West Virginia Day2026 · Date · History
West Virginia Code designates June 20 as West Virginia Day; current gubernatorial proclamations continue to recognize the date.
About West Virginia Day
West Virginia Day is a state legal holiday observed on June 20.
The date commemorates West Virginia’s admission to the Union on June 20, 1863 as the 35th state.
Why West Virginia Day matters
West Virginia Day marks statehood rather than the date President Abraham Lincoln signed the earlier statehood proclamation.
State historical material separates informal anniversary celebrations from the later 1927 act that formally made West Virginia Day a state holiday.
History of West Virginia Day
President Abraham Lincoln issued the statehood proclamation on April 20, 1863, to take effect sixty days later.
West Virginia officially entered the Union on June 20, 1863.
State museum material says the anniversary was commemorated informally from the late 1860s.
West Virginia Day officially became a state holiday through Chapter 59, Acts of the Legislature, Regular Session, 1927.
Current West Virginia Code §2-2-1 lists June 20 as West Virginia Day and provides weekend-substitution rules for legal holidays.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Informal West Virginia statehood anniversary commemorations
Informal anniversary observances preceded formal state-holiday status established by the Legislature in 1927.
West Virginia Legislature
Chapter 59, Acts of the Legislature, Regular Session, 1927
Current law continues to list June 20 as West Virginia Day and supplies weekend-substitution rules for legal holidays.
State of West Virginia · West Virginia Code §2-2-1
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
National West Virginia Day
How to Observe West Virginia Day
Use June 20 as the legal holiday and statehood anniversary date.
Distinguish Lincoln’s April 20, 1863 proclamation from its June 20 effective date.
Keep informal late-1860s commemorations separate from the 1927 legislative establishment of the state holiday.
For administrative deadlines or office schedules, apply the current West Virginia Code weekend rules rather than assuming the calendar date is always the operational day off.
West Virginia Day Facts
West Virginia became the 35th state on June 20, 1863.
The statehood proclamation was signed on April 20, 1863 and took effect sixty days later.
The anniversary was commemorated informally before it became a statutory state holiday.
Chapter 59 of the 1927 Acts made West Virginia Day an official state holiday.
Current West Virginia Code lists June 20 as West Virginia Day.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Governor of West Virginia — West Virginia Day proclamation (opens in a new tab)
State Government
West Virginia Code (opens in a new tab)
West Virginia State Museum Education (opens in a new tab)
West Virginia Code §2-2-1 (opens in a new tab)
State Statute
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is West Virginia Day?
20 June The documented recurrence rule is: 20 June.
Does West Virginia Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is West Virginia Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: West Virginia, United States / state legal holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes West Virginia Day?
The reviewed sources identify West Virginia Legislature as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is West Virginia Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: West Virginia, United States / state legal holiday.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is West Virginia Day?
West Virginia Day is June 20.
Why is June 20 used?
West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, sixty days after President Lincoln’s statehood proclamation.
When did West Virginia Day become an official state holiday?
West Virginia State Museum material traces formal state-holiday status to Chapter 59 of the 1927 Acts of the Legislature.
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