Skip Navigation

Sign In or Register

West-virginia-encyclopedia-text

Charleston

Go back to Charleston

1771

John Yeager, George Strader and Simon Kenton camped near mouth of Elk River

Other events that happened on or around 1771

1775

Thomas Bullitt surveyed much of present downtown Charleston

Other events that happened on or around 1775

1788

First settlers arrived in Charleston

Other events that happened on or around 1788

1791

Daniel Boone represented Kanawha County in General Assembly

Other events that happened on or around 1791

Dec 19, 1794

General Assembly designated 40-acres of George Clendenin's land, as Charlestown, later renamed Charleston

Other events that happened on or around December 19, 1794

1797

Elisha Brooks built first salt furnace

Other events that happened on or around 1797

1820

Steamboats became reliable enough to negotiate the shoals in the Kanawha

Other events that happened on or around 1820

1850

1,500 slaves at the salt works owned by salt barons or rented from owners

Other events that happened on or around 1850

1861

Start of Civil War, Confederate attempts to secure the Kanawha Valley failed

Other events that happened on or around 1861

Sep 13, 1862

Last real attempt by Confederates to secure Charleston

Other events that happened on or around September 13, 1862

Oct 29, 1862

Confederates could not hold Charleston and fell back, never to return

Mar 28, 1870

State officials boarded the Mountain Boy to move capital from Wheeling to Charleston

1873

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway arrived on south side of Kanawha River

Other events that happened on or around 1873

1875

The capital was moved from Charleston to Wheeling

Other events that happened on or around 1875

1884

Completion of Kanawha & Ohio Railway on north side of Kanawha River in Charleston

Other events that happened on or around 1884

1885

The capital moved permanently back to Charleston aboard the Chesapeake and Belle Prince

Other events that happened on or around 1885

1891

First bridge built across the Kanawha River, in Charleston

Other events that happened on or around 1891

Jun 20, 1932

Capitol completed and dedicated on West Virginia day

Other events that happened on or around June 20, 1932

1939

Charleston's Municipal Auditorium built

Other events that happened on or around 1939

Nov 03, 1947

Gov. Clarence Meadows dedicated Charleston's Kanawha Airport (now Yeager Airport)

1962

Charleston population peaked at 85,796

Other events that happened on or around 1962

Jan 01, 1972

Charleston Area Medical Center created

Nov, 1983

Charleston Town Center Mall opened

2000

Charleston population fell to 53,421

Other events that happened on or around 2000

Jul 12, 2003

The Clay Center opened to the public

Other events that happened on or around July 12, 2003


View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range

West Virginia Humanities Council | 1310 Kanawha Blvd E | Charleston, WV 25301 Ph. 304-346-8500 | © 2023 All Rights Reserved

About e-WV | Our Sponsors | Help & Support | Contact Us The essential guide to the Mountain State can be yours today! Click here to order.