There are lots of known facts about West Virginia, but there are also a lot of things that are not widely known. Here is a look at 11 incredible almost unbelievable facts about the Mountain State.

1. West Virginia is 1,500 feet higher than any other state east of the Mississippi.

West Virginia’s highest point is Spruce Knob standing at 4,861 feet above sea level.

2. The complete area of West Virginia is 24,230 miles

West Virginia is roughly the same size as the country of Lativia.

3. In the Paleozoic era West Virginia was completely under water.

The Paleozoic Era took place an estimated 542 million years ago. During this time period life flourished in the sea. Sea creatures such as the Eogyrinus passed over the land that would one day be West Virginia.

4. West Virginia is the only state that was created by carving out its territory from another state without that states permission or approval.

The above map shows how West Virginia was carved out from Virginia.

5. The city of Weirton is the only town in the United States that extends to one state border to another.

Weirton extends from the Pennsylvania border on the east to the Ohio border on the west.

6. Back in 1928, Minnie Buckingham Harper, of Welch, became the very first black woman legislator in the United States.

Minnie Buckingham Harper was appointed to the House of Delegates by the governor to fill the seat left vacant by her husband’s death.

7. The Wheeling Bridge was the longest bridge in the world from 1849 to 1851.

In 1854 the bridge was destroyed by strong winds. It was rebuilt in 1859. The bridge remains used today.

8. In 1931 a Bluefield radio station broadcast a murder trial. It was the first time a murder trial had been broadcast in the United States.

Radio station WHIS broadcasted the 1931 murder trial of a woman accused of murdering her three-year-old stepchild by placing him in a wash tub of boiling water. She was convicted, but later appealed on the grounds that the radio station had made a "circus" out of her trial.

9. The Federal Industrial Institution for Women in Alderson was the first federal prison for women in the United States.

The prison opened in 1926.

10. The counties of Calhoun and Clay do not have any stoplights.

There are no stoplights or traffic jams, except those caused by tractors in Calhoun and Clay Counties.

11. The largest family reunion in the United States is held in West Virginia.

The Lilly family reunion is held each year in Mercer County. The event is held at Flat Top and each year has at least 10,000 guests.

Did I miss an amazing fact that you think should have made this list? If so, share it in the comment section.