Morgantown, WV

Morgantown is the county seat of Monongalia County and the largest city in the region, with a population of about 30,000 and a daytime population of close to 70,000. Home to the main campus of West Virginia University, the life of Morgantown is tied closely to higher education, with students and university employees making up a significant portion of the population. The city's geography is defined by the Monongahela River, which flows along one side and by the wooded hills that make up many of its outlying areas.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

West Virginia University serves as one of the city's chief employers as well as a major economic stimulus, with the steady influx of new students helping to fuel consumer spending.

About 40 percent of Morgantown residents live below the poverty line, a rate that is well above the national average. Still, the city is highly regarded as a potential home for educated workers, many of whom stay in the city after graduation from WVU.

Forbes has ranked Morgantown as one of the nation's best small cities in which to start a career or small business, while Men's Journal has deemed it one of the most livable small towns in America. Other sources have cited Morgantown for its keen pace of economic development.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Morgantown is a quiet and interesting place to live. Previously some of the neighborhoods were individual towns but as the city grew, they were absorbed into the city of Morgantown. A few of the city's many distinctive neighborhoods include:

• Woodburn: Initially, Woodburn was farmland to the east of Downtown Morgantown. It's a closely knit community with many single-family homes.
• South Park: Located across Deckers Creek, the neighborhood of South Park is one of the first suburbs of Morgantown. This neighborhood is designated as a historic district.
• Sunnyside: Sunnyside is an old neighborhood located in Downtown Morgantown.
• Other major neighborhoods in Morgantown include South Hills, Second Ward, Suncrest, Sabraton, The Mileground and North Hills, Greenmont, Jerome Park, Wiles Hill.

EDUCATION

• West Virginia University: Founded in 1867, West Virginia University has since grown into the state's most significant institution of higher learning, with campuses and other facilities located around the state and a total annual enrollment of about 27,000 students attending 14 separate colleges.
• The school's student newspaper is among the most highly circulated in West Virginia, and WWVU-FM, the student radio station, was one of four nominated for a national college radio award in 2007. The university has also produced over two dozen Rhodes Scholars.

GETTING AROUND

One of the city's most unique features, the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit System was built as a joint project between the U.S. Department of Transportation and Boeing Vertol. Completed in 1979, it serves as a means of connecting the disjointed West Virginia University campus, and as a model for innovative transportation projects.

Similar in some respects to an elevated train, the system consists of a track composed of concrete inlaid with magnetic induction loops, but the transport vehicles themselves use rubber tires. Each vehicle holds about 20 people, making them smaller than most subway cars, though similar in appearance. Altogether, the system includes more than eight miles of tracks.

FAMILY FUN

• Cheat Lake: Known to locals by its previous name of Lake Lynn, Cheat Lake lies off of the Cheat River, which has long served as a popular white-water rafting destination.
• Coopers Rock State Forest: This 12,500-acre state-administered property was developed in its current form by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal in the 1930s. The area includes a 50-mile hiking trail system, making it one of the best hiking destinations in the region. The area is also noted for several spectacular overlooks that provide views of the Cheat River and its surrounding canyon, as well as for the Henry Clay Iron Furnace, which was in operation from 1834 to 1847. Campgrounds are available for use from April to November.
• Core Arboretum: Owned and operated by West Virginia University and managed by its biology department, the Core Arboretum is free to the public and open daily. The area is crisscrossed by about 3.5 miles of walking trails.
• Dorsey's Knob: Morgantown's iconic mountain peak rises to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet and is located on the edge of the city in a 71-acre park. The summit provides spectacular views of the Monongahela River and portions of the Appalachian Mountains.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Warner Theatre: The Warner Theatre was designed by prominent architect John Eberson, who also designed movie palaces in Paris, France; Washington, D.C.; Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; New York and elsewhere. Despite several renovations over the years, the theater still retains much of its original Art Deco charm, and there are plans for further restoration. The structure, built in 1931, still serves as one of the city's most beloved landmarks. Though its screens usually show the latest Hollywood releases, the theater also features classic films in its monthly calendar.
• Monongalia Arts Center: Morgantown's most prominent art repository is home to both the Benedum Gallery and Davis Gallery, both featuring exhibits of a generally modernistic bent, while the resident Tanner Theatre presents a wider range of fare. The center also offers an eclectic array of classes.
• Metropolitan Theater: The Metropolitan, which once served as a vaudeville house, today hosts events ranging from traditional stage productions to big-band performances to special presentations by community activists.