West Virginia Apartments

West Virginia

West Virginia, known for its \"wild, wonderful\" beauty, is a largely rural, mountainous state with four distinct seasons, so if you love the great outdoors, it's a great place to look for an apartment. The best cities for plenty of choice in apartment rentals are Charleston, Huntington and Parkersburg.

The state's economy is largely based on coal mining, with numerous major mines dotting the state. Long-wall coal mining is the basis for the state’s economy, although it has diversified into manufacturing in recent years (particularly glass, aluminum and steel). Poultry and eggs are the main agricultural products, primarily for regional distribution.

Tourism in West Virginia centers on the great outdoors and the heritage of the Appalachian regions, where music and art have developed unique styles and preserved a rich pioneer and mountain history. For those seeking luxury, the Greenbriar Resort is one the country's most exclusive spa/hotels, often entertaining world dignitaries.

Wisconsin is an interesting combination of industry, agriculture and natural beauty that has a little something for everyone looking for an apartment to rent. Although many people think of Wisconsin as a farming state, industries like breweries and food products are just as important. In fact, one of the key industries is paper production, with both Kimberly Clark and Georgia Pacific located here. Other major employers include Kraft, Oscar Mayer and Johnsonville Brats and Miller Brewing Company.

The agriculture centers around large dairy farms in the central part of the state, with milk, cheese and butter being the primary exports. The northern part of the state is densely forested (in fact, almost half of the state is forest lands). Part of the state lies along Lakes Superior and Michigan, with about 15,000 additional lakes dotting the state.

Wyoming is proud of its place in the settlement of the West, with many small towns re-enacting cattle drives and other Wild West events for tourists each year. The state still retains much of its western friendliness and independence, with the largest city (Cheyenne) having only 50,000 residents. No matter where you find an apartment in Wyoming, you will experience a warm, small-town feel.

Mining operations and firms that oversee the extraction of petroleum, natural gas and crude oil are the largest employers in the state. Most mining is of coal, uranium and, to some extent, copper. The second most important industry is tourism. Every year, people come to experience the \"Old West\" in towns that host Pioneer Days, western festivals and cattle drives. Agriculture is also important, although it is primarily sheep (for wool) and cattle. Wyoming is too arid to support large crop farms, although there is some oat exportation.

Outdoor Attractions

Almost any outdoor sport that you can do in a land-locked state can be done in West Virginia. Camping and hiking are particularly popular in the Allegheny Highlands and the Monongahela National Forest, where Spruce Knob is a particular challenge for climbers.

The New River Gorge area offers some of the best whitewater rafting to be found in the eastern half of the U.S. Cheat Lake is another popular spot, offering great fishing and water sports such as wake boarding. The vast tracts of forestland offer exceptional hunting.

The thousands of lakes in Wisconsin offer fishing (including winter ice fishing), swimming and boating opportunities galore. If you rent an apartment in Wisconsin, find out where the nearest lake is for weekend fun. Fishing has given way to a peculiarly Wisconsin tradition – fish boils. These culinary events are a part of the Norwegian/German heritage of the state. Horseback riding and snowmobile races are both very popular, depending upon the season. In fact, the climate in Wisconsin is generally mild, with four seasons and temperatures between the mid-30's and the low 80's.

For those interested in architecture, you can see a multitude of examples of mid-century modern masterpieces in Milwaukee and Madison. Taliesin, the architectural school founded by Frank Lloyd Wright, is also located here in the famous architect's preserved home.

There are hundreds of Dude Ranches and Rodeos across the state and they draw record numbers just about every year, from Urban Cowboys to genuine ranchers looking to show off their skills. The horse and horseback riding is central to the culture of Wyoming, with even those living in cities often boarding horses for weekend use.

Yellowstone, one of the U.S.'s most famous national parks, features numerous hot springs and geysers, including Old Faithful. Tourists come to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park to enjoy the natural wonders and abundant wildlife. Also popular are rafting adventures on the Yellowstone and Snake Rivers.

There are three historic trails to travel in Wyoming – the Pony Express Trail, Mormon Pioneer Trail and the Oregon National Trail – all of which are reminders of the great western migrations. Small towns like Sheridan, Wyoming with small museums, historic downtowns and rustic historic buildings dot the landscape and encourage cross-state road trips.

Colleges and Universities

West Virginia University has a main campus in Morgantown as well as three branch campuses. The main campus features law, dental, medical and nursing schools as well as several regional hospitals. Marshall University in Huntington is another prominent university and has a great rivalry with WVU. There are also several community and private schools across the state.

Wisconsin was one of a handful of states that founded the State Universities system. The University of Wisconsin is a prime example of this system, with twenty-six branch campuses and an exceptional faculty. There isn’t a shortage of private colleges or universities either, including Lawrence University, Marquette University and schools of engineering and medicine.

Because there are only about a half million people in the entire state, Wyoming is unique in having only two four year colleges – the University of Wyoming, well known for its environmental research facility, and Wyoming Catholic College, which was established in Laramie in 2007.

Real Estate and Housing

You can find a great place to rent in West Virginia for very little money – housing is typically 20% below the national average. Add in the low cost of living (almost 10% below the national average), and you can live here for very little money. Even in Charleston, apartments for rent are less expensive than in almost any other state. Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling have many apartments and lofts (in converted industrial era buildings) that are very affordable. If healthcare is a consideration, look for an apartment in or near Morgantown, which has a great college town atmosphere and the best hospitals and medical centers in the state.

The cost of living and the cost of apartment rentals are both steady at about 3-5% below the national average. Milwaukee apartments may be slightly higher, but are still very reasonable. One of the best places to live in the U.S. – according to several national publications – is Madison. Apartment dwellers in Madison can enjoy dozens of parks, a vital lakeshore nightlife and beautifully converted architectural buildings as well as newer apartments.

There is no individual income tax in Wyoming, so your dollar goes further when you're shopping for an apartment here. The cost of an apartment is in line with the national average, and with the largest city, Cheyenne, having only about 50,000 residents, you don’t have to worry about fierce competition or overcrowding. You can find reasonable apartments to rent in most of the larger towns, and all of them are family friendly with lots to do in charming downtown areas. If you enjoy grand scenery, look for apartments in Laramie or Casper, where you can see mountains in the near distance no matter where your apartment is located.