Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston: The capital of West Virginia. It is located on the Kanawha River in the eastern part of the state. Charleston is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the West Virginia State Capitol and the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.

About

Charleston is a city located in the county of Kanawha in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Its population at the 2010 census was 51,400 and a population density of 608 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 45,879 inhabitants.

The city was created 239 years ago in 1785.

Charleston locator map
Location of Charleston on West Virginia map.

Quick Facts about Charleston

Population : 45,879 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : West Virginia (United States)
County : Kanawha County
Different from : Charles Town
Area : 84.54 km2
Named for : Charles Clendenin
Altitude : 1,959 feet / 597 meters
Capital city : Charleston is capital of West Virginia, West Virginia, Kanawha County
Establishment : January 01, 1786 (239 years ago)
Time Zone : UTC−05:00
Local time : 15:04:20 (12th July 2025)
Postal code : 25301
Density : 543 Pop. per km² as of 2020
Population growth : -12.03% (2010-2020)
Charleston WV skyline image
Charleston WV skyline
Charleston WV skyline image
Charleston WV skyline image

Geography

Charleston is located at 38°20'59"N 81°37'57"W (38.3498200, -81.6326200).

Charleston map

Click "full screen" full screen map icon to open full mode. View satellite images

Demographics

According to census records, the population of Charleston decreased by 12.03% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 51,400 - census
2011 50,992 -0.8% estimation process
2012 50,858 -0.26% estimation process
2013 50,657 -0.4% estimation process
2014 50,133 -1.05% estimation process
2015 49,457 -1.37% estimation process
2016 48,789 -1.37% estimation process
2017 48,040 -1.56% estimation process
2018 47,172 -1.84% estimation process
2019 46,536 -1.37% estimation process
2020 45,879 -1.43% estimation process

Charleston zip code is 25301. County name: Kanawha, County fips: 54039

CRW, Carlstona, Carlstonas, Carlstons, Carolopolis, Charles Town, Charleston, Charleston i Vest-Virginia, Charleston-on-the-Kanawha, Charlestown, Charlstan, Charlston, Charlstun, Clendenin's Settlement, Clendenins Fort, Clendenins Settlement, Fort Clendennin, Fort Lee, Kanawha, Kanawha Court House, Mouth of Elk, The Town at the Mouth of Elk, Tsarlston, carlsatan, carlsatana, carlstan, carlstana, cha er si dun, chalseuteon, charlstwn, charusuton, tsharlstwn, zʼrlstwn, Čarlstonas, Čarlstons, Čārlstona, Τσάρλστον, Чарлстан, Чарлстон, Чарлстън, Չարլսթոն, צארלסטון, تشارلستون, چارلستون, چارلسٹن, چارلسٹن، مغربی ورجینیا, चार्ल्सटन, चार्ल्सटन्, चार्ल्स्टन, சார்ல்ஸ்டன், チャールストン, 查尔斯顿, 찰스턴

Best Things to Do in Charleston

1 West Virginia State Museum

Rating: 4.7 (629)

1900 Kanawha Blvd E #435, Charleston, WV 25305, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +13045580220 🔗 Url

West Virginia State Museum

2 Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Rating: 4.4 (589)

500 Southridge Blvd, Charleston, WV 25309, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +13048339663 🔗 Url

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

3 Magic Island Park

Rating: 4.2 (473)

Berkeley St, Charleston, WV 25302, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043486860 🔗 Url

Magic Island Park

4 Daniel Boone Park

Rating: 3.9 (124)

2901 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25311, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043486860 🔗 Url

Daniel Boone Park

5 Shoney's Big Boy Museum

Rating: 4.3 (43)

1600 Kanawha Blvd W, Charleston, WV 25387, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ 🔗 Url

Shoney's Big Boy Museum

Other Places in Charleston

1 Kanawha County Magistrate Court

Rating: 2.1 (30)

111 Court St, Charleston, WV 25301 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043570400 🔗 Url

Kanawha County Magistrate Court

2 Charleston City Hall

Rating: 3.3 (7)

501 Virginia St E, Charleston, WV 25301 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043488000 🔗 Url

3 Chesapeake City Clerk

Rating: 5 (1)

12404 McCorkle Ave, Charleston, WV 25315 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13049491496 🔗 Url

4 Attorney General-Civil Rights

Rating: 1 (1)

208 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13045580546 🔗 Url

5 Charleston Treasurer

501 Virginia St E Ste 201, Charleston, WV 25301 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043488029 🔗 Url

6 Charleston Building Inspection

915 Quarrier St # 5, Charleston, WV 25301 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043486833 🔗 Url

7 Charleston Public Safety Council

2005 Quarrier St, Charleston, WV 25311 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13043488143 🔗 Url

8 City-Charleston Health Clinic

601 Morris St, Charleston, WV 25301 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13047201011 🔗 Url

9 South Charleston fire department

1121 Weberwood Dr, Charleston, WV 25303 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13047440079 🔗 Url

10 South Charleston Fire Department Station

10 Camp Way, Charleston, WV 25309 ➦ Show Map

☎ +13047440079 🔗 Url

People born in Charleston (197)

People born in Charleston, including psychotherapist John Weakland, actress Conchata Ferrell, politician Adam Brown Littlepage, .

List

  • George Crumb (American composer) he was born in 24/10/1929
  • Randy Barnes (American shot putter) he was born in 16/06/1966
  • Jason Williams (American college basketball player, professional basketball player, point guard) he was born in 18/11/1975
  • Charles Bent (American politician (1799-1847)) he was born in 11/11/1799
  • Tommy Benford (American jazz drummer) he was born in 19/04/1905
  • Alexis Hornbuckle (American basketball player, coach) she was born in 16/10/1985
  • Anne White (American female tennis player) she was born in 28/09/1961
  • Sara Jane Moore (American failed assassin) she was born in 15/02/1930
  • Ann Magnuson (actress, performance artist, singer) she was born in 04/01/1956
  • George Armitage Miller (American cognitive psychologist) he was born in 03/02/1920
  • Jon McBride (American astronaut) he was born in 14/08/1943
  • John E. Moore (American politician) he was born in 13/07/1943
  • Lesli Kay (American actress) she was born in 13/06/1965
  • George W. Atkinson (American politician (1845-1925)) he was born in 29/06/1845
  • Gaston Caperton (West Virginia politician and president of the College Board) he was born in 21/02/1940
  • Brad Bridgewater (American swimmer) he was born in 29/03/1973
  • Carolyn S. Gordon (American mathematician) she was born in 26/12/1950
  • Charles P. Snyder (American politician (1847-1915)) he was born in 09/06/1847

Schools in Charleston

College & universities near Charleston, WV

Code Name City ZIP
237303 Charleston School of Beauty Culture Charleston (WV) 25301

Stations (8)

Amtrak & bus stations near Charleston, WV

Code Name Address Type
CHW Charleston 350 MacCorkle Avenue - Southeast RAIL
MNG Montgomery Third Avenue and Washington Street RAIL
THN Thurmond Hwy 25 & Hwy 2 RAIL
HUN Huntington 1050 8th Avenue RAIL
PRC Prince Hwy 41 and County Road 25 RAIL

Post Office

Post offices near Charleston

Post Office Name City ZIP
Charleston Post Office Charleston (WV) 25301

Other places with the same name (13)

  • Charleston , South Carolina The most populous city in South Carolina. It is located on the Ashley and Cooper rivers in southeastern South Carolina. Charleston is known for its many historic buildings, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Charleston Museum and the Fort Sumter National Monument. with a population of 139,714 people.
  • Charleston , Illinois city in Illinois with a population of 20,034 people.
  • Charleston , Missouri city in Missouri with a population of 5,015 people.
  • Charleston , Pennsylvania township in Tioga County, Pennsylvania with a population of 3,390 people.
  • Charleston , Arkansas city in Arkansas, USA with a population of 2,500 people.
  • Charleston , Michigan township in Sanilac County, Michigan, United States with a population of 2,048 people.
  • Charleston , Mississippi city in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi with a population of 1,882 people.
  • Charleston , Maine human settlement in Penobscot County, Maine, United States of America with a population of 1,675 people.
  • Charleston , New York town in Montgomery County, New York with a population of 1,318 people.
  • Charleston , Tennessee human settlement in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States of America with a population of 706 people.
  • Charleston , Utah town in Wasatch County, Utah, United States with a population of 496 people.
  • Charleston , Kansas human settlement in United States of America with a population of 74 people.

Other cities in Kanawha County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Kanawha County , WV. (more)

City Name Population Title
South Charleston 12,036 City in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Cross Lanes 9,995 Census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Saint Albans 9,763 City in West Virginia
Dunbar 6,951 Town in East Lothian, Scotland
Nitro 6,285 Human settlement in Putnam County, West Virginia, United States of America
Sissonville 4,028 Census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Pinch 3,262 Place in West Virginia
Alum Creek 1,749 Census-designated place in West Virginia, USA
Montgomery 1,492 City in West Virginia, United States of America
Chesapeake 1,393 Town in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Marmet 1,351 City in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States of America
Coal Fork 1,233 Census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Elkview 1,222 Census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Tornado 1,187 Census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Belle 1,108 Town in West Virginia, United States
Clendenin 1,098 Town in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States

Distance to Other Cities

Charleston distances to largest West Virginia cities