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The Midland Trail


Charleston

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Charleston, West Virginia’s capital and its largest city, is situated on the Kanawha River at the mouth of the Elk River. The first settlers arrived in 1788 and built what was known as Fort Lee near the present downtown. Their leader was George Clendenin, and in 1894 the Virginia General Assembly chartered a town known as Charlestown, named for Clendenin’s father, Charles. Later the name would be shortened to Charleston.


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