1. On April 27, 1859, the Northwestern Virginia Railroad was completed, connecting Wheeling, West Virginia with Parkersburg, and providing an important transportation link for the state's growing economy.

2. In 1897, the West Virginia State Board of Agriculture was created on April 27, tasked with promoting and developing the state's agricultural industry, including the production of crops, livestock, and dairy products.

3. More than fifty years later, on April 27, 1951, the United States Senate passed the Appalachian Regional Development Act, which established the Appalachian Regional Commission and provided funding for economic development in the region, including West Virginia.

4. In 1963, on April 27, the West Virginia Legislature passed a bill establishing the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, which provided new protections for consumers and regulated credit transactions in the state.

5. Finally, on April 27, 2014, thousands of West Virginians were impacted by a chemical spill into the Elk River near Charleston, which contaminated the water supply in nine counties and prompted a state of emergency. The spill raised questions about the state's regulation of the chemical industry and the safety of the state's water supply.