I used to have this data years ago in a previous job, but can't recall where I got it. Maybe we bought it. Anyway, what I was told is that WV used to have legal descriptions based on the old colonial days, e.g. '300 feet northwest of the big oak tree, then to the southern bend in Yancy Creek', or some such. This wasn't very accurate, and trees fall, streams move, etc. So at some point WV said screw it, measured all their parcels and said 'This is it'. I've been told by surveyors that other new England area states have/had the same problem.