1. In 1863, the Battle of Kernstown, also known as the Second Battle of Winchester, took place during the American Civil War. Confederate and Union forces fought for control of the Shenandoah Valley, with Confederate forces ultimately winning the battle.

2. In 1916, the first statewide primary election in West Virginia took place. This allowed registered voters to choose the candidates for the upcoming election, rather than leaving the decision solely in the hands of political party officials.

3. On March 10, 1935, the West Virginia Legislature passed the State Minimum Wage and Maximum Hours Law, making West Virginia one of the first states in the country to enact such a law. The law aimed to establish a minimum wage and maximum number of hours that workers could work in a week.

4. In 1959, the West Virginia Turnpike Authority was created to oversee the construction and maintenance of the West Virginia Turnpike. The turnpike, which opened in 1954, was the first toll road in the state and provided a faster and more direct route for travelers from Charleston to Beckley.

5. In 1969, a coal mining disaster occurred in Farmington, West Virginia. An explosion at the No. 9 mine killed 78 miners, and the tragedy led to increased regulations and safety measures in the coal mining industry. The disaster is still remembered and commemorated today through annual memorials.