Charleston History

Charleston is the capital of West Virginia and the seat of Kanawha County. Located at the confluence of the Kanawha and Elk Rivers, Charleston is the trading hub for the Great Kanawha Valley. Coal, salt, and oil are major industries in Charleston, as is natural gas. The first natural gas well in the U.S. was drilled in Charleston in 1815 by James Wilson, who accidentally struck natural gas while drilling for salt.

The first permanent settlement in the area was Fort Lee, built in 1788 by Colonel George Clendenin and his company of Virginia Raiders. As the community developed around the fort, Clendenin decided to name it Charles Town, after his father. The name was later shortened to Charleston to avoid confusion with another Charles Town in West Virginia. The town was officially established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1794, with a population of 35 people living in seven houses.

Daniel Boone, who was a prominent member of the Virginia assembly at the time, lived around Charleston until 1795. When Kanawha County was founded in 1789, Boone was made a lieutenant colonel of the county militia.

When West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War, the capital moved back and forth between Charleston and Wheeling. There was fierce competition between the two cities, but a vote settled the matter and, in 1877, Charleston became the state capital. The first capitol building was completed and opened in 1885, but burned in 1921. A second burned in 1927. The third, designed by architect Cass Gilbert in the Italian Renaissance style, was built of Indiana limestone. The State Capitol was completed and dedicated by Governor William G. Conley in 1932.

In the 1980s, Charleston underwent a period of revitalization. The Charleston Town Center Mall, the largest urban mall east of the Mississippi River, opened its doors in 1983. The downtown area was revamped as well, with funds being set aside for streetscaping. Today, Capitol and Hale Streets feature an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, and businesses that make them the centerpiece of downtown. Charleston also continues to embrace its pioneer heritage with Coonskin Park and the Elk River Scenic Drive.