Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston | |
|---|---|
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Flag Seal | |
| Nickname: Charlie West | |
Interactive map of Charleston | |
Charleston Charleston | |
| Coordinates: 38°20′59.35″N 81°37′57.44″W / 38.3498194°N 81.6326222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Kanawha |
| Founded | 1788 |
| Incorporated | 1794 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong-Mayor Government |
| • Mayor | Amy Shuler Goodwin (D) |
| • City Manager | Benjamin Mishoe, Esq. |
| Area | |
• City | 32.535 sq mi (84.265 km2) |
| • Land | 31.397 sq mi (81.317 km2) |
| • Water | 1.138 sq mi (2.948 km2) |
| Elevation | 597 ft (182 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 48,864 |
• Estimate (2024) | 46,482 |
| • Rank | US: 863rd WV: 1st |
| • Density | 1,491.8/sq mi (575.99/km2) |
| • Urban | 140,958 (US: 248th) |
| • Metro | 203,164 (US: 228th) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | ZIP Codes |
| Area codes | 304 and 681 |
| FIPS code | 54-14600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1558347 |
| Highways | US-60, I-64, I-77, US-119, and SR-214 |
| Sales tax | 7.0% |
| Website | charlestonwv.gov |
Charleston (/ˈtʃɑːrlstən/) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers, it is the county seat of Kanawha County. The population was 48,864 at the 2020 census (estimated at 46,482 in 2024). The Charleston metropolitan area has approximately 203,000 residents.
Charleston was established in the late 18th century and formally incorporated in 1794, with the trustees being Daniel Boone, Leonard Morris, and William Morris. The city gained prominence in the 19th century with the growth of the salt industry and later expanded due to coal mining and the first natural gas well. After West Virginia separated from Virginia, Charleston became the permanent state capital in 1885. Its economy and infrastructure further evolved in the 20th century with the rise of chemical manufacturing and public sector employment.
Charleston is the home of the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and the annual 15-mile (24 km) Charleston Distance Run. Yeager Airport and the University of Charleston are in the city. West Virginia State University is in the area, as are West Virginia University and Marshall University satellite campuses.