Study: How likely are you to see a ghost in West Virginia?

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) – If you’re planning on ghost hunting this Halloween, West Virginia is a great place to do it, according to a recent study.

Based on a “Ghost Likelihood Index” created by the Action Network that factors in ghost sightings, cemeteries, ghost towns and haunted locations, West Virginia is the second-most likely state to see a ghost.

The index estimated that West Virginians have a near 5% chance of seeing a ghost. Based on the study, 1 in 2,869 people will see a ghost in West Virginia, which is the highest in the country. For comparison, Texas, which was deemed the most likely state for a ghost sighting, has more reported ghost sightings per year but has fewer per capita than West Virginia, with odds at 1 in 4,168.

West Virginia also has substantially more cemeteries than average, which boosted it in the ranking. The Mountain State has 1,125 cemeteries per 100,000 residents, which is more than 600% higher than the national average and the highest in the country.

Looking for the ghostliest places in West Virginia? Although Harpers Ferry is widely considered the most haunted place in West Virginia, according to the ranking, you’re most likely to see a ghost in these towns:

1. Keyser
2. Ravenswood
3. St. Albans
4. Grafton
5. Point Pleasant
6. Buckhannon
7. Lewisburg
8. Beckley
9. Weston
10. Bluefield

Table of Contents

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West Virginia Ghost Stories

Paranormal W.Va: The Ghost of the Silver Run Tunnel

‘The Greenbrier Ghost:’ how a dead woman solved a case

Paranormal W.Va: E. Moore Hall and Mountainlair Ghosts

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Although Keyser is the top West Virginia city for ghost sightings, people in Weston search for ghost-related information the most, likely because of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

Other states that are high on the Ghost Likelihood Index, although not as high as West Virginia, are Maine, Kentucky, Vermont and Montana.