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Moving to Charleston, West Virginia

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Charleston, West Virginia is located in the southwestern region of the state. It is nestled at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers, giving it a picturesque landscape. The climate in Charleston is humid subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. The city has a rich history that dates back to 1788 when it was founded as Charles Town by Colonel George Clendenin and his family. Since then, Charleston has grown to become West Virginia’s state capital and its largest city with a population of over 51,000 people.

Politically, Charleston is part of Kanawha County and is governed by a mayor-council form of government. The economy of the city relies heavily on government services, healthcare, education, retail trade, hospitality services and manufacturing. In addition to these industries there are also several universities and colleges located in or near the city such as Marshall University, University of Charleston West Virginia State University and West Virginia Junior College.

The city also boasts several landmarks including the State Capitol Building which was built in 1932; the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion which was built in 1925; the Clay Center for Performing Arts; Riverfront Park; Haddad Riverfront Park; Magic Island amusement park; Capitol Market; and many more. All these attractions make Charleston an ideal destination for tourists from all over America who come to explore its unique culture and history.

Population: 53,421. Estimated population in July 2024: 51,176 (-4.2% change)
Males: 24,906 (46.6%), Females: 28,515 (53.4%)

Zip codes: 25301, 25302, 25303, 25304, 25306, 25309, 25311, 25312, 25313, 25314, 25315, 25320.

Demographics

Median resident age: 40.8 years
Median household income: $34,009
Median house value: $101,400

Population by Race

Races in Charleston:

  • White Non-Hispanic (80.1%)
  • Black (15.1%)
  • Two or more races (1.9%)
  • American Indian (0.9%)
  • Hispanic (0.8%)
  • Asian Indian (0.7%)

Ancestries: German (12.4%), English (11.6%), United States (11.4%), Irish (10.6%), Italian (3.9%), Scotch-Irish (3.0%).

Elevation: 606 feet

Land area: 31.6 square miles

Map of Charleston, WV

Population by Education

Charleston, West Virginia is a city of approximately 47,000 people. It is the state capital and largest city in West Virginia. The population of Charleston is diverse and includes African Americans, Caucasians, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and other ethnicities. The median age of the population is 37 years old with a gender split that is nearly even. The population density of Charleston is 1,500 people per square mile. It has a low unemployment rate of 3.3%. In terms of education attainment, 36% have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher and 15% have some college but no degree. The majority of residents are employed in government (21%), professional services (14%), healthcare (11%), retail trade (9%) and manufacturing (7%). Other industries such as finance/insurance/real estate (5%) and education/social services (5%) also employ significant numbers of people in the area. Additionally, there are many small businesses located throughout the city offering a variety of goods and services to residents. The poverty rate for Charleston stands at 17%, which is slightly higher than the national average.

For population 25 years and over in Charleston

  • High school or higher: 83.8%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 15.0%
  • Unemployed: 5.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 16.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Charleston city

  • Never married: 28.0%
  • Now married: 46.2%
  • Separated: 2.0%
  • Widowed: 10.1%
  • Divorced: 13.7%

3.2% Foreign born (2.0% Asia, 0.6% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -4,193 (-7.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Charleston:

  • CAMC WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (800 PENNSYLVANIA AVE)
  • CHARLESTON AREA MED CNTR (501 MORRIS STREET)
  • EYE & EAR CLINIC OF CHARLESTON,THE (1306 KANAWHA BL E)
  • HIGHLAND HOSP (300 56TH ST SE)
  • SELECT SPECIALITY HOSPITAL (501 MORRIS STREET 3RD AND 4TH FLOORS)
  • ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL (333 LAIDLEY ST)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Charleston:

  • YEAGER (about 4 miles; CHARLESTON, WV; Abbreviation: CRW)
  • RALEIGH COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 53 miles; BECKLEY, WV; Abbreviation: BKW)
  • TRI-STATE/MILTON J. FERGUSON FIELD (about 64 miles; HUNTINGTON, WV; Abbreviation: HTS)

Other public-use airports nearest to Charleston:

  • LEON (about 33 miles; LEON, WV; Abbreviation: W07)
  • BOGGS FIELD (about 39 miles; SPENCER, WV; Abbreviation: 14P)
  • LOGAN COUNTY (about 39 miles; LOGAN, WV; Abbreviation: 6L4)

Amtrak station:
CHARLESTON (350 MCCORKLE AVE. SE). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Charleston:

  • UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON (Full-time enrollment: 937; Location: 2300 MACCORKLE AVE SE; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.uchaswv.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
  • WEST VIRGINIA JUNIOR COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 204; Location: 1000 VIRGINIA ST E; Private, for-profit)
  • CARVER CAREER CENTER (Full-time enrollment: 203; Location: 4799 MIDLAND DR; Public)
  • GARNET CAREER CENTER (Full-time enrollment: 143; Location: 422 DICKINSON ST; Public)
  • CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF BEAUTY CULTURE (Full-time enrollment: 67; Location: 210 CAPITOL ST; Private, for-profit)
  • JOBS COMPANY (Location: 405 CAPITOL ST; Private, for-profit)
  • REAL ESTATE SCHOOL OF WEST VIRGINIA (Location: 1210 KANAWHA BLVD E; Private, for-profit)
  • AAA TRAVEL ACADEMY (Location: 40TH ST AND MACCORKLE AVE; Private, for-profit)
  • CAMCARE HEALTH EDUC & RES INST SCH OF CYTOTECH (Location: 3200 MACCORKLE AVE SE; Private, not-for-profit)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Charleston:

  • WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE (about 7 miles; INSTITUTE, WV; Full-time enrollment: 3,688)
  • MARSHALL UNIVERSITY (about 56 miles; HUNTINGTON, WV; Full-time enrollment: 12,361)
  • WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY AT PARKERSBURG (about 64 miles; PARKERSBURG, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,306)
  • OHIO UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 75 miles; ATHENS, OH; Full-time enrollment: 18,721)
  • CONCORD COLLEGE (about 76 miles; ATHENS, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,723)
  • BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE (about 80 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,096)
  • HOCKING TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 87 miles; NELSONVILLE, OH; Full-time enrollment: 4,050)

Schools

Public high schools in Charleston:

  • CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,442; Location: 1500 GREENBRIER ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • GEO WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 933; Location: 1522 TENNIS CLUB RD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • SISSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 665; Location: 6100 SISSONVILLE DR; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS ACADEMY (Students: 121; Location: 200 ELIZABETH STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • CARVER VOCATIONAL CENTER (Location: 4799 MIDLAND DR; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Charleston:

  • CHARLESTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOO (Students: 485; Location: 1033 VIRGINIA ST E; Grades: 6 – 12)
  • CROSS LANES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 426; Location: 5330 FLORADALE DR; Grades: PK – 12)
  • FAIRHAVEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 135; Location: 689 FAIRHAVEN DRIVE; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Charleston:

  • JOHN ADAMS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 747; Location: 2002 PRESIDENTIAL DR; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • ANDREW JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 708; Location: 5445 BIG TYLER RD; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • STONEWALL JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 614; Location: 812 PARK AVE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • ELK ELEMENTARY CENTER (Students: 555; Location: 3320 PENNSYLVANIA AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • POINT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 543; Location: 5312 BIG TYLER RD; Grades: KG – 05)
  • FLINN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 527; Location: 2006 MCCLURE PKWY; Grades: KG – 05)
  • HORACE MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 450; Location: 4302 MACCORKLE AVE SE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • OVERBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 389; Location: 218 OVERBROOK RD; Grades: KG – 05)
  • CROSS LANES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 385; Location: 5525 BIG TYLER RD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • RUFFNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 320; Location: 809 LITZ DR; Grades: PK – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Charleston:

  • SACRED HEART GRADE SCHOOL (Students: 470; Location: 1035 QUARRIER STREET; Grades: PK – 5)
  • ST AGNES SCHOOL (Students: 180; Location: 4801 STAUNTON AVE SE; Grades: PK – 8)
  • BIBLE CENTER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 142; Location: 1111 OAKHURST DRIVE; Grades: KG – 6)
  • ST ANTHONY CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 129; Location: 1027 SIXTH ST; Grades: PK – 8)
  • MOUNTAINEER MONTESSORI SCHOOL (Students: 99; Location: 308 20TH STREET; Grades: PK – 6)
  • CHARLESTON SDA SCHOOL (Students: 16; Location: 622 KANAWHA BLVD WEST; Grades: KG – 8)

Libraries

Library in Charleston:

  • KANAWHA COUNTY (Operating income: $5,502,918; Location: 123 CAPITOL ST.; 485,487 books; 31,877 audio materials; 12,577 video materials; 842 serial subscriptions)

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