Kanawha County, West Virginia

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Courthouse, Kanawha County, West Virginia

Kanawha County, in central (WV), was established in 1788 and named for the . 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 , and 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



Big Chimney, West Virginia
Blue Creek, West Virginia
Burnwell, West Virginia
Cabin Creek, West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia

Chelyan, West Virginia



Davis Creek, West Virginia
Dawes, West Virginia


Elkview, West Virginia
Glasgow, West Virginia
Institute, West Virginia
Kayford, West Virginia
London, West Virginia
Malden, West Virginia

Mammoth, West Virginia


Oakwood, West Virginia

Pocatalico, West Virginia

Quick, West Virginia
Rand, West Virginia

Sharon, 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

(London, WV)
(Charleston, WV)
(Charleston, WV)
(South Charleston, WV)
(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.