In addition to its literal rendition, the word “panhandle” can also refer to a narrow strip of land that protrudes from the main area of a state or country; just like the actual handle of a pan.

The U.S. has 9 states with panhandles; one of them has two. The panhandles of Florida and Oklahoma are the most recognizable, but if you look at a U.S. map, you will also find them on other states: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, and Texas. West Virginia, however, features two panhandles; a northern one that hugs the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania and an eastern one that sits directly below Maryland’s panhandle.

West Virginia was originally part of Virginia, the western boundary of which stretched to the Ohio River. (The river helps form the Northern panhandle, which extends upward between Pennsylvania and Ohio.) In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, West Virginia (including the Northern panhandle area) separated from Virginia, joining the Union as an abolitionist state, while Virginia seceded and joined the Confederacy.

The Eastern panhandle was created by the split. It stretches out from the northeastern part of the state and is bordered by Virginia to the south and Maryland to the north. The Eastern panhandle includes both the lowest (Potomac River) and highest (Shell Knob in the Allegheny Mountains) points in West Virginia.

Lying completely in the Appalachian Region of the U.S., the state is mostly mountains, and is known as “The Mountain State”.

More Info: www.worldatlas.com