As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions, feelings, or beliefs about any particular event or entity, but I can share five interesting facts about December 31 in West Virginia's history:
1. On December 31, 1862, President Lincoln signed the West Virginia statehood bill, making it the 35th state of the Union. The creation of West Virginia during the Civil War was controversial, but it allowed the Union to strengthen its military power.
2. In 1927, on New Year's Eve, the town of Welch was flooded when the nearby Tug Fork River overflowed. The town suffered heavy damages, and over 20 people died. The event became known as the Welch flood and remains one of the worst natural disasters in West Virginia's history.
3. In 1986, the West Virginia Swine Flu immunization program ended on December 31, having vaccinated over 800,000 people in the state. The program was initiated after a flu outbreak in a military base in New Jersey and resulted in no adverse effects or illnesses associated with the vaccine.
4. On December 31, 1917, the New River Gorge Bridge, one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world, was completed after three years of construction. The bridge spans over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville and is now a popular tourist attraction and landmark.
5. On December 31, 2013, the Elk River chemical spill occurred in Charleston, contaminating the drinking water for thousands of people. A storage tank that held MCHM, a chemical used to clean coal, leaked into the river, causing a state of emergency and a water ban for several days. The spill highlighted the need for stricter regulations on the storage and handling of hazardous chemicals.
5 Fun Facts About December 31 In West Virginia History
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