<P> The Northern hold on Charleston and most of the western part of Virginia created an even larger problem . Virginia already had seceded from the Union, but the western part was under Union control . The issue of statehood was raised . So amid the tumultuous Civil War, West Virginia officially became a state through Presidential Proclamation . Abraham Lincoln declared the northwestern portion of Virginia to be returned to the Union, and on June 20, 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state . </P> <P> In addition to the issue of slavery, West Virginia was also driven to separate from Virginia for economic reasons . The heavy industries in the North, particularly the steel business of the upper Ohio River region, were dependent on the coal available from western Virginia mines . Federalized military units were dispatched from Ohio to western Virginia early in the war to secure access to the coal mines and transportation resources . </P> <P> Although the state now existed, settling on a state capital location proved to be difficult . For several years, the capital of West Virginia intermittently traveled between Wheeling and Charleston . In 1877, however, state citizens voted on the final location of their capital . Charleston received 41,243 votes, Clarksburg received 29,442 and Martinsburg received 8,046 . Wheeling was not an available option for voting . Charleston was chosen and eight years later, the first capitol building was opened . </P> <P> After a fire in 1921, a hastily built structure was opened but burned down in 1927 . However, a Capitol Building Commission, created by the Legislature in 1921, authorized construction of the present capitol . Architect Cass Gilbert designed the buff Indiana limestone structure, in the Italian Renaissance style, that was to have a final cost of just under $10 million . After the three stages of construction were completed, Governor William G. Conley dedicated the West Virginia State Capitol on June 20, 1932 . </P>

When did charleston become the capital of west virginia