what year did wv become state
1861 - Battle of Philippi - first land battle of the Civil War. 1863 - On January 1, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in areas of rebellion, but did not apply to states loyal to the Union, including the future state of West Virginia. 1863 - West Virginia became the 35th state (June 20). 1863 - On July 15, the governor of West Virginia approved an act giving African-Americans the same rights to criminal trial as whites. However, Blacks were denied the right to serve on a jury.