West Virginia weathered the recession better than most states, due mostly to its strength as a major coal producer.
The coal mined there -- called metallurgical coal -- is used mainly in producing steel, and as emerging markets like China and India have been building up infrastructure at staggering speeds, their demand for this kind of coal has surged.
Overall, West Virginia's economy grew 4% last year. It's uncertain if that strong growth can continue though. West Virginia's coal industry is facing stricter environmental regulations and increased competition from other states that can mine coal at a cheaper price.
For those reasons, the federal government predicts mining in the state's southern coal fields will decline 40% in the next five years, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs.
Read: Coal 'ghost towns' loom in West Virginia
