Charleston, West Virginia
Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHA : Charleston, West Virginia
- ''See also Charles Town, West Virginia
Early industry important to Charleston included salt and the first natural gas well.[link] Later, coal became central to economic prosperity in the city and the surrounding area.
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 minor league baseball team, the West Virginia Wild minor league basketball team, and the annual 15-mile Charleston Distance Run. Yeager Airport and the University of Charleston are also located in the city.
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. A virtual wilderness, the land had to be tamed and made suitable for inhabitants. 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 is rich and vibrant, going back more than 200 years. The Bullitt family was deeded 1,250 acres 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 is 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 "KAN-A-WA", or more commonly by locals "kan-AW") 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 is 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, 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 is 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 Virgina 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 Charles Yeager), which was perhaps one of the most phenomenal engineering accomplishments of its time. Built in 1947, the construction encompassed clearing 360 acres 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 Charleston area.
In 1956, President 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.
People from Charleston (and vicinity)
- The classical composer George Crumb was born in Charleston.
- Alias star Jennifer Garner was born in Houston, but moved with her family to Charleston as a young child and grew up there, graduating from the city's George Washington High School.
- For a time, Booker T. Washington, the writer, educator, and early civil rights leader, lived in Malden, just upriver from Charleston.
- NFL superstar Randy Moss grew up in Rand, adjacent to Malden.
- Former Major League Baseball player and current sportscaster John Kruk was born in Charleston, but grew up in Keyser in the state's Eastern Panhandle.
- Actresses Ann Magnuson, Conchata Ferrell, and Jean Carson.
- Creator of Droodles and television personality Roger Price.
- Soap opera actress Lesli Kay who has appeared on As the World Turns,General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Education
Charleston hosts a branch campus of West Virginia University which serves as a clinical campus for WVU's medical and dental schools. Students at either school complete their class work at the main campus in Morgantown, but may do their clinical rotations either in Morgantown or Charleston. The city is also home to a small private college, the University of Charleston.In 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 city proper hosts three high schools:
- Capital High School [school website], a public school located near Yeager Airport and Coonskin Park, a county park
- George Washington High School [school website], a public school in the South Hills neighborhood
- Charleston Catholic High School [school website], a Catholic school at the eastern edge of the city's downtown
Geography
Charleston is located at (38.349497, -81.633294)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 84.7 km² (32.7 mi²). 81.8 km² (31.6 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.36%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 53,421 people, 24,505 households, and 13,624 families residing in the city. The population density was 652.7/km² (1,690.4/mi²). There were 27,131 housing units at an average density of 331.5/km² (858.5/mi²). 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.
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.
Past population figures
Historic U.S. Census population data for Charleston:
1850 1,050 1860 1,520 1870 3,162 1880 4,192 1890 6,742 1900 11,099 1910 22,996 1920 39,608 1930 60,408 1940 67,914 1950 73,501 1960 85,796 1970 71,505 1980 63,968 1990 57,287 2000 53,421
Suburbs
The following cities are suburbs of Charleston
- South Charleston
- Dunbar
- Institute
- Nitro
- Cross Lanes
- St. Albans
- Alum Creek
- Winfield
- Poca
- Hurricane
- Teays Valley
- Scott Depot
Media
Radio
Charleston has a total of 10 radio stations (AM and FM) licensed in the city. Most of the stations are either owned by West Virginia Radio Corporation or Bristol Broadcasting Company.FM
AM
TV
The Charleston–Huntington TV market, is the second largest television market (in terms of area) east of the Mississippi River, serving counties in central West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southern Ohio. There are 4 VHF and 10 UHF television stations in the market, even though some of the stations broadcast from Ohio and Kentucky.
- WSAZ Channel 3 Huntington (NBC)
- WCHS Channel 8 St. Albans (ABC)
- WVAH Channel 11 Hurricane (FOX)
- WOWK Channel 13 Huntington (CBS)
- WOUB Channel 20 Athens, Ohio (PBS)
- WOCW-LP Channel 21 Charleston (WB / UPN)
- WKPI Channel 22 Pikeville, Kentucky (PBS / KET)
- WKAS Channel 25 Ashland, Kentucky (PBS / KET)
- WLPX Channel 29 Hurricane (i)
- WQCW Channel 30 Portsmouth, Ohio (PBS)
- WPBY Channel 33 Huntington (PBS)
- WPBO Channel 42 Portsmouth, Ohio (PBS)
- WVCW-LP Channel 45 Huntington (WB / UPN)
- WYMT Channel 57 Hazard, Kentucky (CBS)
- WTSF Channel 61 Ashland, Kentucky (Daystar)
Newspapers
Charleston is home to two newspapers. The Charleston Gazette is the largest circulation newspaper in West Virginia. It is published Monday through Friday mornings. The Charleston Daily Mail is Charleston's weekday afternoon newspaper. On weekend mornings the Gazette and Daily Mail combine into the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
External links
- [City of Charleston, WV]
- [Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau]
- [The Charleston Gazette]
- [Charleston Daily Mail]
- [Charleston Area Alliance]
- [Collection of West Virginia photos including Charleston] from davidmetraux.com
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