Charleston is the capital city of West Virginia. It is a small city with a population of just over 55,000 (depending on who you ask) in the city proper. The county is home to over 200,000. Charleston is also the regional hub for transportation, commerce, and healthcare--you will notice lots of banks, warehouses, and hospitals.
Charleston was officially founded in 1789 (?) as a settlement at the confluence of the Kanawha (kuh-NAW-uh) and Elk rivers. Daniel Boone once lived here for a short period of time. Noting much happened for years...until salt mines were discovered a few miles away in Malden and Belle. Industry became the lifeblood of the valley; although the salt mines eventually stopped production, other industries kicked in. Chemical factories are abundant in the area (though declining) and sustained the area through the diaspora of the West Virginia youth in the 1970s and 1980s.
Today Charleston is home to a variety of people...government workers, blue-collar working types, health care professionals, lawyers, engineers, chemists, etc. There are lots of rich people and lots of poor people, with a few in the middle. Most of the city inhabitants are white (Scotch-Irish, English, Italian) but there are growing communities of east Indians and Arabs...South Charleston is home to the state's only mosque and an Indian cultural center. African Americans make up about 15% of the city.
If you have a few hours in Charleston, you shouldn't miss the State Capitol Complex, located in the East End. The building itself is impressive (though it does resemble the national capitol) and the grounds are beautiful. Be sure to notice the black squirrels. The state history museum is located on the grounds, as are several monuments and the famous 'Lincoln Walks at Midnight' statue. Several festivals take place in the summer, and offer a good way to gain insight into the life and culture of the Mountain State.
As far as the rest of the city goes, be sure to walk down Capitol Street in downtown, from Washington Street to Kanawha Blvd. The street has great architecture...it used to be the shopping mecca of the state complete with huge department stores and Five-and-Dimes. Today the department stores have moved down the block to the new mall, but several coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants, book stores, and nightclubs line the street. Charleston had the foresight to locate its shopping mall in downtown. Aptly named the Town Center Mall, it is located just west of Capitol Street on Quarrier or Lee Street. In West Virginia terms, it is large and impressive. Kaufmanns, Sears, JC Penny, and (formerly) Montgomery Ward are the anchor stores, but there are quite a few specialty shops and a nice food court. The East End neighborhood is an area of nicely preserved historic homes and scenic walking tours.
Once you've shopped out and got your fill of architecture and history, head out to Kanawha State Forest for a breath of fresh air. The park consists of heavily wooded hills surrounding Davis Creek. There are numerous hiking and biking trails, campsites, and a public swimming pool/playground. Getting there is a bit tricky. From downtown, take the South Side Bridge to a left on Loudon Heights Road, then a left on Loudon Heights Road (yes, again) and then a right on Connell Road. You will go down a long hill and make a sharp left turn into the community of Loudendale. Follow that road to the end, and you'll be in the park.
If you've got kids, take them to the Sunrise Children's Museum. If you're looking for culture, try catching a performance of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra or a performance at the brand new Henry Clay Center for the Arts. You can also take tours of the Union Carbide Tech Center, the South Charleston Indian Mound, Booker T. Washington's house, or the Craik-Patton House.
Charleston is conveniently located at the junction of three major interstate highways (64, 77, and 79) and has Amtrak service via the Cardinal line from Washington DC and Cincinnati/Chicago. You could also fly into the airport from most of the regional hubs, and there is a public bus system. Traffic is light and parking is rarely a problem, if you care to rent a car. Hotels are plentiful and range from budget to luxury in variety. Most major hotel chains have a property (or two) in Charleston.
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