Charleston

City and main port in southeastern South Carolina, USA, situated on a peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, at the head of a bay 11 km/7 mi from the Atlantic Ocean; seat of Charleston County; population (2000 est) 96,700. Industries include tourism, paper, chemicals, and petrochemicals. The original settlement dates from 1670, and Charleston was incorporated as a city in 1783; there are many historic houses and fine gardens here.

Fort Sumter, in the sheltered harbour of Charleston, was bombarded by Confederate batteries from 12-13 April 1861, thus beginning the American Civil War. The city was badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

Charleston is the seat of several colleges: the College of Charleston (1770), the Medical College of South Carolina (1824), the Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1842), Charleston Southern University (1964), and Trident Technical College (1964).

The city also has Navy and Air Force bases and a Naval Weapons Station, which are major sources of employment. Spoleto Festival USA, dating from 1977, attracts various performing-arts groups. Charleston is the setting for George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. Ninety-three entries on the national register of historic places include Fort Sumter National Monument, a submarine, and a lighthouse.

Charleston

Capital of West Virginia and administrative headquarters of Kanawha County, situated on the Kanawha River, 85 km/53 mi upstream from its junction with the Ohio River; population (2000 est) 53,400. It is the commercial centre of a region that produces coal, natural gas, salt, clay, timber, and oil; it also has major chemical and glass industries. Charleston was incorporated in 1794. The West Virginia state capital moved between Charleston and Wheeling until 1885, when Charleston was made the permanent state capital.

Charleston developed from Fort Lee (1788). The fort was built by Colonel Clendenin, who named the settlement after his father. The town became an important salt exporter in the early 19th century.

The State Capitol (1932) was designed by the US architect Cass Gilbert. It is one of 49 entries on the national register of historic places; others include historic districts, churches, and a theatre. Sunrise Museum with its science hall is a popular tourist attraction.