Charleston is the
capital and largest city of the
State of
West Virginia. It is located at the
confluence of the
Elk and
Kanawha Rivers in
Kanawha County. As of the
2013 Census Estimate, it had a population of 50,821, while its
metropolitan area had 224,743. It is a center of government, commerce, and industry. Early industries important to Charleston included
salt and the first
natural gas well. Later,
coal became central to economic prosperity in the city and the surrounding area. Today,
trade,
utilities,
government,
medicine, and
education play central roles in the city's economy.