What Locals Know About Charleston
Think you really know Charleston? It's a city with a golden Capitol dome that sparkles at Interstate passersby, slaw dogs that you'll have to devour in person to fully appreciate, and a Sternwheel Regatta with excitement that is louder than a thunderclap (Ya Gotta Regatta!). Let's run through the facts, stats, and everything in between that showcases what really makes Charleston's gold dome glow so addictive.
Hannah, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Hannah is a born and raised West Virginian who briefly tested life across state lines before realizing the pull of the hills is undefeated. She has lived in both northern and south central West Virginia, moved more times than she can count during college, and knows Charleston well enough to give directions using landmarks instead of street names. She writes fiction, spins yarn into sweaters, drinks Charleston coffee like its a personality trait, and somehow keeps four pets fed. Editing West Virginia guides comes naturally when you know the people shine... even when the sun does not.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Charleston Charleston?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Charleston
Charlie West, The Cog City, Chemical Valley
Local Reality Check
Coal stereotypes vs. riverfront arts, trails, and food trucks
You're most likely moving from
DC area, Columbus, PA, or VA
Strangely large concentration of
Lawyers and lobbyists within a walking distance of the gold dome
Music scene
Anchored by NPR's Mountain Stage, Empty Glass late night open mic sessions, Live on the Levee Fridays each summer
You'll have to see it to believe it
Capitol dome gilded in 23.5 karat gold leaf, taller than the one in Washington, DC
Unique Geography
At the Kanawha and Elk Rivers, hemmed by steep Appalachian hills
Charleston is home to
Charleston Dirty Birds baseball at GoMart Ballpark
Well known for its
Capitol Market inside what was originally the Kanawha & Michigan Railway Depot Warehouse
Fun history fact
Booker T. Washington lived and worked in Malden's salt works as a boy
Celebrity sightings
Jennifer Garner hometown drop-ins, Kathy Mattea shows, Randy Moss around Rand
Noteworthy Census stat
2020 Census: 48,864 residents
Most interesting sub-culture within Charleston
Kanawha State Forest mountain bikers who speak fluent switchback
Population
Largest city in WV
Charleston is roughly the same geographic size as
Grand Island, Nebraska
A Local Event Worth Experiencing Once
I would have to say that the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is one of the city's most iconic events! Charleston recently brought back this huge summer festival after several years of hiatus, and it gets bigger and better every year.
— Hannah Wyatt
West Virginia Local Expert
Ready to See If Charleston Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Charleston guide for the bigger picture.