Kanawha County, West Virginia

Founding: 1789
Parent counties: Greenbrier and Montgomery

Namesake: The Kanawha River
Seat: Charleston (1789–)

Land area: 902 square miles

Population (2020): 180,745

Population (historic): 3,239 (1800); 13,567 (1840); 22,349 (1870); 54,696 (1900); 157,667 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1800–1960

Subdivisions: Six cities; eight towns; 12 CDPs

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 11,631 (12.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 30.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 12.1%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 17.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 11%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $897
Average outbuilding value (1930): $430
Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,952
Average farm size (1920): 40.8 acres
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Charleston

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1788 (platting); 1794 (incorporation); 1801 (post office)

Population (2020): 48,864

Population (historic): 1,050 (1850); 3,162 (1870); 6,742 (1890); 22,996 (1910); 60,408 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,308 (20.6%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Felix Hansford House (1824). Center Street and 14th Street. Federal. Razed.
2. Shrewsbury House (c. 1845). 179 West DuPont Avenue. Greek Revival.
3. Elk Grove / James Craik House (1834). 2809 East Kanawha Boulevard. Greek Revival.
4. Cedar Grove / William Tompkins House (1844/1870s). 1127 Kelley's Creek Road. Italianate.
5. Ravenswood / Phillip Thompson House (1833/1910s). 829 McQueen Boulevard. Classical Revival.
6. Henry Wood House (1829–1831/1870s). 6560 Roosevelt Avenue. Italianate.
7. Harriman–Shaver House (c. 1826/1880). 2233 State Route 61. Italianate.
8. Samuel Shrewsbury House (c. 1810). 310 Stubb Drive.
9. Robert Thornton House (1845). 1809 West Washington Street. Greek Revival.

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