I made this map from the information supplied by Mr. Weaver on the Home Page from the vote of Virginia counties on the Ordinance of Secession. There were some counties for which he could not find results, but I found a list made by Pauline Haga, who has written a number of books on early West Virginia. From her list I was able to add Nicholas, Randolph, Fayette, Roane and Pocahontas, for a total of 24 counties. I noticed in Eric Foner's book "Reconstruction" that he refers to 26 Secessionist counties, but he did not name them, so I don't know where he got the extra 2. There are 4 other counties of which I am uncertain, so if anyone knows where I can find the information I would appreciate. They are Marion, Jackson, Doddridge and Taylor. I am thinking of starting a webpage on Secessionist West Virginia and would like to have an accurate map for reference.
I found the following comments on the West Virginia Culture website in their "history" of statehood and thought they were very amusing. Even after 140 years they toe the Wheeling line.
" Most of the eastern and southern counties did not support statehood, but were included for political, economic, and military purposes."
Basically, we wanted them so we took them. More than half of the state.
"Pierpont ordered an election to allow the residents of Jefferson and Berkeley counties to determine whether their counties should be located in West Virginia or Virginia. Union troops were stationed outside polling places to intimidate those who might vote for Virginia. Despite local support for Virginia, residents who actually filled out ballots voted overwhelmingly to place both counties in West Virginia."
We did everything to discourage an honest vote, and those few people who got through voted overwhelmingly in our favor.