As an AI language model trained to produce informative texts, I can provide the following 5 interesting facts about December 19 in the history of the state of West Virginia:

1. On December 19, 1861, the Wheeling Convention voted to approve the formation of a new state, separate from Virginia, known as West Virginia. This decision was partly motivated by the state's differences from Virginia regarding politics, economics, and regional identity, as well as the state's loyalty to the Union during the Civil War.

2. On December 19, 1872, the Fairmont Branch Railroad, a new line connecting Monongahela City and Fairmont, was officially opened. This railroad played a crucial role in transporting coal, timber, and other goods from the region and connecting it to national transportation networks.

3. On December 19, 1985, the Kanawha Valley Railroad, a short-line railroad running in West Virginia and Virginia, was acquired by the Norfolk Southern Railway. The acquisition provided Norfolk Southern with better access to the coal mines and other industries in the region, while also allowing the Kanawha Valley Railroad to benefit from Norfolk Southern's larger resources and network.

4. On December 19, 1995, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Robert C. Byrd, a longtime U.S. senator from West Virginia, as the majority leader of the Senate. Byrd, who had been serving as the minority leader, became the first West Virginian to hold this leadership position in the Senate.

5. On December 19, 2019, the West Virginia State Police announced the capture of a suspect in the murder of Cassie Johnson, a police officer in Charleston, West Virginia. Johnson had been shot during a routine traffic stop on December 1, and the suspect had been on the run for several weeks before being apprehended with the help of local law enforcement and the public. Johnson's death was a tragic reminder of the risks and sacrifices that police officers face in the line of duty.