South Charleston

City of South Charleston, West Virginia
—  City  —
Location of South Charleston in West Virginia.
Coordinates: 38°21′9″N 81°42′43″W / 38.3525°N 81.71194°W / 38.3525; -81.71194
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Kanawha
Government
- Mayor	Frank Mullens (R)
Area
- City	8.3 sq mi (21.5 km2)
- Land	7.4 sq mi (19.2 km2)
- Water	0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
Elevation	604 ft (183 m)
Population (2000)
- City	13,390
- Density	1,803.0/sq mi (695.8/km2)
- Metro	307,763 (2,004 Estimate)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	25303, 25309
Area code(s)	304
FIPS code	54-75292[1]
GNIS feature ID	1555663[2]
Website	http://www.southcharlestonwv.org/

The Criel Mound in South Charleston

Evening on D Street, from the Mound

South Charleston is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, U.S. The population was 13,390 at the 2000 census. South Charleston was established in 1906, but not incorporated until 1919 by special charter enacted by the West Virginia Legislature. Its name is based on the city being located primarily on the south side of the Kanawha River, although it is actually west, not south, of the city of Charleston.

The city is serviced by Interstate 64, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 119, West Virginia Route 601 and West Virginia Route 214, and is bisected by the Kanawha River. The city is serviced by the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority bus system. A general aviation airfield, Mallory Airport, is located off of Chestnut Street, approximately two miles south of U.S. Route 60, and is also served by Yeager Airport in Charleston. South Charleston serves as the headquarters to the West Virginia State Police.

Geography

South Charleston is located at 38°21′9″N 81°42′43″W / 38.3525°N 81.71194°W / 38.3525; -81.71194 (38.352455, -81.712001).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (10.60%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 13,390 people, 6,316 households, and 3,764 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,803.0 people per square mile (695.8/km²). There were 6,770 housing units at an average density of 911.6/sq mi (351.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.85% White, 6.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 6,316 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.72.

The age distribution is 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

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.

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 (now its president and CEO), based primarily in natural resources such as coal and timber, but which also include the manufacturing, hotel and real estate industries ^[3].

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, Timberland Park and Joplin Park.

Notable natives and residents

• Televangelist T. D. Jakes was born and raised in the city.
• Former NFL player Carl Lee was also born and raised in South Charleston.
• Country singer-songwriter Kathy Mattea was born in the city's Thomas Memorial Hospital to parents who lived in nearby Cross Lanes, where she grew up.
• Thomas Memorial Hospital is named after Herbert J. Thomas, Jr., a World War II Medal of Honor recipient who was raised in South Charleston.
• The critically acclaimed short-story writer Breece D'J Pancake was born in South Charleston.
• Richie Robb, long-time mayor and 2004 Presidential Elector.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ http://www.intlind.com/

External links

• City of South Charleston
• South Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau

• South Charleston, West Virginia is at coordinates 38°21′09″N 81°42′43″W / 38.352455°N 81.712001°W / 38.352455; -81.712001 (South Charleston, West Virginia)Coordinates: 38°21′09″N 81°42′43″W / 38.352455°N 81.712001°W / 38.352455; -81.712001 (South Charleston, West Virginia)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Kanawha County, West Virginia County seat: Charleston Cities Charleston | Dunbar | Marmet | Montgomery‡ | Nitro‡ | St. Albans | Smithers‡ | South Charleston Towns Belle | Cedar Grove | Chesapeake | Clendenin | East Bank | Glasgow | Handley | Pratt CDPs Alum Creek‡ | Coal Fork | Cross Lanes | Elkview | Pinch | Sissonville | Tornado Other localities Aarons | Acme | Acup | Amandaville | Amelia | Annfred | Barren Creek | Big Chimney | Blackhawk | Blakeley | Blount | Blue Creek | Blundon | Bream | Brounland | Burnwell | Cabin Creek | Carbon | Chelyan | Cinco | Coalburg | Coalridge | Coco | Corton | Crede | Crown Hill | Davis Creek | Dawes | Decota | Dial | Diamond | Dickinson | Donwood | Dry Branch | Dungriff | Dupont City | East Nitro | East Side | Edgewood | Elk | Elk Forest | Elk Hills | Emmons‡ | Eskdale | Etowah | Falling Rock | Ferrell | Fivemile | Forest Hills | Forks of Coal | Fort Hill | Frame | Gallagher | Giles | Green Valley | Greencastle | Grippe | Guthrie | Hansford | Hernshaw | Hicumbottom | Highlawn | Hillsdale | Hitop | Holly | Hollygrove | Hollyhurst | Hugheston | Institute | Island Branch | Ivydale | Jarrett | Jarretts Ford | Jefferson | Joplin | Kanawha Estates | Kayford | Kelly Hill | Kendalia | Laing | Leewood | London | Malden | Mink Shoals | Pocatalico | Port Amherst | Quick | Rand | Sharon | Standard Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e   State of West Virginia Charleston (capital) Topics Cities  · Towns  · Villages  · Census-designated places  · History  · Geography  · People  · Governors  · Colleges and universities  · Visitor Attractions Regions Allegheny Mountains  · Allegheny Plateau  · Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area  · Blue Ridge  · Charleston Metropolitan Area  · Cumberland Plateau  · Eastern Panhandle  · Huntington Metropolitan Area  · North-Central West Virginia  · Northern Panhandle  · Potomac Highlands  · Ridge-and-valley Appalachians  · Shenandoah Valley  · Southern West Virginia  · Western West Virginia Major cities Charleston  · Huntington  · Parkersburg  · Morgantown  · Wheeling Smaller cities Beckley  · Bluefield  · Clarksburg  · Elkins  · Fairmont  · Martinsburg  · Weirton Counties Barbour  · Berkeley  · Boone  · Braxton  · Brooke  · Cabell  · Calhoun  · Clay  · Doddridge  · Fayette  · Gilmer  · Grant  · Greenbrier  · Hampshire  · Hancock  · Hardy  · Harrison  · Jackson  · Jefferson  · Kanawha  · Lewis  · Lincoln  · Logan  · Marion  · Marshall  · Mason  · McDowell  · Mercer  · Mineral  · Mingo  · Monongalia  · Monroe  · Morgan  · Nicholas  · Ohio  · Pendleton  · Pleasants  · Pocahontas  · Preston  · Putnam  · Raleigh  · Randolph  · Ritchie  · Roane  · Summers  · Taylor  · Tucker  · Tyler  · Upshur  · Wayne  · Webster  · Wetzel  · Wirt  · Wood  · Wyoming