1. McDowell County was founded on July 23, 1858. It was named after James McDowell, a Governor of Virginia.

2. On July 23, 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp at Seneca Rocks. The CCC was a program created during the Great Depression to provide employment and training for young men. The Seneca Rocks camp was one of many throughout West Virginia.

3. In 1983, the West Virginia State Folk Festival began on July 23 in Glenville. The festival celebrates the state's rich cultural heritage through music, dance, and traditional crafts.

4. The Greenbrier Classic, a PGA Tour event, was held in West Virginia from 2010 to 2018. The tournament was traditionally played on the weekend following July 4th, which often meant it coincided with July 23rd.

5. On July 23, 1952, the West Virginia Turnpike was dedicated. The 88-mile toll road, which runs from Charleston to Princeton, was a major engineering feat at the time of its construction. It was also the first limited-access highway in the state, with no at-grade intersections or pedestrian crossings.