Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Charleston (West Virginia)

CHARLESTON, a city, capital of the State of West Virginia, and county-seat of Kanawha county, at the junction of the Kanawha and Elk rivers, on the Chesapeake and Ohio, and other railroads, 130 miles S. by W. of Wheeling. It is an important commercial and coal mining center, with steamer communications with all Ohio and Mississippi river ports; has extensive salt springs, State house. Custom house, hospital and opera house, several National banks, and daily and weekly newspapers, etc. Pop. (1910) 22,996; (1920) 39,608.