1. In 1862, Union forces, led by Major General Thomas Morris, defeated Confederate troops at the Battle of Middle Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky. This battle was significant as it helped secure Union control over the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia and prevent Confederate advancement into the state.

2. On February 13, 1888, the West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) was established. It was the state's first historically black public institution of higher education and aimed to provide African Americans with access to education and job opportunities.

3. In 1903, West Virginia legislature passed a law making it the first state to impose a sales tax. The tax rate was set at one percent and was initially imposed on goods such as tobacco, liquor, and soft drinks.

4. On February 13, 1928, the state's first four-lane highway, the Midland Trail, was completed. The highway connected Huntington to Charleston and helped facilitate transportation and commerce between the two cities.

5. In 1968, West Virginia University defeated the University of North Carolina in a men's basketball game, breaking UNC's 32-game winning streak. WVU's win was the start of a successful season that led them to the NCAA Championship Game, where they ultimately lost to UCLA.