Kanawha County, in central West Virginia (WV), was established in 1788 and named for the Kanawha River. Its county seat is at Charleston, which is also the state capital. Two of the largest cities in West Virginia are located in the county -- Charleston and South Charleston. Though largely metropolitan, farmland and woodlands are located in outlying areas. Racing and gaming at Nitro and Cross Lanes, at the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort, are popular attractions. The University of Charleston and West Virginia State University are located at Charleston and Institute, respectively.
The Elk, Coal, and Pocatalico rivers join the Kanawha River near the center of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population of Kanawha County was 303,214.
Cities & Towns in Kanawha County
Alum Creek, West Virginia
Belle, West Virginia
Big Chimney, West Virginia
Blue Creek, West Virginia
Burnwell, West Virginia
Cabin Creek, West Virginia
Cedar Grove, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Clendenin, West Virginia
Chelyan, West Virginia
Chesapeake, West Virginia
Coal Fork, West Virginia
Cross Lanes, West Virginia
Davis Creek, West Virginia
Dawes, West Virginia
Dunbar, West Virginia
East Bank, West Virginia
Elkview, West Virginia
Glasgow, West Virginia
Institute, West Virginia
Kayford, West Virginia
London, West Virginia
Malden, West Virginia
Marmet, West Virginia
Mammoth, West Virginia
Montgomery, West Virginia
Nitro, West Virginia
Oakwood, West Virginia
Pinch, West Virginia
Pocatalico, West Virginia
Pratt, West Virginia
Quick, West Virginia
Rand, West Virginia
Saint Albans, West Virginia
Sharon, West Virginia
Sissonville, West Virginia
South Charleston, West Virginia
Tornado, West Virginia
Parks & Public Recreation Facilities
Cato Park (Charleston, WV)
Coonskin Park (Charleston, WV)
Daniel Boone Park (Charleston, WV)
Dunbar City Park (Dunbar, WV)
Jefferson Park (South Charleston, WV)
Kanawha State Forest
Little Creek Park (South Charleston, WV)
Nitro City Park (Nitro, WV)
North Charleston Recreation Center (Charleston, WV)
Saint Albans City Park (Saint Albans, WV)
Shawnee Regional Park
Wallace Hartman Nature Preserve
Wine Cellar Park (Dunbar, WV)
Kanawha County Historic Landmarks
Booker T. Washington High School (London, WV)
Charleston Municipal Auditorium (Charleston, WV)
Daniel Boone Hotel (Charleston, WV)
South Charleston Mound (South Charleston, WV)
The Beeches (Saint Albans, WV)
Regional Information for Kanawha County, West Virginia
Further information on lodging, dining, and recreation in Kanawha County may be found in our guide to travel in the Metro Valley Region of western West Virginia, in which Kanawha County is located.
