventh highest rate in West Virginia. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. 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. Manage SettingsContinue with Recommended Cookies. Coal is also running out. The rank was because only 20.7% of Mississippi residents of 25 years or more holds a Bachelors degree, which was the second-lowest percentage of any state in the country. 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. Population: 5,322Adults Without High School Diploma: 15.0%Teenage High School Dropouts: 8.1%. The Most Awesome Men's Entertainment Site On The Internet. 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. Your email address will not be published. There is only so much in the West Virginia mountains and its been mined heavily and almost nonstop since the mid-1700s. They have never lived anywhere else and B.) The young people cant just go into the mines after school for steady employment, so they leave. The Bavarian girl spoke English. Low 33F. Yet, their soccer teams repeatedly beat those of America. 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. 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. It is surrounded by other very poor states, and it has few natural resources to support its population. West Virginia will continue to struggle with these issues unless it can find ways to improve its economy. How many Raleigh County students know that Bavaria is a large state in Germany? These peoples each had their unique local color reflecting their origins and a lot of them had trouble bringing in Mostly cloudy. 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.. National statistics show that we are at or near the bottom in all the good things and at or near the top in all the bad. The state was created during the Civil War from the part of Virginia that was largely west of the mountains, but the southern part had strong Confederate sympathies. 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 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. 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.). On the brighter side, the current rate of teenagers dropping out of high school in Martinsburg is actually lower than the state average. Its share fell from nearly 10 percent in 1972 to 5.5 percent in 2009. Copyright 2022 West Virginia MetroNews Network. So what happens when a cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient competitor to coal comes out? This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Here are a few reasons why: 1. Massachusetts has boasted the highest level of residents with health insurance all six years [of the index]. Is it any wonder why Toyota chose flat bottom land in Putnam County for its huge Camry engine/transmission plant? Do Not Sell My Personal Information Over a span of six years, pharmaceutical companies have sent 400 pain pills to West Virginia for every person living in West Virginia . 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. My kitchen table was made in Taiwan. West Virginias unique geography leaves many people confused about where the state actually falls in our psycho-geography. Population: 17,508Adults Without High School Diploma: 17.3%Teenage High School Dropouts: 5.1%. The state also has one of the highest rates of poverty and unemployment. Additionally, the mountains make it difficult to transport goods and also create environmental hazards. Population: 2,615Adults Without High School Diploma: 23.4%Teenage High School Dropouts: 32.8%. Chasing Chains, LLC. The big Republican Latino realignment didnt happen in 2022. They are all brain washed from a very young age. Dont freak out. % of citys population with less than a high school education (Age 25+). West Virginia is an interesting state that sits along the eastern seaboard of the United States. 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. 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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 Reminder: our communities are strong, our people are compassionate, and our families The state has struggled to create jobs and grow its economy for years, which has led to high levels of poverty and inequality. The reasons for this almost have to do entirely with coal. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Sadly, it is true. The study results reinforce the frequent complaint by teachers and school administrators that a growing number of students do not come to school ready to learn. 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. Because of its location, West Virginia was hit hard by the Great Depression, and it didnt recover until after World War II. That number is especially significant in West Virginia because of the number of students from low income families. 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. The state was originally part of the Virginia Colony, and later became a part of the Union during the American Civil War. All Rights Reserved The states economy is also struggling, and its unemployment rate is high. West Virginia, in their resistance. West Virginia has a very low GDP per capita compared to other states. How many of our local students speak German or any other foreign language? 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. The only similar state that borders West Virginia is Kentucky. 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. Im very liberal and non-religious, and I dont really fit in here culturally. On the other hand, Switzerland, whose Alps dwarf our West Virginia hills, is packed with high-tech industries. As far as states go, West Virginia is far from being the sharpest tool in the shed; in fact, a recent Washington Post article named West Virginia as the seventh dumbest state in the nation. West Virginia is the least educated U.S. state, with an overall score of 23.65. The uneducated adult population is also rather high, with 16.6% of residents over the age of 25 having never completed high school. 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. The jobs they are doing West Virginians cant handle because our education standards are so low. Sports clubs are left to community organizations and games do not compete for the students attention. Mothman is West Virginias own monster, and was reported to be seen in the Point Pleasant area in the 1960s. Half of the states public schools (336) are classified as Title I, meaning they have a high percentage of poor children. Why Democrats wont punish Sinemas betrayal, at least for now. Really serious, as are the Irish, the Swiss, the Germans, the French, the Japanese. This has led to high rates of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. The wholesalers are making too much profit to care enough about halting their shipments either. 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. West Virginia ranked dead last in such categories (there are 55 of them) as "life evaluation", "emotional health", "physical health" and "healthy behaviors." They're accredited or authorized by all gov't regulators (ex. West Virginia is among the poorest if notthepoorest state in the union as well as one of the most uneducated and least economically developed. West Virginias recent primary election was a public relations disaster for the state, and all the Wild, Wonderful highway signs will not convince the rest of the world otherwise. 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. The state has one of the worst voter turnout rates in the nation at just 33%. Using this threshold, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas were established as the least educated states in the US with none of the states having a percentage surpassing 23%. 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 middle of the U.S. may be flyover country but people who live there seem to love it.). 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, We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. Confessions of a Man Who Has Never Had Sex With His Wife. This is due to the fact that there is no fiberoptic cable running through the state. The response has been for the schools to take on even more of the responsibilities normally handled by the family. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Interestingly, it ranked 14th in Population: 5,464Adults Without High School Diploma: 15.2%Teenage High School Dropouts: 25.1%. A lot of people just dont leave their hometowns. For example, the roads are often unsafe and in poor condition, which makes it difficult for businesses to get set up and flourish. West Virginia is a rural state without real urban centers. Its a lot safer than traditional mining because it negates the need to go underground but at the same time its not really environmentally conscious. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. West Virginias economy has been battered by the decline in coal mining and manufacturing. 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. There is only so much in the West Virginia mountains and its been mined heavily and almost nonstop since the mid-1700s. 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 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. 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). Only 85 of every 100 adults living in New Martinsville completed high school, which is only slightly worse than the state average. That number is especially significant in West Virginia because of the number of students from low income families. Places likeEnterprise, West Virginia orGordon, WV . It isnt a new thing either, when the conveyor belt came out a bunch of coal miners lost their jobs. There are a lot of things here that are positives. And that brings up our major disadvantage education. And by the way, smart people in West Virginia likes to play online sweepstakes games where you can win real money. 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 For example, West Virginia has high taxes and a weak economy. 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. Naturally, theres nothing that says a child from a poor family cannot do well in school and go on to achieve great things. The state has a high poverty rate and low-income levels. Located in northwestern West Virginia, New Martinsville ranks as the sixth dumbest city in the state overall. West Virginia has a long and difficult history. I was born 83 years ago in a little three-room house on a mountainside in Wyoming County and have spent most of my life in Raleigh County. Population: 3,015Adults Without High School Diploma: 21.1%Teenage High School Dropouts: 12.4%. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. 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. It wasnt always this way. Population: 3,259Adults Without High School Diploma: 16.1%Teenage High School Dropouts: 5.1%. 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. 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.. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. While eastern and western Virginia officially separated in the 19th century, disputes existed between them from 1776. Population: 3,151Adults Without High School Diploma: 19.6%Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%. West Virginia ranks last for Educational Attainment with the lowest shares of people with associate degrees or People stop buying coal. Discrimination of poor westerners by the wealthy and more powerful easterners fuelled these conflicts. We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country. Poor and Uneducated: The South's Cycle of Failing Higher Education West Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. One of the great obstacles, however, cannot be solved by passing a bill or changing a policy. You may also like // 7 Best water places near Bangalore. 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 state has lost more than a quarter of its jobs since 2000. It wasnt always this way. Guess I should have specified that I meant political parties. In the 1950s more than a fifth of the working population worked in the coal industry. The reasons for this almost have to do entirely with coal. Many of these coal mines have just stopped bearing coal. I am certainly an outsider in many ways. Manage SettingsContinue with Recommended Cookies. Its individual, independent pharmacies dealing these drugs out in such high numbers not chains like Walgreens or Wal-Mart. The current rate of teenagers dropping out of high school in Charlestown is five times higher than the state average, with about one fourth of teens leaving school before acquiring a diploma; thats the second highest rate in West Virginia. Its why there are so many tiny towns and villages just seemingly in the middle of the brush in West Virginia along with a lot of winding mountain roads connecting them all. Another factor in the unemployment situation in West Virginia is automation. The Kentucky political culture is very similar to West Virginia. West Virginia has two major disadvantages. Lack of adequate medical care (not enough doctors, etc) leads to pharmacies and pill mills just handing out pain medication and opioids like candy. Mark Cameron/Flickr. Colorado MED, Mass CCC, West Virginia OMC, Alaska AMCO, etc. If you want an idea of how widespread mountaintop removal mining is just pull up a satellite photo of West Virginia on Google Maps and look at all of the patches of scalped off land dotting the state. Unlike the first two cities on this list, Barboursvilles population has been growing in recent years and poverty isnt as much of a plague on the community but stupidity still is. In this case natural gas. If our schools, and especially those in West Virginia, do not rise to the challenge, we will eventually decline into a second world power. This makes it difficult to build roads and infrastructure, and it also makes it difficult for people to get connected to other parts of the country. Located in the western part of the state, Ripley ranks as the eighth dumbest city in West Virginia overall. They detract from the learning process and create the wrong atmosphere in the classroom. 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. According to the data, Hinton is the dumbest city in West Virginia by a super wide margin. In short, we came up with these criteria to determine the dumbest cities in West Virginia: Note: We only looked at cities with populations greater than 2,500 leaving us 48 cities in West Virginia to rank. So not only was housing in coal towns propped up by the coal companies, so were the businesses within the town as well. These coal towns, which number in the hundreds across West Virginia start hurting badly and experience economic contraction like never before. And is it true that our much vaunted whitewater rafting was developed by Ohioans? 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, high unemployment, and a general lack of opportunity. Its no wonder visitors think West Virginians are stupid. Heres some evidence economically-distressed counties in West Virginia are most likely to like Trump on Facebook. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) My So-Called High School Rank is a brand new HBO documentary that focuses on three different schools from across the country as they prepare to perform their yearly theatrical productions, and one is in West Virginia. With 12.8% of Moundsvilles teens opting out of high school each year, the citys dropout rate is the sixth highest in the state and more than doubles the state average. Thats a monumental challenge, and one that requires new thinking because as this study points out, nothing we have done so far has worked in narrowing the education gap between the haves and the have nots. Yet, 17.3% of Martinsburg residents over the age of 25 lack a GED, which is the seventh highest rate of uneducated adults in West Virginia. Much of the population lived in towns that were created by companies called coal towns. West Virginia is the most miserable state in the country. State School Superintendent Dr. Steve Paine said on Talkline Monday that he heard over and over during the just-completed education public hearings about the need for more social and emotional support for students. Article continues below. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. This article was published more than9 years ago, That's according theGallup-Healthways Well-Being Index released late last month that seeks to test "Americans perceptions on topics such as physical and emotional health, healthy behaviors, work environment, social and community factors, financial security, and access to necessities such as food, shelter and health care to create a composite well-being rank for each state." 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. 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 include, University of Charleston, West Virginia State University, and West Virginia University. The political environment in West Virginia is also unfavorable for economic growth. It was why so many regular Americans were drawn to a man like Donald Trump. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Life in West Virginia was based around coal. 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. The legend of Mothman is pretty creepy. hu. Why Do Some People Look Totally Different In Pictures Than In Real Life? That number is especially significant in West Virginia because of the number of students from low income families. The state is located in the Appalachian Mountains, which are a very rugged and mountainous region. Here's the well-being index in map form. (Politics makes people happy!) There are no sports in European and Japanese schools. Therefore, as a critic of my state, I consider my credentials unchallengable. The main reason for this is the lack of infrastructure. 2) They're just idiots that didnt get an education or didnt bother to learn basic english, or at least spamming their nonsense. We all know Horatio Alger stories. West Virginia has been struggling with economic issues for a long time. Does Stacey Abramss model for engaging voters die with her election loss? 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. October Sky gives you a pretty good idea. Click here to see an example where you can sign up and play for free. Today, Ireland is a prosperous country. Utah has the fewest smokers. StomachPunch Media LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet 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. In the 1950s more than a fifth of the working population worked in the coal industry. 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. After longwall mining came mountaintop removal mining. The reason for this is complex but can be traced back to social issues that have plagued the state for years. It often feels like everything is just a little bit harder in West Virginia, and public education is no different. PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - A recent study done by The United Way of the National Capital Area for every state in the U.S. shows that West Virginia is one of the lowest in mental health. They also have one of the lowest life expectancies, and a high percentage of residents live in poverty. Also Read // Best place to live in Florida weather wise, Your email address will not be published. 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? 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. 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 Why Do People Stay In Abusive Relationships? New Jersey has the lowest levels of depression. 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. 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. Nobody in West Virginia is enforcing the law either which requires reporting of conspicuous levels of opioid orders and use. I do wish that our local TV stations were more selective in the people they interview. We expect outsiders to come in and save us. 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 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 entire area sits in the Appalachian Mountains, which means about 75% of the area is covered in Swipe left for slideshow. We used science and data to determine which of West Virginias cities are dumb as rocks. 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. This makes it difficult to develop businesses and economy, and it also makes it difficult for people to get jobs. One of my coworkers said to me some years ago: Times is hard in West Virginia and thats all there are to it. She was a graduate of one of our Raleigh County high schools. Cupertino High School, a racially diverse school in California in the shadow of big tech. The report does not blame teachers specifically, but it also does not let them off the hook. West Virginia has a long history of poverty. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Population: 6,387Adults Without High School Diploma: 25.7%Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%. Who gets your vote for The Register-Herald Prep Athlete of the Week? Why is that? Mississippi even surpassed Arkansas in the percentage of residents holding an advanced degree; Arkansas 7.5% was the second lowest in the country. On the other hand, the current high school dropout rate for Princetons teenagers is 0%, so the city can only grow much smarter in the years to come. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. West Virginia is a poor state for many reasons, but one of the most significant factors is its economy. West Virginia is considered one of the poorest states in the US, and it has been for a long time. Also Read // 7 Reasons why is Louisiana so poor. 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. It makes industrial development difficult. 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. There, mastering subjects that prepare young people for the real world are of overriding importance. Poorest Counties Still Losing the War on Want Sorry, too late now. And Vermont rules America every year in produce consumption.". West Virginia ranked dead last in such categories (there are 55 of them) as "life evaluation", "emotional health", "physical health" and "healthy behaviors." It wasn't always this way. With 25.7% of Princeton residents ", The bottom of the (state) barrel is unchanged from 2012 with West Virginia (50th), Kentucky (49th) and Mississippi (48th) bringing up the rear. The only reason the population screams Montana strong is because A.) Jobs attract people. 10 Women Who Gave Creepy Guys A Chance, Describe Their Experiences, A Few Videos Guaranteed To Make You Feel Better About Life. 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. The current rate of teenagers dropping out of high school is also more than twice as high as the state average, with 12.4% of teenage students dropping out each year. This lack of infrastructure makes it difficult for businesses to get started and also limits access to education and health care. These are among our major competitors. Why? 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. We also looked at the graduation rates of the entire population, not the current rates for high schoolers. But its not simply that coal companies are moving out because theyre being replaced. Of the top ten happiest states, only one -- Washington -- is located on either of the nation's two coasts. Confessions of a Male Domestic Violence Survivor. 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. 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. According to the data from American Community Survey, Mississippi was recognized as the second least educated state in the United States. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Reasons for the Separation of Virginia and West Virginia. What Did Edward Snowden Actually Reveal About the U.S Government? South Dakota moves from 12th to second happiest in 2013. All of those are characterized by large urban centers. Beckley resident Jim Wood is a former editorial page editor for The Register-Herald. With 25.7% of Princeton residents over the age of 25 lacking a GED, Princetons rate of uneducated adults is twice as high as the state average. When people stop buying coal, many of these mining operations simply dry up and so do the towns. You have permission to edit this article. They make too much money off it. Lack of industries is why we are and have been in decline. Population: 8,960Adults Without High School Diploma: 12.1%Teenage High School Dropouts: 12.8%. 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 most depressed county in the state, McDowell, is also where Trump is most popular. The economy is also very dependent on coal and other mineral extraction. The legislature is expected to take up education reform in a few weeks. South Carolina, on the other hand, isn't all that happy (38th) and Nevada is in the middle of the pack (26th). 46 percent of people who "like" a candidate in McDowell County, liked Trump - one of the highest percentages of any county in the nation. 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. For example, the achievement gap between students in the bottom 25 percent based on their socioeconomic condition and the top 25 percent represents two-and-one-half years of learning. Other notable cities: West Virginias capital and biggest city, Charleston, ranked as the 13th smartest city in the state, while South Charleston ranked slightly higher as the 9th smartest city. 2. Sports in West Virginia schools are a poison to education. This low turnout makes it difficult to get legislation passed that could help improve the economy. Kenova, a city located at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers at the border of Kentucky and Ohio, is the ninth dumbest city in West Virginia. What Was It Like To Be Shipped To A Concentration Camp? 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. 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. Read this brief NPR interview. Also in In fact, West Virginia has the lowest rate of broadband penetration in the entire country. West Virginia is considered one of the poorest states in the US, and it has been for a long time. 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