1. The Battle of Scary Creek: On February 20, 1861, the Battle of Scary Creek took place in Putnam County, West Virginia. This was one of the first battles of the American Civil War to take place in the state. Union forces, under the command of General Jacob Cox, successfully drove Confederate forces from the area.

2. West Virginia Statehood: On February 20, 1863, West Virginia was admitted to the Union as the 35th state. The state was formed during the Civil War when the western counties of Virginia broke away from the rest of the state due to their opposition to slavery.

3. The Silver Bridge Collapse: On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge, which connected Point Pleasant in West Virginia to Gallipolis, Ohio, collapsed during rush hour traffic, killing 46 people. The disaster was due to a fracture in a suspension chain, and it led to changes in national bridge safety standards.

4. The Kanawha County Textbook Controversy: In the 1970s, a controversy arose in Kanawha County, West Virginia, over proposed changes to public school textbooks. The changes were perceived by some as being too liberal and anti-American, and they sparked protests, book burnings, and violent clashes. The controversy continued for several years and was a highly contentious issue in the state.

5. The Hatfield-McCoy Feud: The Hatfield-McCoy Feud, one of the most infamous family feuds in American history, took place in West Virginia and Kentucky in the late 19th century. The feud began over a land dispute and escalated into a bloody and violent conflict that lasted for several years. The last major event in the feud was the New Year's Day Raid of 1888, which took place in Logan County, West Virginia.