Charleston, WV (CHW)

Ticket Revenue

FY 2011

$704,129

Station Ridership

FY 2011

9,783

Note: Fiscal year is from
October through September.

The Charleston station was built for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O, succeeded by CSXT) in 1905, and sits on the south bank of the Kanawha River, opposite downtown Charleston. The principal architects were J.C. and A.L. Pennock. The station is located at the foot of the South Side Bridge, and the track itself sits at the bottom of a shored-up cut into the hillside along the river. The two-story Neo-Classical Beaux-Arts style structure is of blonde brick and stone construction. The façade features a shallow single-story portico of paired Roman Doric columns facing the river. The low hipped, terra-cotta tile-covered roof’s deep eaves are supported with brackets. This station is the only railroad station structure remaining in Charleston.

This privately-owned C&O depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The depot building was renovated extensively in 1987, and today also houses offices and a restaurant. The station is scheduled to receive additional ADA-compliant parking spaces, curb cuts, and tactile edging as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Mobility First initiative.

Traders and land surveyors made their way into the Kanawha River valley as early as 1760. To protect the settlers from Indian attacks that were common at the time, Colonel George Clendenin organized a fort on some of his land on the Kanawha. The protection afforded by Fort Lee made the immediate area quite popular, and by 1794 the Virginia Assembly was dividing Clendenin’s holdings into lots. When the town was chartered in 1818, it was named in honor of Clendenin’s father, Charles. The shortened form was recorded, to distinguish it from Charles Town in the northern part of the state.

Natural salt brine wells were discovered along the Kanawha River early on, and the first salt furnace constructed at Malden in 1797. While drilling for salt brine, Captain James Wilson struck the area’s first natural gas well in 1815. Two years later, coal was discovered, and these provided fuel for the salt works. Kanawha Valley salt was a major export from Charleston until 1861 when the market tapered off. However, the need for chlorine and sodium hydroxide, both easily obtainable from brine, revived the industry during World War I.

Along with being a center for state government, as the capital, Charleston also expanded into the 20th century due to the growth of the coal, natural gas, and railroad industries. Modern development post-war has relied upon government, culture, medicine, and service industries. Downtown revitalization efforts have also contributed to post-1980 growth.

The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta was founded in 1970 to showcase privately owned riverboats, and for a time took on the proportions of a major fall festival in the city, being held over Labor Day weekend.

Amtrak provides both ticketing and help with baggage at this staffed facility.

Charleston is served by tri-weekly train service.