Charleston WV

Charleston is the capital of West Virginia in the county of Kanawha. Home to the West Virginia Air National Guard and the University of Charleston, its a historical city with many museums and outdoor attractions.

With abundant resources of salt and natural gas, pioneers were drawn to Charleston after the American Revolution. In the 18th century settlers began building forts and by 1794, Charleston was established with seven houses built. As the 1800s approached, salt drilling became a popular commodity and once the Civil War began in 1861 a political structure would be forced upon West Virginia including differing opinions on slavery. By the 1900s, railroad expansion and construction to Charleston took full force and after World War II the country's largest rubber plant opened near Charleston. This was the sign of industry and soon commercialism. By the early 1980s, malls, eateries, and a full downtown was up and running, as well as a number of theaters and museums.

• • Conchata Ferrell
  • Jennifer Garner
  • Kathy Mattea
  • Booker T. Washington
  • Jerry West
  • John Kruk