South Charleston, West Virginia
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South Charleston is a city in
Kanawha County, West Virginia Kanawha County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capital and most ...
, United States. It is located to the west of the state capital of Charleston. The population was 13,639 at the 2020 census. It was established in 1906, but not incorporated until 1917. The Criel Mound built by the
Adena culture The Adena culture was a pre-Columbian Native American culture that existed from 500 BCE to 100 CE, in a time known as the Early Woodland period. The Adena culture refers to what were probably a number of related Native American societies sharin ...
is adjacent to the city's downtown business district. It is home to the Charleston Ordnance Center, a former naval munitions factory established for use in World War I. The city is serviced by
Interstate 64 Interstate 64 (I-64) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Eastern United States. Its western terminus is at Interstate 70, I-70, U.S. Route 40 (US 40), and U.S. Route 61, US 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern ter ...
, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 119, West Virginia Route 601 and West Virginia Route 214, and is adjacent to the
Kanawha River The Kanawha River ( ) is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi (156 km) long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, its watershed has been a significant industrial region of th ...
. The city is serviced by the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority bus system. A general aviation airfield, Mallory Airport, is located off Chestnut Street, approximately two miles south of U.S. Route 60, with the nearest
commercial aviation Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for remuneration or hire, as opposed to private aviation. Definition Commercial aviation is not a rigorously defined category. All commercial air transport and ae ...
service being at Yeager Airport in Charleston. South Charleston serves as the headquarters to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the West Virginia State Police.


History

South Charleston was established in 1906, but not incorporated until 1917.
/ref> Leonidas Henrie Oakes Sr. (1843-1894) was a member of the West Virginia State Legislature. His son, Leonidas Henrie Oakes Jr. (1873-1949) was the mayor of South Charleston for many years. He was mayor from 1920 to 1921 and also from 1930 to 1946. He acquired funds to build the Thomas Memorial Hospital and also the Oakes Field in South Charleston, West Virginia. He was instrumental in developing recreational activities for the youth of the city. It is home to the Charleston Ordnance Center, a former naval munitions factory established for use in World War I. It employed over 11,000 workers and produced 130,000 gun barrels for U.S. warships.


Geography

South Charleston is located at (38.352455, −81.712001). Despite what its name might, the city is located slightly north of the center of its eastern neighbor Charleston, but it lies on the south bank of the
Kanawha River The Kanawha River ( ) is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi (156 km) long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, its watershed has been a significant industrial region of th ...
, while Charleston is on the river's north bank. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.


Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, South Charleston has a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.


Demographics

The median income for a household in the city was $37,905, and the median income for a family was $50,528. Males had a median income of $39,036 versus $25,978 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,928. About 9.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.


2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 13,450 people, 6,283 households, and 3,675 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 6,819 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 86.9%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 8.4%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population. There were 6,283 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age in the city was 42.3 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.7% male and 54.3% female.


Economy

In South Charleston are the headquarters of International Industries, the parent company of a group of subsidiaries founded in 1947 by James H. "Buck" Harless, based primarily in natural resources such as coal and timber, but which also include the manufacturing, hotel and real estate industries.


Education

There are six elementary schools in South Charleston: Montrose Elementary, Ruthlawn Elementary, Richmond Elementary, Alum Creek Elementary, Bridgeview Elementary, and Weberwood Elementary. The main middle school is South Charleston Middle School (SCMS), which is located on 3rd Ave. SCMS houses grades 6–8. South Charleston High School (SCHS) is one of eight high schools in Kanawha County. SCHS is located on Eagle Way and houses grades 9–12. There are also two colleges located in the city. A South Charleston campus for BridgeValley Community and Technical College is located at the former
Dow Chemical The Dow Chemical Company is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, United States. The company was among the three largest chemical producers in the world in 2021. It is the operating subsidiary of Dow Inc., ...
research facility and the Marshall University – South Charleston Campus is a branch of
Marshall University Marshall University is a public university, public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1837 and is named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, chief justice of the Uni ...
.


Arts and culture

South Charleston attractions include Criel Mound (also known as the South Charleston Adena Burial Mound), and the South Charleston Museum. The South Charleston Museum is located in the historic LaBelle Theater on D Street, and features a West Virginia Film Series, Open Mic Night, exhibitions, and other events. The city is also home to a community center, an ice arena, Little Creek Park, Little Creek Country Club and Joplin Park. The Interpretive Center is located at 313 D street and features the Appalachian trail, the Mound, Indian artifacts, arrowheads, chemical history and artifacts, and a Belgium display depicting the first business in South Charleston also Blenko birthday pieces donated by Pearl Watson.


Notable people

* Tom Good former NFL player * Carl Lee, former NFL player, was also born and raised in South Charleston *
Kathy Mattea Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959) is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including four that reac ...
,
Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
singer-songwriter, was born in the city's Thomas Memorial Hospital to parents who lived in nearby Cross Lanes, where she grew up * Herbert J. Thomas, Jr., Thomas Memorial Hospital is namesake, a
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
recipient who was raised in South Charleston * Breece D'J Pancake, short-story writer, was born in South Charleston * Alex Hawkins, SCHS graduate, NFL player and broadcaster, "Captain Who" author * T.D. Jakes, televangelist * Larry Combs, musician, inducted into the Music Hall of Fame, Chicago symphony SCHS class of 1957


See also

* Rock Lake Pool (1942–1985)


References


External links


City of South Charleston

South Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau
{{Authority control Cities in West Virginia Cities in Kanawha County, West Virginia Populated places on the Kanawha River Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area