Everything about Charleston West Virginia totally explained
Charleston is the
capital of the
U.S. state of
West Virginia. It is located at the
confluence of the
Elk and
Kanawha Rivers in
Kanawha County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,421, with its
urban area having a population of 212,991, and its metropolitan area 309,632. However, the 2006 Census Estimate has Charleston with a population of 50,846
(External Link
), and a 2007 estimated
metro area population of 303,950. Charleston is the largest city in the state. It is the
county seat of Kanawha County.
Early industry important to Charleston included
salt and the first natural gas well.
(External Link) Later,
coal became central to economic prosperity in the city and the surrounding area. Today,
trade,
utilities,
government,
medicine and
education play the central role in the city's economy.
The first permanent settlement, Ft. Lee, was built in 1788. In 1791,
Daniel Boone was a member of the Kanawha County Assembly.
Charleston is the home of the
West Virginia Power (formerly the Charleston Alley Cats)
minor league baseball team, the
West Virginia Wild minor league basketball team, and the annual
Charleston Distance Run.
Yeager Airport and the
University of Charleston are also located in the city.
Charleston is also home to the 130th Airlift Wing of the
West Virginia Air National Guard.
The city also contains public parks, such as Cato Park and Coonskin Park, and the
Kanawha State Forest, a large public state park that sustains a pool, camping sites, several biking/walking trails, picnic areas, as well as several shelters provided for recreational use.
History
Beginnings
After the
American Revolutionary War, pioneers began making their way out from the early settlements. Many slowly migrated into the western part of
Virginia. Capitalizing on its many resources made Charleston an important part of Virginia and West Virginia history. Today, Charleston is the largest city in the state and the state capital.
Charleston's history goes back to the eighteenth century. The Bullitt family was deeded of land near the mouth of the Elk River in 1774. The land was later sold to Col. George Clendenin in 1786. The first permanent settlement, Fort Lee, was built in 1788 by Col. Clendenin and his company of Virginia Rangers. This structure occupied the area that's now the intersection of Brooks Street and Kanawha Boulevard. Historical conjecture indicates that Charleston is named after Col. Clendenin's father, Charles. Charles Town was later shortened to Charleston to avoid confusion with another Charles Town in present day West Virginia.
Six years later, the
Virginia General Assembly officially established Charleston. On the 40 acres that made up the town in 1794, 35 people inhabited seven houses.
Charleston is part of
Kanawha County. The origin of the word Kanawha (pronounced "KA-NAW-A") comes from a West Indian Arawak word for dugout. In fact, a two-story jail was the first county structure ever built, with the first floor literally dug into the bank of the
Kanawha River.
Daniel Boone, who was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the Kanawha County militia, was elected to serve in 1791 in the Virginia House of Delegates. As told in historical accounts, Boone walked all the way to
Richmond.
Industrial growth
By the early 1800s, salt brines were discovered along the Kanawha River and the first salt well was drilled in 1806. This created a prosperous time and great economic growth for the area. By 1808, 1,250 pounds of salt were being produced a day. An area adjacent to Charleston, Kanawha Salines, now Malden, would become the top salt producer in the world. In 1818, Kanawha Salt Company, first trust in United States, went into operation.
Captain James Wilson, while drilling for salt, struck the first natural gas well in 1815. It was drilled at the site that's now the junction of Brooks Street and Kanawha Boulevard (near the present-day state capitol complex.) In 1817, coal was first discovered and gradually became used as the fuel for the salt works. The Kanawha salt industry declined in importance after 1861, until the advent of World War I brought a demand for chemical products. The chemicals needed were chlorine and caustic acid, which could be made from salt brine.
Political growth
The town continued to grow until the
Civil War began in 1861. The state of Virginia seceded from the
Union, and Charleston was divided between Union and
Confederate loyalty. On
September 13 1862, the
Battle of Charleston was fought. Although the Confederate Army was victorious, occupation of the city was short-lived. Union troops returned just six weeks later and stayed through the end of the war.
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.
While it's often said that West Virginia separated from Virginia because of differing views on slavery, the real driving factor was economics. 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.
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 was chosen and eight years later, the first capitol building was opened.
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 capitol on
June 20 1932.
Development in the 1900s
Charleston was now the center for state government. Natural resources, such as coal and gas, along with railroad expansion also contributed to growth. New industries, such as chemical, glass, timber and steel migrated to the state, attracted by the area's natural resources. There was a huge amount of new construction in Charleston. A number of those buildings, including churches and office buildings, still stand in the heart of downtown along and bordering Capitol Street.
During
World War II, the first and largest synthetic rubber plant in the U.S. opened near Charleston, providing vital products to the war effort. After the war ended, Charleston was on the brink of some significant construction. One of the first during this period was Kanawha Airport (now
Yeager Airport, named after General
Chuck Yeager), which was perhaps one of the most phenomenal engineering accomplishments of its time. Built in 1947, the construction encompassed clearing on three mountaintops moving more than nine million cubic yards of earth.
In 1959, the
Charleston Civic Center opened its door. It stands today, totally renovated and providing the largest meeting and exhibit space available in the West Virginia.
In 1956, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the
Federal Aid Highway Act. Charleston became part of that system in the 1960s when three major interstate systems—
I-64,
I-77 and
I-79 were constructed, all converging in the heart of Charleston. These roads provide convenient access to Midwestern, Northeastern and Southern cities. Charleston is within a day's drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population.
Modern development
In 1983, the Charleston Town Center Mall opened its doors. It was the largest urban mall east of the
Mississippi River, boasting three stories of shops and eateries. Downtown revitalization began in earnest in the 1980s as well. Funds were set aside for streetscaping and many small businesses began to open. Today, Capitol Street, Hale Street, and other bordering streets are an eclectic mixture of restaurants, shops, businesses and services that many call the centerpiece of downtown.
The new
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building, Haddad Riverfront Park and Capitol Market are just a few new developments that have helped growth in the downtown area during the 1990s. Charleston also became known as one of the premiere healthcare spots in the state. Along with ambitious thinking, plans for even new entertainment and business venues kept Charleston moving along at a steady pace.
2003 marked the opening of the
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. The center includes The Maier Foundation Performance Hall, The Walker Theatre, The Avampato Discovery Museum and an art museum. Also on site is the The ElectricSky Theater, which is a 175 seat combination planetarium and dome-screen cinema. Movies shown at the theatre include educational large format (70 mm) presentations, and are often seen in similar
Omnimax theatres. Planetarium shows are staged as a combination of pre-recorded and live presentations.
Many festivals and events were also incorporated into the calendar, including Multifest, Vandalia Festival, a 4th of July celebration with fireworks at Haddad Riverfront Park, and the already popular Sternwheel Regatta, which was founded in 1970, provided a festive atmosphere for residents to enjoy.
Charleston West Virginia has one central agency for its economic development efforts, the
Charleston Area Alliance. The Alliance is continuing to work with local leaders and the business community to build the economy of the area and revitalize its downtown. Charleston contains a historic district referred to as the East End.
Geography and climate
Charleston is located at (38.349497, -81.633294).
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²), of which, 31.6 square miles (81.8 km²) of it's land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (3.36%) is water.
The city lies at the intersection of Interstates 79, 77, 64, and also where the Kanawha and Elk Rivers meet. Charleston is about southeast of
Columbus, Ohio, west of
Richmond, Virginia, southwest of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, east of
Louisville, Kentucky, north of
Charlotte, North Carolina, south of
Cleveland, Ohio, and southeast of
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Communities within Charleston
The following are neighborhoods and communities actually within the city limits.
- Davis Creek
- East End
- Edgewood
- Elk
- Forest Hills
- Fort Hill
- Hillsdale/Westmoreland
- Kanawha City
- Louden Heights
- Oakwood
- Riverview
- South Hills
- South Ruffner
- West Side
Suburbs
The following cities are suburbs of Charleston.
Annual climate
Charleston has a yearly climate with four distinct seasons. The city lies on the northern fringes of a
humid subtropical climate (External Link), which is primarily based on differences in elevation. Charleston's average tempearatures are usually warmer than the rest of
West Virginia (except Huntington), due to the city being west of the higher elevations.
Spring is the most unpredictable season, and spring-like weather usually arrives in late March or early April. From the beginning of March through early May, temperatures can vary considerably and it isn't unusual at this time for a warm, sunny, 75 degree day to be followed immediately by a chilly, rainy, 45 degree day. Temperatures warm up considerably in late May, with warm summer-like days.
Summer temperatures can be very hot and muggy, with daytime highs above 90 degrees, often reaching 95, along with high humidity.
Autumn days are usually warm and dry until late October, however nights will start to get cooler.
Winters usually differ from other winters in West Virginia. Along with
Huntington, the city is usually the last place in the state to receive any amount of snowfall. Winters tend to be mild in Charleston, with average high temperatures in the 40's throughout the winter months, but an occasional cold snap can see temperatures plummet to below 10 degrees at night. Snowfall can occur anytime from late November to mid-April, with the most amounts falling during January and February. It is very rare for a major snowstorm to hit the area, and it's also rare to have a foot or more of snow at a time in Charleston. Charleston does experience a considerable amount of rain which is spread out over the course of the entire year. Thunderstorms are frequent during the late spring and throughout the summer, and occasionally they can be quite violent. Tornados are rare, but they can occur during these storms. Much of the fall and winter precipitation is in the form of gentle drizzling rains. The dryest period tends to be during the autumn months of September and October.
source
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
| Avg high °F (°C) |
43 (6.1) |
46 (7.7) |
56 (13.3) |
67 (19.4) |
76 (24.4) |
83 (28.3) |
86 (30) |
85 (29.4) |
78 (25.5) |
68 (20) |
56 (13.3) |
46 (7.7) |
66 (18.8) |
| Avg low (°F) (°C) |
25 (-3.8) |
27 (-2.7) |
34 (1.1) |
43 (6.1) |
52 (11.1) |
60 (15.5) |
65 (18.3) |
63 (17.2) |
56 (13.3) |
45 (7.2) |
36 (2.2) |
38 (3.3) |
45 (7.2) |
| Rainfall in. (mm) |
3.4 (86.4) |
3.2 (81.3) |
3.9 (99.1) |
3.3 (83.8) |
3.9 (99.1) |
3.6 (91.4) |
4.9 (124.5) |
4.0 (101.6) |
3.2 (81.3) |
2.6 (66) |
3.3 (83.8) |
3.3 (83.8) |
42.9 (1089.7) |
| Snowfall in. (mm) |
10.1 (256.5) |
8.7 (221) |
5.1 (129.5) |
0.9 (22.9) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.2) |
2.2 (55.9) |
5.1 (129.5) |
32.3 (820.4) |
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 53,421 people, 24,505 households, and 13,624 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,690.4 people per square mile (652.7/km²). There were 27,131 housing units at an average density of 858.5/sq mi (331.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.63%
White, 15.07%
Black or
African American, 0.24%
Native American, 1.83%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander, 0.30% from
other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. The top 5 largest ancestries include:
German (12.4%),
English (11.6%),
American (11.4%),
Irish (10.6%), and
Italian (3.9%)
(External Link).
There were 24,505 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were
married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.82.
The age distribution is 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,009, and the median income for a family was $47,975. Males had a median income of $38,257 versus $26,671 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $26,017. About 12.7% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public schools
The city of Charleston is host to numerous elementary, middle, junior high and high schools as a part of the Kanawha County school system. The three high schools include
Capital High School,actually in the community of
Meadowbrook,
George Washington High School, a public school located in the South Hills neighborhood and
Charleston Catholic High School, a
Catholic school at the eastern edge of the city's downtown.
Middle schools include
(all were formerly known as Junior High Schools):
Stonewall Jackson Middle School (formerly a high school)on the West Side
John Adams Middle School in South Hills
Horrace Mann Middle School in Kanawha City
Elemenatry schools include:
Holz Elementary School
Piedmont Elementary School
Ruffner Elementary School
Kanawha City Elementary School
Chamberlain Elementary School
Watts Elementary School
Glenwood Elementary School
Ruthlawn Elementary School
Robins Elementary School
Colleges and universities
Charleston hosts a branch campus of West Virginia University which serves as a clinical campus for the university's medical and dental schools. Students at either school must complete their class work at the main campus in Morgantown but can complete their clinical rotations at either Morgantown or Charleston.
The city is also home to a 1,000-student private college, the University of Charleston,formerly Morris Harvey. The college is located along MacCorkle Avenue along the banks of the Kanawha River in the community of South Ruffner. In 2006 the college opened a new school of Pharmacy.
Located within the immediate area are West Virginia State University in Institute and the Marshall University Graduate College, a postgraduate-only branch of Marshall University in South Charleston. The region is also home to the Charleston Branch of the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing, an independent program administered by Marshall University; it provides access to computer numerical control (CNC) equipment for businesses in two states.
Located approximately from Charleston, West Virginia University Institute of Technology has its campus. West Virginia University Institute of Technology is the largest regional campus of the university which focuses mainly on engineering programs.
The city is also home to West Virginia Junior College's Charleston campus. Located in downtown Charleston at 1000 Virginia Street, WV Junior College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award diplomas and associate degrees in Business Administration, Medical Assisting, Legal Office Assisting and Computer Technology. Part of the Kanawha Valley for almost 115 years, WV Junior College was originally established as Capitol City Commercial College on September 1 1892. The College was originally established to train students in secretarial and business skills and has undergone changes in location and curriculum through the years to keep up-to-date with the current changing need of office skill training.
Economy
Notable companies headquartered in the Charleston area
Appalachian Power, owned by American Electric Power(External Link) of Columbus, Ohio
Charleston Newspapers
Charleston Stamping and Manufacturing
Gino's Pizza and Spaghetti (Nitro)
MATRIC (Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research and Innovation Center) (South Charleston)
Tudor's Biscuit World (Nitro)
United Bank of West Virginia, Inc.
Walker Machinery located in Belle, WV
West Virginia-American Water Company, owned by RWE AG of Essen, Germany
Notable companies founded in Charleston
Shoney's restaurants
Heck's / L.A. Joe discount department stores
Culture
Annual events and fairs
Charleston is home to numerous annual events and fairs that take place throughout the city, from the banks of the Kanawha River to the capitol grounds.
The West Virginia Dance Festival, held between April 25 and 30, features dance students from across the state that attend classes and workshops in ballet, jazz and modern dance. At the finale, the students perform in the West Virginia State Theatre; these are free to the public. Twice a year, in late April and again in early November, the West Virginia International Film Festival occurs, where many domestic and international films are shown that range from "full-length feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation and student films."
On May 6, the Kanawha Kordsmen Barbershop Chorus performs at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. The 40-man cappela chorus performs music in a show titled "Songs America Sings." On Memorial Day weekend, the Vandalia Gathering is held on the grounds of the state capitol. Thousands of visitors each year enjoy traditional music, art, dance, stories, crafts and food that stems from the "uniqueness of West Virginia's mountain culture." There is no fee for admission.
Since 2005 FestivALL has provided the Charleston area with a nearly week of cultural and artistic events beginning on June 20th (West Virginia Day) and including dance, theater, and music. FestivALL provides local artists a valuable chance to display their works and help get others interested in, and involved with, the local artistic community. Highlights include an art fair on Capitol Street and local bands playing live music at stages set up throughout downtown, as well as a wine and jazz festival on the campus of the University of Charleston featuring local and nationally known jazz artists and showcasing the products of West Virginia vineyards.
Historical structures and museums
Avampato Discovery Museum - (Now part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences.)
Sunrise Museum - (Now part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences.)
West Virginia State Museum
South Charleston Museum - (Located in South Charleston.)
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, founded in 1892.
Parks and outdoor attractions
Laidley Field - (Used for football, soccer and track.)
Appalachian Power Park - (Stadium of the West Virginia Power)
Cato Park - (Charleston's largest municipal park, including a golf course, Olympic-size swimming pool and picnic areas.)
Coonskin Park - (Includes swimming pool, boathouse, clubhouse with dining facilities, tennis courts, putt putt golf, an 18 hole par 3 golf course and fishing lake. Schoenbaum Soccer Field and Amphitheatre inside the park is the home of the West Virginia Chaos soccer team.)
Daniel Boone Park - (A four acre park with a boat ramp, fishing and picnic facilities.)
Kanawha State Forest - (A forest, including 46 campsites.)(Actually in the community of Loudendale.
Little Creek Park - (Used for basketball, tennis courts and soapbox derbies.)
Magic Island - (An island located inside the Kanawha River, near Kanawha Boulevard.)
Davis Park
Haddad Riverfront Park
Ruffner Park
Sports
| Club |
Sport |
Founded |
League |
Venue |
West Virginia Power
| Baseball |
1987 |
South Atlantic League |
Appalachian Power Park |
West Virginia Chaos
| Soccer |
2003 |
USL Premier Development League |
Schoenbaum Field |
West Virginia Wonders
| Women's football |
2008 |
National Women's Football Association |
TBA |
