Up next in our Spotlight on States series: West Virginia!
West Virginia is a mountainous state in the southern and mid-Atlantic region of the country. It was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. West Virginia was formed during the Civil War from western counties of Virginia that were loyal to the Union. The state is bordered by Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Oio.
West Virginia’s estimated population in 2024 was 1,769,979, making it the 29th most populous state. It is the 41st largest state in area. Charleston, the state capital, is also the largest city.
Official West Virginia State Symbols
Every state has their own unique symbols, from birds to flowers to songs and more! Here are some of West Virginia’s official state symbols:
– Animal: Black Bear
– Bird: Cardinal
– Fish: Brook Trout
– Tree: Sugar Maple
– Flower: Rhododendron
– Fruit: Golden Delicious Apple
– Insect: Honeybee
– Butterfly: Monarch Butterfly
Find more information about West Virginia’s state symbols here.
Fun Facts about West Virginia
The New River Gorge Bridge, in Fayetteville, is the longest steel-arch bridge in the United States spanning 1, 815 feet across the New River Canyon.
Ironic to its name, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in the World and flows south to north, opposite from most rivers because it was formed before the mountains.
Tourism is the state’s leading industry. For many years, coal was the leading industry.
The world famous Greenbrier Hotel and Resort, in White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, was used as an Army Hospital during World War II.
At 4,861 feet above sea level, Spruce Knob, located in Pendleton County, is the highest point in the Mountain State. Dropping down to 247 feet above sea level, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, marks lowest point.
Famous people from West Virginia include Brad Paisley, Jennifer Garner, Don Knotts, Mary Lou Retton, and Pearl S. Buck.
NCP Panel Members in West Virginia
Want to learn more about your fellow panel members in another state? Here’s how our West Virginia panel members answered some of our survey questions!
How long have you been a panel member?
– 35% of survey respondents have been members for 15 or more years.
– 16% have been members for less than a year.
How long have you lived in your current state?
– 79% of respondents have lived in West Virginia for more than 15 years.
Is the area you live rural, suburban, or urban?
– 61% live in rural areas
– 30% live in suburban areas
– 9% live in urban areas
Do you have children?
– 71% of respondents have children
– Of those, 24% have children living in their home
Shopping habits of NCP Panel Members in West Virginia
Do you think peoples’ shopping habits differ based on where they live? We’re curious about this, so we asked our panel members questions about how, when, and where they shop, along with some other questions about their habits.
Here’s what our panel members in West Virginia had to say about their shopping habits:
– 63% of respondents shop both online and in-store, with 34% shopping in-store only.
– 64% of respondents tend to shop at the same stores.
– 76% of respondents mostly stick to their list when shopping, but sometimes make impulse purchases.
– 58% of respondents shop alone, while another 29% shop with a spouse or partner.
When it comes to choosing where to shop, 44% of panel members shop mostly at mass-merchandise retailers. Another 39% primarily shop at grocery stores. Price, location, convenience, and variety are the top factors that influence where people decide to shop. Other things that influence where panel members shop are rewards programs and fuel points.
Convenience while shopping
While ordering groceries and other items online has long been an option, the COVID-19 pandemic made delivery and pick-up a lot more common for people.
Here’s what West Virginia panel members had to say about it:
– 60% never order groceries online and pick up at the store, while 28% do sometimes.
– 70% never order groceries online to be delivered, while 27% do sometimes.
And finally: self-checkout. Some people love it, others hate it. According to our survey, 15% of respondents always choose self-checkout, with another 47% indicating they frequently choose it. 21% of respondents rarely use it, and 17% never do.
Interests of NCP Panel Members in West Virginia
Here are a few other fun facts about West Virginia panel members from our survey!
More than half of respondents engage in outdoor recreational activities regularly or occasionally. The most popular outdoor activities are hiking and walking – it was a favorite for 77% of panel members. A few of the other answers panel members wrote in include fishing, yard work, dog parks, and rock hounding.
We asked panelists which sports they follow, and 55% said none, while another 33% said football. Some of the other sports panelists follow are bowling, cycling, and NASCAR.
We also wanted to know: what place would you recommend to visitors in your hometown or state? The most popular types of attractions panel members recommend in West Virginia are natural parks and reserves. Here are some other answers we got from panel members:
– New River Gorge Bridge
– Harper’s Ferry
– Oglebay Park
– Cooper’s Rock State Park
– Blennerhassett Island
Did you learn anything new about West Virginia? How do your shopping habits compare to panel members in West Virginia?
We hope you enjoy learning about panel members in other states. Stay tuned for the next state: Wisconsin!
Join NCP!
If you’re not a NCP panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog for more information.
Regards,
Taylor
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