1. West Virginia became the 35th state in the United States on April 25, 1863, during the American Civil War. It was formed from Virginia, which had seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy.

2. On April 25, 1899, the first state flag for West Virginia was adopted. It features the state's coat of arms, which includes two crossed rifles, a red ribbon with the state motto "Montani Semper Liberi" (Mountaineers are always free), and a phrygian cap, which symbolizes freedom.

3. On April 25, 1914, the infamous Ludlow Massacre occurred in Colorado, where dozens of striking coal miners and their families, including many from West Virginia, were killed by state police and hired gunmen. This event sparked nationwide outrage and sympathy for the labor movement.

4. In 1977, on April 25, the first issue of the West Virginia Hillbilly newspaper was published. The newspaper, which is still in circulation today, focuses on Appalachian culture and traditions, and is known for its humor, satire, and political commentary.

5. On April 25, 2014, the Elk River chemical spill occurred in Charleston, West Virginia, when a storage tank owned by Freedom Industries leaked thousands of gallons of a toxic chemical into the river, contaminating the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of people. The disaster highlighted the need for stricter regulations on chemical storage and disposal.