Which of these states extends farthest west? New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or Virginia?

It's easy to picture Virginia as a purely East Coast state, defined by the Chesapeake Bay and its proximity to Washington, D.C. However, the state's long, narrow southwestern tip extends deep into the Appalachian Mountains, stretching farther west than any point in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or New York. This small corner of the state, in Lee County, lies so far west that it is on a longitude west of Detroit, Michigan.

This surprising geographical fact is a direct result of American history. When West Virginia was formed during the Civil War, it was carved out of the northwestern portion of the original Commonwealth of Virginia. This division left the commonwealth with its distinctive southwestern panhandle. So, while West Virginia's very name suggests a western orientation, its parent state of Virginia actually holds the title for the westernmost reach among this group, thanks to the historical borders drawn more than 150 years ago.