1. In 1918, a deadly Spanish Flu pandemic had swept through the United States, claiming numerous lives. By January 7 of that year, Morgantown City Council had ordered all saloons and public gathering places to remain closed to prevent the spread of the disease.

2. On January 7, 1974, the West Virginia State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, which was completed in 1932, was designed by architect Cass Gilbert in the Art Deco style and is known for its 292-foot gold-leafed dome.

3. In 1839, construction began on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which would connect Washington, D.C. to the coalfields of West Virginia. The canal was completed in 1850 and operated until the early 1900s. January 7, 1839, marks the beginning of this significant infrastructure project.

4. In 1861, West Virginia was in the midst of its secession crisis, with the state deciding whether to side with the Union or the Confederacy. On January 7, 1861, a meeting of the citizens of Preston County declared their support for the Union and called for fellow West Virginians to do the same.

5. On January 7, 2014, the West Virginia water crisis began. A chemical spill at a coal processing plant contaminated the drinking water supply for 300,000 residents in nine counties, leading to a state of emergency being declared. The incident highlighted the need for better regulation and oversight of the state's industrial operations.