West Virginia is unique in that it is the only state to be formed by splitting off a portion of another already existing state. During the Civil War, the people in the western counties of Virginia were not in favor of secession like Virginians in the east and south. When Virginia voted on secession in 1861, the eastern and southern counties voted in favor and the western counties voted against. When the secession ordinance was ratified, politicians from the western counties called a convention and formed a new Virginia government including electing a new governor and U.S. Senators. This government was recognized by the North, and for a time both the West Virginia government and the original Virginia government claimed to represent all of Virginia. in 1863, however, West Virginia was formally admitted as state and forever split from the rest of Virginia.
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