document_title: Ship prefix

question_text: what does ss stand for on naval ships

question_tokens: what does ss stand for on naval ships

text: Ship prefix

text: Generic (merchant navy) prefixes[edit]

text: These prefixes are generally used for merchant vessels of any nationality.

text:
Prefix
  Meaning

AE
Ammunition ship

AFS
Combat stores ship

AHT
Anchor Handling Tug

AHTS
Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel

AO
United States Navy oiler

AOG
Gasoline tanker

AOR
Auxiliary, Replenishment Oiler

AOT
Transport Oiler

ATB
Articulated Tug Barge

CRV
Coastal Research Vessel

C/F
Car Ferry

CS
Cable Ship

DB
Derrick Barge

DEPV
Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel

DLB
Derrick Lay Barge

DCV
Deepwater Construction Vessel

DSV
Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle

DV
Dead vessel[2][3]

ERRV
Emergency Response Rescue Vessel[3]

FPSO
Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel

FPV
Free Piston Vessel

FPV
Fishery Protection Vessel

FT
Factory Stern Trawler

FV
Fishing Vessel

GTS
Gas Turbine Ship

HLV
Heavy lift vessel

HSC
High Speed Craft

HSF
High Speed Ferry

HTV
Heavy Transport Vessel

IRV
International Research Vessel

ITB
Integrated Tug barge

LB
Liftboat

LNG/C
Liquefied natural gas carrier

LPG/C
Liquefied petroleum gas carrier

MF
Motor Ferry

MFV
Motor Fishing Vessel (mainly UK Royal Naval Reserve)

MS (M/S)
Motor Ship (interchangeable with MV)

MSV
Multipurpose support/supply vessel

MSY
Motor Sailing Yacht

MT
Motor Tanker

MTS
Marine Towage and Salvage/Tugboat

MV (M/V)
Motor Vessel (interchangeable with MS)

MY
Motor Yacht

NB
Narrowboat

NRV
NATO Research Vessel

NS
Nuclear Ship

OSV
Offshore supply vessel

PS
Paddle Steamer

PSV
Platform Supply Vessel

QSMV
Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel

QTEV
Quadruple Turbo Electric Vessel

RMS
Royal Mail Ship or Royal Mail Steamer

RNLB
Royal National Lifeboat

RV / RSV
Research Vessel

SB
Sailing Barge

SS (S/S)
Single-screw Steamship

SD
Serco Denholm (after the company which took over auxiliary maritime services for UK Naval Services in 2008, now Serco Marine Services)

SSCV
Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel

SSS
Sea Scout Ship

SSV
Sailing School Vessel, Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel[4]

ST
Steam Tug or Steam Trawler

STS
Sail Training Ship

STV
Sail Training Vessel or Steam Turbine Vessel

SV (S/V)
Sailing Vessel

SY
Sailing Yacht or Steam Yacht

TB
Tug boat

TEV
Turbine Electric Vessel

TIV
Turbine Installation Vessel

TrSS
Triple-Screw Steamship or steamer[5]

TS
Training Ship or Turbine Steamship or Turbine steam ship

Tr.SMV
Triple-Screw Motor Vessel

TSMV
Twin-Screw Motor Vessel[6]

TSS
Twin-Screw Steamship or steamer

TST
Twin-Screw Tug

TV
Training vessel

YD
Yard Derrick

YW
Water Barge, self-propelled

YOS
Concrete vessel

tag: table

text: National or military prefixes[edit]

text:
Country
Service
Prefix
Meaning

 Argentina
Argentine Navy
ARA
Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Armada de la República Argentina)

Argentine Coast Guard
GC
Argentine Coast Guard Ship (Spanish: Guardacostas)

 Australia
Royal Australian Navy
HMAS
His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship/Submarine/Station

NUSHIP
New Ship/Submarine (Yet to be commissioned)

ADV
Australian Defence Vessel (non-commissioned naval-operated ships)

MSA
Minesweeper Auxiliary[7]

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
ACV
Australian Customs Vessel

Australian Border Force
ABFC
Australian Border Force Cutter

Australia (pre-Federation)
Colonial navies of Australia
HMCS
His/Her Majesty's Colonial Ship

HMQS
His/Her Majesty's Queensland Ship (Queensland Maritime Defence Force)

HMVS
His/Her Majesty's Victorian Ship (Victorian Naval Forces)

 Austria-Hungary
Austro-Hungarian Navy
SMS
Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship)

 Bahamas
Royal Bahamas Defence Force
HMBS
His/Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship

 Bangladesh
Bangladesh Coast Guard
CGS
Coast Guard Ship

Bangladesh Navy
BNS
Bangladesh Navy Ship

 Barbados
Barbados Defence Force
HMBS
His/Her Majesty's Barbadian Ship

 Belgium
Belgian Navy
BNS
Belgium Naval Ship (NATO prefix)

 Brunei
Royal Brunei Navy
KDB
Kapal Di-Raja Brunei – Royal Brunei Ship

 Burma
Myanmar Navy
UMS
Myanmar Sit Yay Yin – Union of Myanmar Ship

 Canada
Royal Canadian Navy, formerly Canadian Forces Maritime Command
HMCS/NCSM
His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship/Navire canadien de Sa Majesté (French)

CFAV/NAFC
Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel/Navire auxiliaire des Forces canadiennes (French)

Canadian Coast Guard
CCGS/NGCC
Canadian Coast Guard Ship/Navire de Garde côtière canadienne (French)

CCGC/CGCC
Canadian Coast Guard Cutter/Cotre de Garde côtière canadienne (French) (no longer used)

Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Transport, and predecessor departments
CGS
Canadian Government Ship (no longer used)

CSS
Canadian Survey Ship (no longer used)

DGS
Dominion Government Ship (no longer used)

Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
SCTS/NECM
Sea Cadet Training Ship/Navire école des cadets de la Marine (French)

 China
People's Liberation Army Navy
—
No official prefix; some authors use "CNS" (Chinese Navy Ship) or "PLANS" (People's Liberation Army Navy Ship)

 Colombia
Armada Nacional
ARC
Armada de la República de Colombia

 Confederate States
Confederate States Navy
CSS
Confederate States Ship

 Cook Islands
Cook Islands Police
CIPPB
Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat

 Denmark
Royal Danish Navy
HDMS (Danish: KDM)
His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship (Danish: Kongelige Danske Marine)

 Ecuador
Armada Ecuatoriana
BAE
Buque de la Armada de Ecuador

 Estonia
Estonian Navy
ENS (Estonian: EML)
Estonian Naval Ship (NATO designation)

Estonian Coast Guard
ECGS
Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)

 Fiji
Republic of Fiji Navy
RFNS
Republic of Fiji Naval Ship

 Finland
Finnish Navy
FNS
Finnish Navy Ship. Prefixes are not used in Finnish-language communications.

 France
French Navy
OF
Okręt Francuski (Polish French Ship); used in 1940–41 for French destroyer Ouragan

FS
French Ship (NATO designation); France does not use prefixes internally

 German Empire
Kaiserliche Marine
SM U##
Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (English: His Majesty's Submarine)

SMS
Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship)

 Nazi Germany
Kriegsmarine
—
(no prefix; some authors use "DKM" for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine" and "KMS" for "Kriegsmarine Schiffe")

 West Germany
Bundesmarine
FGS
Federal German Ship (NATO designation); West Germany did not use prefixes internally

 Germany (reunited)
German Navy
FGS
Federal German Ship (NATO designation)

 Kingdom of Greece
Royal Hellenic Navy
ΒΠ (VP)
Βασιλικόν Πλοίον (Vassilikón Ploíon), "Royal Ship"; RHS (Royal Hellenic Ship) or HHMS (His Hellenic Majesty's Ship) in use by English-language authors and contemporary foreign navies.

 Greece
Hellenic Navy
HS
Hellenic Ship: NATO designation, used in international communications; internally the Hellenic Navy uses prefixes indicating ship type.

 Guyana
Guyanese Coast Guard[8]
GDFS
Guyanese Defence Forces Ship

 Kingdom of Hawaii
Hawaiian Navy
HHMS
His Hawaiian Majesty's Ship; the only one being Kaimiloa

 Iceland
Icelandic Coast Guard
ICGV (Icelandic: VS)
Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:Varðskip)

 India
Indian Navy (pre-Republic)
HMIS
His/Her Majesty's Indian Ship

 India
Indian Coast Guard
ICGS
Indian Coast Guard Ship

Indian Navy
INS
Indian Naval Ship

 Indonesia
Indonesian Navy
KRI
Kapal Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia Ship)

Republic of Indonesia
KL
Kapal Layar (Sailing Ship)

Republic of Indonesia
KM
Kapal Motor (Motor Ship)

Republic of Indonesia
KN
Kapal Negara (State Ship)

 Iran
Imperial Iranian Navy
IIS
Imperial Iranian Ship (Persian: ناو شاهنشاهی ایران)

 Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
IRIS
Islamic Republic of Iran ship (Persian: ناو جمهوری اسلامی ایران)

 Ireland
Irish Naval Service
LÉ
Long Éireannach — Irish ship

 Israel
Israeli Sea Corps
INS
Israeli Naval Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam – Sea Corps Ship)

 Kingdom of Italy
(until 1946)
Regia Marina
RN
Regia Nave – Royal Ship

Regia Marina
R.Smg.
Regio Sommergibile – Royal Submarine

 Italy
Marina Militare
ITS
Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes

 Jamaica
Jamaica Defence Force
HMJS
His/Her Majesty's Jamaican Ship

 Empire of Japan
Imperial Japanese Navy
—
(no prefix; some authors use "HIJMS" for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship" and "IJN" for "Imperial Japanese Navy")

 Japan
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
JDS or JS
Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship

 Kenya
Kenyan Navy
KNS
Kenyan Naval Ship

 Kiribati
Kiribati Police Force
RKS
Republic of Kiribati Ship

 North Korea
Korean People's Navy
—
(currently unknown)

 South Korea
Republic of Korea Navy
ROKS
Republic of Korea Ship

 Latvia
Latvian Navy
LVNS
Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)

 Lithuania
Lithuanian Navy
LKL
LNS

Lietuvos Karinis Laivas – Lithuanian Military Ship
Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)

 Malaysia
Royal Malaysian Navy
KD
Kapal Di-Raja — His Majesty's Ship, literal: Royal Ship.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
KM
Kapal Maritim — Maritime Ship

 Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands Police
RMIS
Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship

 Federated States of Micronesia
FSM National Police
FSM
Federated States of Micronesia

 Mexico
Armada de México
ARM
Armada de la República Mexicana

 Myanmar
Tatmadaw Yay
UMS
Myanma Sit Yay Yin – Union of Myanmar Ship

 Namibia
Namibian Navy
NS
Namibian Ship

 Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Navy
HNLMS (Dutch: Zr.Ms./Hr.Ms.)
His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship (Dutch: Zijner/Harer Majesteits, archaic Dutch language genitive, lit. "His/Her Majesty's")

 New Zealand
Royal New Zealand Navy
HMNZS
His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship

 Nigeria
Nigerian Navy
NNS
Nigerian Naval Ship

 Norway
Royal Norwegian Navy
HNoMS (Norwegian: KNM), in use since 1946
His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (Norwegian: Kongelige Norske Marine)

Norwegian Coast Guard
NoCGV (Norwegian: KV)
Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel (Norwegian: Kystvakten)

 Oman
Royal Navy of Oman
SNV
Sultanate Naval Vessel

 Pakistan
Pakistan Navy
PNS
Pakistani Naval Ship

 Palau
Palau Police
PSS
Palau State Ship

 Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Defence Force
HMPNGS
His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship

 Peru
Peruvian Navy
BAP
Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana)

BIC
Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: Buque de Investigación Científica)

 Philippines
Philippine Navy
BRP
Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas; in use since 1 July 1980
(Ship of the Republic of the Philippines)

RPS
Republic of the Philippines Ship (Obsolete); before 1 July 1980

 Poland
Polish Navy
ORP
Ship of the Republic of Poland
(Polish: Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)

 Portugal
Marinha Portuguesa
NRP
Navio da República Portuguesa – Ship of the Portuguese Republic

PNS
Portuguese Navy Ship (NATO designation, not used internally)

UAM
Unidade Auxiliar da Marinha – Navy Auxiliary Unit (used by the Portuguese Navy non-military ships)

 Romania
Romanian Navy
NMS
Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship) – used before 1945 by the Royal Romanian Navy

SMR
Serviciul Maritim Român (The Romanian Sea Service) – used by transport ships

ROS
Romanian Ship (NATO designation, not used internally)

 Russian Empire
Imperial Russian Navy
HIRMS
(no prefix; some authors use "HIRMS" for "His Imperial Russian Majesty's Ship")

 Russia
Russian Navy
—
No official prefix; some authors use "RFS" (Russian: Корабль Российской Федерации)

 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Navy
HMS
His Majesty's Ship – the same as the Royal Navy

 Singapore
Republic of Singapore Navy
RSS
Republic of Singapore Ship

 Solomon Islands
Royal Solomon Islands Police
RSIPV
Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel

 South Africa
South African Navy
SAS
South African Ship (previously HMSAS – His/Her Majesty's South African Ship)

SATS
South African Training Ship

 Soviet Union
Soviet Navy
—
No official prefix; some authors use "USSRS"[9] (Russian: Корабль Союза Советских Социалистических Республик)

 Spain
Armada Española
ESPN, ESPS or SPS
Spanish Naval Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally)

 Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Navy
SLNS
Sri Lanka Naval Ship

 Sweden
Swedish Navy
HMS (English: HSwMS)
Hans/Hennes Majestäts Skepp (His/Her Majesty's Ship) – in English HSwMS (His/Her Swedish Majesty's Ship) is used to avoid confusion with Royal Navy ships

 Republic of China
Republic of China Navy
ROCS (older usage: CNS)
Republic of China Ship (older usage: Chinese Navy Ship)

 Thailand
Royal Thai Navy
HTMS
His Thai Majesty's Ship

 Timor-Leste
Timor Leste Defense Force
NRTL
Navio da República de Timor Leste (Ship of the Timor Leste Republic)

 Tonga
Tonga Defence Services
VOEA
Vaka O Ene Afio (His Majesty's Vessel)

 Turkey
Turkish Navy
TCG
Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi.)

 Tuvalu
Tuvalu Police Force
HMTSS
His/Her Majesty's Tuvaluan State Ship

 Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
TTS
Trinidad and Tobago Ship

 United Kingdom
Ships carrying mail
RMS
Royal Mail Steamer/Ship

Fishery protection vessels
FPV
Fisheries Protection Vessel

Royal Air Force
HMAFV
His/Her Majesty's Air Force Vessel (not currently in use)

Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
RFA
Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Royal Maritime Auxiliary
Service ships
RMAS
Royal Maritime Auxiliary Ship (now obsolete, replaced by SD)

Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
XSV
Auxiliary Service Vessel (now obsolete)

Royal Navy
HM Sloop
His/Her Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete)

HMS
His/Her Majesty's Ship/Submarine

HMSm
His/Her Majesty's Submarine (not currently in use)

HMT
Hired Military Transport (not currently in use)

HMAV
His/Her Majesty's Armed Vessel[10] (not currently in use)

HMY
His/Her Majesty's Yacht (not currently in use)

HMMGB
His/Her Majesty's Motor Gun Boat (not currently in use)

HMM
His/Her Majesty's Monitor (not currently in use)

HMSML
His/Her Majesty's Small Motor Launch

HBMS
His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship (archaic)

HM
His/Her Majesty's, then used with the type of ship in military use (e.g. "HM Trawler")

Hospital Ships
HMHS
His/Her Majesty's Hospital Ship

Joint Services Sail Training Yachts (JSASTC)
HMSTC
His/Her Majesty's Sail Training Craft

Trinity House
THV
Trinity House Vessel (Lighthouse and Buoy Tender)

Northern Lighthouse Board
NLV
Northern Lighthouse Vessel (Lighthouse tender)

Commissioners of Irish Lights
ILV
Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)

British Army
HMAV
Her Majesty's Army Vessel[11]

RCLV
Royal Corps of Logistics Vessel (not currently in use)

Government research ships
RRS
Royal Research Ship

Serco
SD
Serco Denholm (now Serco Marine Services, a civilian company which took over the ships of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service in 2008)

HM Revenue and Customs
HMCC, HMC
His/Her Majesty's Customs Cutter shortened to His/Her Majesty's Cutter after being transferred to UK Visas and Immigration

HM Customs and Excise (replaced by HMRC, above)
HMRC
His/Her Majesty's Revenue Cutter (not used since 18 April 2005). Also His/Her Majesty's Revenue Cruiser (as per HMRC Vigilant 1947. Not used since ca1960)

 United States
United States Air Force
USAF, USAFS
United States Air Force ship (not currently in use)

United States Army (modern)
USAS
United States Army Ship (modern)

USAV
United States Army Vessel (modern)

United States Army (historical)

USAT
United States Army Transport (large troop or cargo transports, not currently in use)

USAMP
U.S. Army Mine Planter (not currently in use)

U.S. Army
Vessels not otherwise designated: tugs, FS, Q, P etc. (not currently in use)

USAHS
United States Army Hospital Ship (not currently in use)

United States Navy
USF
United States Frigate (obsolete)

USFS
United States Flagship (obsolete)

USS
United States Ship – Commissioned ships only. [1]

USNV
United States Naval Vessel (Small utility vessels, not MSC, operated by local commands)[12]

U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC)
USNS
United States Naval Ship (USN-owned, civilian crews)

United States Coast Guard
USCGC
United States Coast Guard Cutter

USCGD
United States Coast Guard Destroyer (not currently in use)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAAS
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ship

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
USC&GS
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (obsolete); occasionally a second "S" for "survey ship" was used

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries
USFC
United States Fish Commission (obsolete); commonly used informal name for the Commission; no "S" for "ship" was used

United States Lighthouse Service
USLHT
United States Lighthouse Tender (obsolete)

United States Revenue Cutter Service
USRC
United States Revenue Cutter (obsolete)

 Uruguay
Uruguayan Navy
ROU
República Oriental del Uruguay

 Vanuatu
Vanuatu Police Force
RVS
Republic of Vanuatu Ship

 Venezuela
Venezuelan Navy
FNV
Fuerzas Navales de Venezuela Not in use since 1949

ARV
Armada República de Venezuela Not in use 1999

ARBV
Armada República Bolivariana de Venezuela

 Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Royal Yugoslav Navy
KB
Kraljevski brod or Краљевски брод (English: Royal Ship), 1918–1941

 YUG  SCG
Jugoslovenska Ratna Mornarica JRM (English: Yugoslavia war navy) Yugoslav Navy 1969–1992
Ratna Mornarica Vojske Jugoslavije RМVЈ (English: War navy of Yugoslavia Armed Forces) 1992–2003

RTOP
Raketna Topovnjača or Ракетна Топовњача (English: Rocket gunship), named by Yugoslavia peoples heroes

RČ
Raketni Čamac or Ракетни Чамац (English: Rocket boat), 1969–1992, named by Yugoslavia peoples heroes

VPBR
Veliki Patrolni Brod or Велики Патролни Брод (English: Big patrol ship), 1969–1992, named by Yugoslavia coastal towns

TČ
Torpedni Čamac or Торпедни Чамац (English: Torpedo boat), 1969–1992

PČ
Patrolni Čamac or Патролни Чамац (English: Patrol boat), 1969–1992, named by mountains

PO
Pomoćni Oružar or Помоћни Оружар (English: Auxiliary аrmourer), 1969–1992

RML
Rečni minolovac or Речни миноловац (English: River minesweepers), 1969–1992, named by places of WWII battles

RPB
Rečni patrolni brod or Речни патролни брод (English: River patrol boat), 1969–1992

P
Podmornica or Подморница (English: Submarine), 1969–1992, named by rivers or human qualities

RЕ
Razarač Eskortni or Разарач Ескортни (English: Escort destroyer), 1969–1992

PT
Pomoćni transportni or Помоћни транспортни (English: Auxiliary transport), 1969–1992

DČ
Desantni čamci or Десантни чамци (English: Landing craft), 1969–1992

text: Prefix conventions[edit]

text: The designations for United Kingdom ships applied at the time of the British Empire, before the establishment of separate navies for the Dominions.

text: In the Royal Netherlands Navy, "HNLMS" is the prefix in English, a translation of the Dutch original "Hr.Ms." or "Zr.Ms.". "Hr.Ms." should preferably not be used in English-language documents; nevertheless it is often seen on the World Wide Web. Until the moment a Dutch naval ship officially enters active service in the fleet, the ship's name is used without the prefix.[13] Since King Willem-Alexander succeeded Queen Beatrix on 30 April 2013, "Hr.Ms." is replaced by "Zr.Ms.".

text: In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.[14]

text: In the United States, all prefixes other than "USS," "USNS", "USNV", and "USRC" were made obsolete in 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive order fixing American naval nomenclature.[1] USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the United States Lifesaving Service to become the United States Coast Guard in 1915.[15] USLHT also was replaced by USCGC when the United States Lighthouse Service became a part of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. USC&GS was replaced by NOAAS when the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey merged with other U.S. Government scientific agencies to form the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1970.

text: A United States Navy ship that is not in active commission does not hold the title of United States Ship with simply the name without prefix used before and after commissioned service.[1] Vessels, such as yard and harbor craft that are not commissioned and "in service" are officially referred to by name or hull number without prefix.[1] Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian manned ships "in service" are given the prefix United States Naval Ship (USNS).[1] Prior to commissioning, ships may be described as a pre-commissioning unit or PCU; for example, the uncommissioned Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) has been described as the "pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford."[16] However, the vessel's official name is Gerald R. Ford without any prefix, and will be known as USS Gerald R. Ford once commissioned.[1]

text: When it is stricken from the fleet list, a ship typically has the prefix "ex-" added to its name, to distinguish it from any active ships bearing the same name. For example, after USS Constellation (CV-64) was retired in 2003, she became referred to as ex-Constellation.

text: Note that while calling a US ship "the USS Flattop" may make grammatical sense, the preliminary article "the" is discouraged by nearly all style guides, and the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy uses ship names without article, except for USS The Sullivans, named for the five Sullivan brothers, all lost at sea during World War II.[17] Its British equivalent ("the HMS Flattop") is also discouraged, since "the Her Majesty's Ship" would be grammatically incorrect.

text: Yugoslavia war navy had strict naming rules and ships prefix that was driven by order by President of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1969. After dissolution of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia new state Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continued same naming convention for War navy of Yugoslavia Armed Forces from 1992 to 2003.

text: 'Empire' ship prefix[edit]

text: In 1939 then during and after the Second World War, the British Ministry of Shipping adopted a standard naming system whereby all merchant ships ordered to be built in Britain to Government account, except very small ship types, would be given the prefix Empire to their name. This applied to ships acquired through purchase, requisition, or taken in prize, with some exceptions. It also applied to older ships acquired from the USA, modern ships acquired on Lease/Lend arrangements, salved and refitted ships, and captured enemy ships.[citation needed] Empire ships were ships built or acquired to supplement the wartime merchant fleet. They were used for convoy duties transporting supplies and military convoy work for the war effort.

text: In science fiction[edit]

text: Fictional equivalents of tri-letter prefixes frequently appear in English-language science fiction works, applied to seafaring and spaceborne ships alike. See also Space navy for similar adoption of naval customs for fictional spacefaring military organizations.

text:
Star Trek – the United Federation of Planets uses the prefix "USS" for its starships. While Gene Roddenberry never defined what the abbreviation stood for, some speculate that it means "United Space Ship", "United Star Ship", or "United [Federation of Planets] Starfleet Starship/Ship". In the alternate 'Mirror Universe', the Terran Empire use an "ISS" prefix instead. Other races use different prefixes for their ships:

Klingons use IKS (Imperial Klingon Ship) or IKC (Imperial Klingon Cruiser).
Romulan vessels typically receive the prefix IRW (Imperial Romulan Warbird), or RIS where some speculate that it means "Romulan Imperial Ship", and ChR. (ChR is from novelist Diane Duane's imagining of the Star Trek Universe, in which the Romulans refer to their home planet as "Ch'Rihan." Though Duane's version has a loyal following among many fans, it is not considered official Star Trek canon; similarly, the Ferengi designation of FMS, and the Cardassian CDS, are also not canon.)

Babylon 5 – The Earth Alliance uses the prefix "EAS" for "Earth Alliance Ship". Some fan material also uses it for "Earth Alliance Station".
Firefly – Vessels in the Union of Allied Planets fleet are given the prefix "IAV", for Interstellar Alliance Vessel.
The Terran Confederation, from Wing Commander, uses TCS (Terran Confederation Ship) for its vessels.
Halo – United Nations Space Command spacecraft use the prefix "UNSC".
Mass Effect – features several prefixes, primarily "SSV" for "Systems Alliance space vehicle"[18] and "MSV" for "Merchant Space Vehicle," used on numerous human commercial ships, as well as "PFS" for a Turian Hierarchy naval craft, and a freighter AML Demeter of unknown affiliation.
Dead Space – "USG", standing for "United Spacefaring Guild", which oversees civilian spacecraft operation, including the planet-cracker class leader USG Ishimura of the Concordance Extraction Corporation; "USM" for the Earth Defense Force of EarthGov; and "CMS" for its former opponents, the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces.
StarCraft: Brood War - The United Earth Directorate uses DSS, presumably for Directorate Space Ship.
Killzone - The Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) uses "ISC", for Interplanetary Strategic Cruiser.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress – The Federated Nations use "FNS", presumably meaning "Federated Nations Ship".
Alien – The ships use prefix "USCSS" for "United States Cargo SpaceShip" in Nostromo, Prometheus or Covenant.
The Lost Fleet – The Alliance use the prefix "ASN" for "Allied Systems Navy" (or possibly "Alliance of Systems Navy"), the Syndicate Worlds do not use prefixes.
CoDominium – CoDominium vessels use the prefix "CDS" for CoDominium Ship.
"Honorverse" – The Manticoran kingdom uses "HMS" as a prefix, the Graysons use GNS, and the Havenite ships use "PNS" being reflections of actual ship prefixing traditions, and mirroring the Napoleonic wars.
The Culture – Ships are identified by a three-letter prefix denoting class (such as GSV for "General Systems Vehicle" or ROU for "Rapid Offensive Unit"), followed by their personal name.
The Expanse – Ships of the United Nations Navy use the prefix "UNN," while ships of the Mars Congressional Republic Navy are prefixed with "MCRN."
Unreal Tournament – Ships mentioned there have prefixes such as ITV ("Interstellar Transport Vessel", the first non-tutorial match in the tournament happens on board of ITV Oblivion) and ISV ("Interstellar Science Vessel", ship's name being ISV-Kran from Unreal).
Unreal: Return to Na Pali – ISV (ISV-Kran) and UMS ("Unified Military Services", a prefix for warships).


document_title: Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)

question_text: who played chaka on land of the lost tv show

root

text: Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)

text: Overview[edit]

text: Land of the Lost details the adventures of the Marshall family (father Rick, and his children Will and Holly) who are trapped in an alternate universe inhabited by dinosaurs, a primate-type people called Pakuni, and aggressive humanoid/lizard creatures called Sleestak. The episode storylines focus on the family's efforts to survive and find a way back to their own world, but the exploration of the exotic inhabitants of the Land of the Lost is also an ongoing part of the story.[4]

tag: p

text: An article on renewed studio interest in feature film versions of Land of the Lost and H.R. Pufnstuf commented that "decision-makers in Hollywood, and some big-name stars, have personal recollections of plopping down on the family-room wall-to-wall shag sometime between 1969 and 1974 to tune in to multiple reruns of the Kroffts' Saturday morning live-action hits," and quoting Marty Krofft as saying that the head of Universal Studios, Ronald Meyer, and leaders at Sony Pictures all had been fans of Krofft programs.[5]

text: A number of well-respected writers in the science fiction field contributed scripts to the series (mostly in the first and second seasons), including Larry Niven,[6] Theodore Sturgeon,[6][7] Ben Bova,[6] and Norman Spinrad, and a number of people involved with Star Trek, such as D.C. Fontana,[6] Walter Koenig,[6][8][9] and David Gerrold.[6] Gerrold, Niven, and Fontana also contributed commentaries to the DVD of the first season.[3]

text: The prolific Krofft team was influential in live-action children's television, producing many shows that were oddly formatted, highly energetic, and made frequent use of special effects, with most of them following a "stranger in a strange land" storyline. Most of these shows were comedic in nature, but Land of the Lost was considerably more serious, especially during its first season, though as the series progressed the dramatic tone diminished.[10]

text: Plot and format[edit]

text: The Marshalls are brought to the mysterious world by means of a dimensional portal,[11] a device used frequently throughout the series and a major part of its internal mythology. This portal opens when they are swept down a gigantic 1,000-foot waterfall. We later learn in "Circle", which explains the time paradox, that this portal is actually opened by Rick Marshall himself, while in Enik's cave, as a way for the current Marshalls to return to Earth, resolving the paradox and allowing Enik to also return to his time.

text: Outfitted only for a short camping trip, the resourceful family from California takes shelter in a natural cave and improvises the provisions and tools that they need to survive. Their most common and dangerous encounters are with dinosaurs, particularly a Tyrannosaurus rex they nickname "Grumpy" who frequents the location of their cave. However, many of the dinosaurs are herbivores, posing no threat to the Marshalls, unless unintentionally provoked. One is a particularly tame young Brontosaurus whom Holly nicknames "Dopey", and whom Holly looks upon as a pet.

text: They also encounter the mostly hostile Sleestak (lizard-men), and the primate-like creatures called Pakuni (one of whom, Cha-Ka, they befriend), as well as a variety of dangerous creatures, strange geography and unfamiliar technology.

text: The main goal of the three is to find a way to return home. They are occasionally aided in this by the Altrusian castaway Enik.

text: At the start of the third season it is explained that Rick Marshall (played by Spencer Milligan) has been accidentally returned to Earth alone, leaving his children behind. Rick is immediately replaced by his brother Jack. Rick Marshall abruptly disappeared while trying to use one of the pylons to get home; Jack stumbled upon his niece and nephew after he embarked on a search of his own to find them.

text: Though the term "time doorway" is used throughout the series, Land of the Lost is not meant to portray an era in Earth's history, but rather an enigmatic zone whose place and time are unknown. Indeed, within the first few minutes of the pilot, the Marshall family father tells his children that he spotted three moons in the sky. The original creators of these time portals were thought to be the ancestors of the Sleestak, called Altrusians, though later episodes raised some questions about this.

text: Many aspects of the Land of the Lost, including the time doorways and environmental processes, were controlled by the Pylons, metallic obelisk-shaped booths that were larger on the inside than the outside and housed matrix tables - stone tables studded with a grid of colored crystals. Uncontrolled time doorways result in the arrival of a variety of visitors and castaways in the Land.

text: Production[edit]

text: Land of the Lost is notable for its epic-scale concept, which suggested an expansive world with many fantastic forms of life and mysterious technology, all created on a children's series' limited production budget. To support the internal mythology, linguist Victoria Fromkin was commissioned to create a special language for the Pakuni, which she based on the sounds of West African speech and attempted to build into the show in a gradual way that would allow viewers to learn the language over the course of many episodes.[10][12] The series' intention was to create a realistic fantasy world, albeit relying heavily on children's acceptance of minor inconsistencies.

text: In a 1999 interview, first-season story editor and writer David Gerrold claimed that he largely created the show, based on photographs of various science fiction topoi that were bound together in a book and given him by Sid Krofft and Allan Foshko.[13]

text: It was a marked departure from the Krofft team's previous work, which mostly featured extremely stylized puppets and sets such as those in H.R. Pufnstuf and Lidsville.[10]

text: The series for the first two seasons was shot on a modular indoor soundstage at General Service Studios in Hollywood, and made economical use of a small number of sets and scenic props which were rearranged frequently to suggest the ostensibly vast jungles, ancient cities and cave systems. As is traditional in many effect scenes, miniatures or scale-version settings were used for insertion of live-action scenes. Additional locations were often rendered using scale miniatures and chroma key.

text: Spencer Milligan departed the show at the beginning of its third season for financial reasons. In addition to a salary increase, he believed it was only fair that he and the rest of the cast receive compensation for using their image on various merchandise. His character Rick Marshall was replaced by his brother, Jack Marshall, played by actor Ron Harper. Milligan did not return for the brief scene, also shown in the credits of the third season, showing Rick Marshall being transported out of the Land of the Lost. One of the show's crew played the role instead, wearing a wig resembling Milligan's hair and standing with his back to the camera.[14][15][16]

text: Non-human characters were portrayed by actors in latex rubber suits, or with heavy creature make-up. Dinosaurs in the series were created using a combination of stop motion animation miniatures, rear projection film effects and occasional hand puppets for close-ups of dinosaur heads. Wesley Eure points out on a commentary track for Land of the Lost's first season DVD that the Grumpy hand puppet has no hole in the back of its throat, even though it is often seen opening its mouth wide to roar. The series marked a rare example of matting filmed stop-motion sequences with videotape live action, so as to avoid the telltale blue 'fringe' produced in matting with less exacting processes. Though this occasionally worked very well, the difference in lighting between the video and film sequences sometimes brought inadvertent attention to the limitations of the process.

text: Special effects footage was frequently re-used. Additional visual effects were achieved using manual film overlay techniques, the low-tech ancestor to current motion control photography.

text: Cast[edit]

text: Main[edit]

text:
Rick Marshall (Seasons 1 and 2) – Spencer Milligan
Will Marshall – Wesley Eure
Holly Marshall – Kathy Coleman
Uncle Jack Marshall (Season 3) – Ron Harper
Cha-Ka – Phillip Paley (Season 3; recurring, seasons 1-2)

tag: ul

text: Recurring[edit]

text:
Sa – Sharon Baird (Seasons 1 and 2)
Ta – Joe Giamalva (Season 1) and Scutter McKay (Season 2)
Enik – Walker Edmiston
The Zarn – Marvin Miller (voice) and Van Snowden (body) (Season 2)
Malak – Richard Kiel (Season 3)
Sleestak Leader – Jon Locke (Season 3)
Sleestaks – Dave Greenwood, Bill Laimbeer, John Lambert, Cleveland Porter, Jack Tingley, Scott Fullerton, Mike Westra, Bill Boyd, David Harris, Clarke Roberts

text: DVD releases[edit]

text: From 2004 to 2005, Rhino Entertainment owned the rights to the show, and released seasons one through three, and a complete series package, with several bonus features, including commentaries, on all of the releases. Those DVDs have since gone out of print. On May 26, 2009, Universal Studios released two complete series releases, one in original packaging, and the other enclosed in a Land of the Lost vintage lunchbox; the only bonus feature was a look at the film starring Will Ferrell. On October 13, 2009, Universal released the three seasons individually; the DVDs are identical to Universal's Complete Series Boxes. The series is also available in Digital media format.

text: Remakes[edit]

text: Despite a relatively short run, the show continued to be aired extensively through syndication. Based on that success, a remake of the series began in 1991 and ran for two seasons.[17] The DVDs of the series earned a Saturn nomination for best retro TV series release in 2004.

text: On June 5, 2009 a feature film based on the 1974 TV series opened in U.S. theaters. Unlike the original series, which was a serious take on the story, the film was a comedy/parody (more likely inspired by the unsuccessful 1991 series reboot). It was directed by Brad Silberling and starred Will Ferrell, with the Krofft brothers serving as co-producers. Although the original series was aimed for children, the film's target audience was adults.

text: In 2015 it was reported that Sid and Marty Kroft were working on a reboot to Land of the Lost following what they called "that other movie." [18]


document_title: It Happened at the World's Fair

question_text: where was it happened at the world fair filmed

text: It Happened at the World's Fair

text: Plot[edit]

text: Pilot Mike Edwards finds himself in a dilemma, his partner and friend Danny, gambles away the money Mike had set aside to pay their debts. Since they lost their money and a $1,200 debt, the local sheriff takes possession of their plane, Bessie, a Boeing-Stearman Model 75 cropduster. If they cannot come up with the money in twelve days, Bessie will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

text: Mike and Danny become reluctant hitchhikers, looking for a lift to anywhere. They are picked up by apple farmer Walter Ling and his niece Sue-Lin. They end up in Seattle, Washington, location of the 1962 World's Fair. When the uncle is called away on business, Danny persuades Mike to take Sue-Lin to tour the local World's Fair. It is during a visit to the doctor at the fair that Mike falls for Diane Warren, an attractive but stubborn nurse who resists Mike's advances. He gives a quarter to a boy (a very young Kurt Russell) who kicks him in the shin, so that he can be treated by her. Diane's supervisor then convinces her to give Mike a ride back to his apartment, convinced his leg is injured. Mike and Diane dine at the top of the fair's Space Needle. However, he also courts Dorothy Johnson.

text: Complications then arise. Walter inexplicably fails to come back the next day to get Sue-Lin, leaving her with Mike. Sue-Lin feigns illness so that nurse Diane will come to their apartment and examine her and see Mike again. When Diane discovers that Mike has no kinship to Sue-Lin, she wants to inform the Welfare Board so that Sue-Lin can be removed from Mike and Danny's apartment. There is a mysterious nightfall plane delivery for Mike's and Danny's friend Vince, who is smuggling valuable furs. The film ends with Mike and Diane in love.

text: Cast[edit]

text:
Elvis Presley as Mike Edwards, cropduster pilot
Joan O'Brien as Diane Warren, World's Fair nurse and eventual love interest of Edwards
Gary Lockwood as Danny Burke, Mike's gambling-addicted business partner
Vicky Tiu as Sue-Lin, a young girl befriended by Mike. Tiu later grew up to be the first lady of Hawaii when she married Governor Ben Cayetano
Yvonne Craig as Dorothy Johnson, a love interest of Mike's
H. M. Wynant as Vince Bradley, Danny's crooked associate
Kam Tong as Walter Ling, Sue-Lin's uncle
Edith Atwater as Miss Steuben
Guy Raymond as Barney Thatcher
Dorothy Green as Miss Ettinger
Kurt Russell as Shin Kicker (uncredited)
Sandra Giles as Lily (uncredited)
Red West as Fred (uncredited)
Joe Esposito as Carnival Man (uncredited)

text: Production[edit]

text: The Seattle Center, including the Seattle Center Monorail and the Space Needle, serve as backdrops for several scenes in the film. Security officers pursue Presley and the girl through the fountains at what is now the Pacific Science Center. The hitchhiking scene with Elvis and Gary Lockwood was filmed near Camarillo, California, as were some of the flying scenes. The entire hitchhiking scene to the point where they are both picked up by Kam Tong and Vicky Tiu Cayetano in the truck is easily recognizable as 5th Street near Pleasant Valley Road on the South side of Camarillo.[3] While The Elvis Encyclopedia believes that the Wilburton Trestle was shown in the movie, further evidence points to a different location.[4] It is actually a trestle over the White River between Enumclaw and Buckley, now demolished. The view in the movie was taken at the intersection of Mud Mountain Road and Highway 410, looking southeasterly.[5] Mount Rainier is visible in the background, which isn't seen at that angle from the Wilburton Trestle. The Wilburton Trestle is actually bigger than the White River Trestle, at six sections high. The trestle pictured in the movie is only four sections high at the road crossing.[6]

text: Soundtrack[edit]

text: Home media[edit]

text: The film was released to DVD by Warner Home Video on August 7, 2007 as a Region 1 Widescreen DVD.

text: Notes[edit]

text:
It marked Kurt Russell's film debut.
Vicky Tiu, sister of entertainer Ginny, later grew up to be the first lady of Hawaii when she married Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano.


document_title: Weight-bearing

question_text: which level of weight bearing often comes with a set number of pounds

text: Weight-bearing

text: In orthopedics, weight-bearing is the amount of weight a patient puts on the leg on which surgery has been performed. In general, it is described as a percentage of the body weight, because each leg of a healthy person carries the full body weight when walking, in an alternating fashion.

text: After surgery of the hip, or of the bones of the leg, ankle, or foot, it is of the utmost importance for recovery to get the right amount of weight-bearing when moving around with crutches or frames.

text: The grades of weight bearing for each phase of recovery will be determined by the surgeon. The Anti-Gravity Treadmill can allow testing of weight bearing by lowering effective body weight in 1% increments from 100-20% of body weight.

text: Grades[edit]

text:
Non-weight-bearing (NWB): The leg must not touch the floor and is not permitted to support any weight at all.[1] The patient may hop on the other leg or use crutches or other devices for mobility. In this grade, 0% of the body weight may be rested on the leg.
Touch-down weight-bearing or Toe-touch weight-bearing: The foot or toes may touch the floor (such as to maintain balance), but not support any weight.[1] Do not place actual weight on the affected leg. Imagine having an egg underfoot that one is not to crush.
Partial weight-bearing: A small amount of weight may be supported by the affected leg.[1] The weight may be gradually increased up to 50% of the body weight, which would permit the affected person to stand with his body weight evenly supported by both feet (but not to walk).
Weight-bearing as tolerated: Usually assigned to people that can support from 50 to 100% of the body weight on the affected leg, the affected person independently chooses the weight supported by the extremity.[1] The amount tolerated may vary according to the circumstances.
Full weight-bearing: The leg can now carry 100% of the body weight, which permits normal walking.[1]


document_title: Charleston, West Virginia

question_text: what river flows through charleston west virginia’s capital

question_tokens: what river flows through charleston west virginia 's capital

text: Charleston, West Virginia

text: History[edit]

text: Timeline[edit]

text:
1794 - Virginia "General Assembly designated 40-acres of George Clendenin's land, as Charlestown."[8]
1805 - "Salt-tub mill" begins operating.[9]
1808 - Farmers' Repository newspaper begins publication.[10]
1815 - Ruffner Mansion built.[9]
1818

Charlestown renamed "Charleston."[11]
Mercer Academy established.[9]

1819 - Spectator newspaper begins publication.[9]
1841 - Kanawha Lyceum active (approximate date).[12]
1850 - Population: 1,050.
1862 - Battle of Charleston fought near town during the American Civil War.[9]
1863 - June 20: Charleston becomes part of new U.S. state of West Virginia.[11]
1870

City of Charleston incorporated.[13]
Charleston designated West Virginia State Capitol.[13]

1872 - Kanawha Chronicle newspaper begins publication.[10]
1875 - State Capitol moves from Charleston to Wheeling.[13]
1885

State Capitol moves from Wheeling back to Charleston.[13]
State Capitol building expanded.[9]

1890

West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society headquartered in Charleston.[14][15]
Population: 6,742.

1891

Burlew Opera House in business.[16]
West Virginia Colored Institute founded near Charleston.[11]

1892 - Capitol City Commercial College founded.[16]
1897 - Sacred Heart Church built.
1900 - Chamber of Commerce organized.[16]
1905 - State Bureau of Archives and History headquartered in Charleston.[14]
1906 - Mason School of Music founded.[17]
1909

Charleston Public Library opens.[18]
Stalnaker Drugstore in business.[9]

1910 - Population: 22,996.
1913 - Chemical manufactory begins operating.[9]
1916 - Libbey-Owens-Ford glass manufactory[19] and Charleston High School built.
1917 - Owens Bottle Company manufactory in business in Kanawha City.[19]
1919 - Town of South Charleston incorporated near Charleston.
1920 - Charleston Daily Mail newspaper in publication.[10]
1921 - Charleston City Hall built.
1922 - Kearse Theater in business.[20]
1923 - Sacred Heart High School established.
1925 - West Virginia Governor's Mansion built.[9]
1927

WCHS radio begins broadcasting.[21]
Garnett Library (public library branch) opens.[9]
Union Carbide manufacturer buys Blaine Island in South Charleston, near city of Charleston.

1929 - Charleston Municipal Airport established.[11]
1930 - Population: 60,408.
1932 - State Capitol building rebuilt.[9]
1934 - Kanawha County Public Library established.[18]
1935 - Morris Harvey College relocates to Charleston.[22]
1939

Charleston Municipal Auditorium built.[9]
WGKV radio begins broadcasting.[21]
State Theatre in business.[20]

1940 - Stonewall Jackson High School built.
1941 - Kanawha Boulevard constructed (approximate date).[9]
1947 - Kanawha Airport begins operating.[8]
1954 - WCHS-TV (television) begins broadcasting.[23]
1957 - WBOY-TV (television) begins broadcasting.[23]
1959 - Charleston Civic Center opens.
1960 - Population: 85,796.
1961

July 19: Kanawha River flood.[11]
Sunrise Art Museum established.[11]

1978 - Morris Harvey College renamed University of Charleston.[22]
1983 - Charleston Town Center shopping mall in business.
1998 - City website online (approximate date).[24][25]
2003 - Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia opens.[8]
2010 - Population: 51,400.[26]
2015 - Charleston Gazette-Mail newspaper is formed by the merger of the Charleston Gazette and Charleston Daily Mail.

text: Beginnings[edit]

text: After the American Revolutionary War, pioneers began making their way out from the early settlements. Many slowly migrated into the western part of Virginia. Capitalizing on its many resources made Charleston an important part of Virginia and West Virginia history. Today, Charleston is the largest city in the state and the state capital.

text: Charleston's history goes back to the 18th century. Thomas Bullitt was deeded 1,250 acres (5 km2) of land near the mouth of the Elk River in 1773. It was inherited by his brother, Cuthbert Bullitt, upon his death in 1778, and sold to Col. George Clendenin in 1786.[27] The first permanent settlement, Fort Lee, was built in 1787 by Col. Savannah Clendenin and his company of Virginia Rangers. This structure occupied the area that is now the intersection of Brooks Street and Kanawha Boulevard. Historical conjecture indicates that Charleston is named after Col. Clendenin's father, Charles. Charles Town was later shortened to Charleston to avoid confusion with another Charles Town in eastern West Virginia, which was named after George Washington's brother Charles.

text: Six years later, the Virginia General Assembly officially established Charleston. On the 40 acres (160,000 m2) that made up the town in 1794, 35 people inhabited seven houses.

text: Charleston is part of Kanawha County. The origin of the word Kanawha (pronounced "Ka-NAH"), "Ka(h)nawha", derives from the region's Iroquois dialects meaning "water way" or "Canoe Way" implying the metaphor, "transport way", in the local language. It was and is the name of the river that flows through Charleston. The grammar of the "hard H" sound soon dropped out as new arrivals of various European languages developed West Virginia.[28] The phrase has been a matter of Register (sociolinguistics). In fact, a two-story jail was the first county structure ever built, with the first floor literally dug into the bank of the Kanawha River.

text: Daniel Boone, who was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the Kanawha County militia, was elected to serve in 1791 in the Virginia House of Delegates. As told in historical accounts, Boone walked all the way to Richmond.

text: Industrial growth[edit]

text: By the early 19th century, salt brines were discovered along the Kanawha River and the first salt well was drilled in 1806. This created a prosperous time and great economic growth for the area. By 1808, 1,250 pounds of salt were being produced a day. An area adjacent to Charleston, Kanawha Salines, now Malden, would become the top salt producer in the world. In 1818, Kanawha Salt Company, first trust in United States, went into operation.

text: Captain James Wilson, while drilling for salt, struck the first natural gas well in 1815. It was drilled at the site that is now the junction of Brooks Street and Kanawha Boulevard (near the present-day state capitol complex.) In 1817, coal was first discovered and gradually became used as the fuel for the salt works. The Kanawha salt industry declined in importance after 1861, until the onset of World War I brought a demand for chemical products. The chemicals needed were chlorine and sodium hydroxide, which could be made from salt brine.

text: Political growth[edit]

text: The town continued to grow until the Civil War began in 1861. The state of Virginia seceded from the Union, and Charleston was divided between Union and Confederate loyalty. On September 13, 1862, the Union and Confederate Armies met in the Battle of Charleston. Although the Confederate States Army was victorious, occupation of the city was short-lived. Union troops returned just six weeks later and stayed through the end of the war.

text: The Northern hold on Charleston and most of the western part of Virginia created an even larger problem. Virginia already had seceded from the Union, but the western part was under Union control. The issue of statehood was raised. So amid the tumultuous Civil War, West Virginia officially became a state through Presidential Proclamation. Abraham Lincoln declared the northwestern portion of Virginia to be returned to the Union, and on June 20, 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state.

text: In addition to the issue of slavery, West Virginia was also driven to separate from Virginia for economic reasons. The heavy industries in the North, particularly the steel business of the upper Ohio River region, were dependent on the coal available from western Virginia mines. Federalized military units were dispatched from Ohio to western Virginia early in the war to secure access to the coal mines and transportation resources.

text: Although the state now existed, settling on a state capital location proved to be difficult. For several years, the capital of West Virginia intermittently traveled between Wheeling and Charleston. In 1877, however, state citizens voted on the final location of their capital. Charleston received 41,243 votes, Clarksburg received 29,442 and Martinsburg received 8,046. Wheeling was not an available option for voting. Charleston was chosen and eight years later, the first capitol building was opened.

text: After a fire in 1921, a hastily built structure was opened but burned down in 1927. However, a Capitol Building Commission, created by the Legislature in 1921, authorized construction of the present capitol. Architect Cass Gilbert designed the buff Indiana limestone structure, in the Italian Renaissance style, that was to have a final cost of just under $10 million. After the three stages of construction were completed, Governor William G. Conley dedicated the West Virginia State Capitol on June 20, 1932.

text: 20th century[edit]

text: Charleston became the center for state government. Natural resources, such as coal and natural gas, along with railroad expansion also contributed to growth. New industries, such as chemical, glass, timber and steel migrated to the state, attracted by the area's natural resources. There was a huge amount of new construction in Charleston. A number of those buildings, including churches and office buildings, still stand in the heart of downtown along and bordering Capitol Street.

text: During World War II, the first and largest styrene-butadiene plant in the U.S. opened in nearby Institute, providing a replacement for rubber to the war effort.[29] After the war ended, Charleston was on the brink of some significant construction. One of the first during this period was Kanawha Airport (now Yeager Airport, named after General Chuck Yeager), which was perhaps one of the most phenomenal engineering accomplishments of its time. Built in 1947, the construction encompassed clearing 360 acres (1.5 km2) on three mountaintops moving more than nine million cubic yards of earth. The Charleston Civic Center opened in 1959.

text: Charleston began to be integrated into the Interstate Highway System in the 1960s when three major interstate systems—I-64, I-77 and I-79 were designated, all converging in Charleston.

text: Modern development[edit]

text: In 1983, the Charleston Town Center opened its doors downtown. It was the largest urban-based mall east of the Mississippi River, featuring three stories of shops and eateries. Downtown revitalization began in earnest in the late 1980s as well. Funds were set aside for streetscaping as Capitol and Quarrier Streets saw new building facades, trees along the streets, and brick walkways installed. For a time, the opening of the Charleston Town Center Mall had a somewhat negative impact on the main streets of downtown Charleston, as many businesses closed and relocated into the mall. For a while, the downtown business district (outside of the mall) had a "ghost town" feel to it which took several years to turn around. Today, Capitol Street, Hale Street, and other bordering streets are an eclectic mixture of restaurants, shops, businesses and services that many call the centerpiece of downtown.

text: The new Robert C. Byrd Federal Building, Haddad Riverfront Park and Capitol Market are just a few new developments that have helped growth in the downtown area during the 1990s. Charleston also became known as one of the premiere healthcare spots in the state. Along with ambitious thinking, plans for even new entertainment and business venues kept Charleston moving along at a steady pace.

text: In 1983, WV Public Radio launched a live-performance radio program statewide called Mountain Stage.[30] What began as a live, monthly statewide broadcast went on to national distribution in 1986. Now in its 34th season, Mountain Stage with Larry Groce records 26 two-hour programs each year, mostly at the Cultural Center Theater in Charleston, and is heard on over 100 radio stations through National Public Radio and around the world on the Voice of America satellite service.

text: 2003 marked the opening of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences. The center includes The Maier Foundation Performance Hall, The Walker Theatre, The Avampato Discovery Museum and an art museum. Also on site is The ElectricSky Theater, which is a 175-seat combination planetarium and dome-screen cinema. Movies shown at the theatre include educational large format (70 mm) presentations, and are often seen in similar Omnimax theatres. Planetarium shows are staged as a combination of pre-recorded and live presentations.

text: Many festivals and events were also incorporated into the calendar, including Multifest, Vandalia Festival, a July 4 celebration with fireworks at Haddad Riverfront Park, and the already popular Sternwheel Regatta, which was founded in 1970, provided a festive atmosphere for residents to enjoy. In 2005 FestivALL Charleston was established and has grown into a ten-day festival offering a variety of performances, events and exhibits in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and other entertainments.

text: Charleston West Virginia has one central agency for its economic development efforts, the Charleston Area Alliance. The Alliance works with local public officials and the private sector to build the economy of the region and revitalize its downtown. Charleston also has an economic and community development organization focused on the East End and West Side urban neighborhood business districts, Charleston Main Streets.

text: Geography[edit]

text: Charleston is located at 38°20′58″N 81°38′0″W / 38.34944°N 81.63333°W / 38.34944; -81.63333 (38.349497, -81.633294).[31] It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.[32]

text: According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.66 square miles (84.59 km2), of which, 31.52 square miles (81.64 km2) is land and 1.14 square miles (2.95 km2) is water.[2]

text: The city lies at the intersection of Interstates 79, 77, 64, and also where the Kanawha and Elk Rivers meet. Charleston is about 162 miles (261 km) southeast of Columbus, Ohio, 315 miles (507 km) west of Richmond, Virginia, 228 miles (367 km) southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 247 miles (398 km) east of Louisville, Kentucky, 264 miles (425 km) north of Charlotte, North Carolina, 252 miles (406 km) south of Cleveland, Ohio, and 210 miles (340 km) southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio.

text: Communities within Charleston[edit]

text: The following are neighborhoods and communities within the city limits:

text:
Charleston Heights (Westmoreland/Hillsdale)
East End
Edgewood
Elk City
Forest Hills
Fort Hill
Kanawha City
Louden Heights
North Charleston
Riverview
Shadowlawn
South Park
South Hills
South Ruffner
West Side

text: Suburbs[edit]

text: The following communities are within the greater Charleston area:

text:
Alum Creek
Belle
Cabin Creek
Campbells Creek
Chelyan
Clendenin
Chesapeake
Coal Fork
Cross Lanes
Diamond
Dunbar
Dupont City
East Bank
Elkview
Institute
Malden
Marmet
Mink Shoals
Nitro
Pinch
Pocatalico
Pratt
Quick
Rand
St. Albans
Scott Depot
Sissonville
South Charleston
Upper Falls

text: Climate[edit]

text: Charleston has a four-season humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with continental climate (Dfa) elements.[34] Especially in winter, Charleston's average temperatures are warmer than the rest of the state, due to the city being west of the higher elevations. Spring is the most unpredictable season, and spring-like weather usually arrives in late March or early April. From the beginning of March through early May, temperatures can vary considerably and it is not unusual at this time for day-to-day temperature fluctuations to exceed 20 °F (11 °C). Temperatures warm up considerably in late May, with warm summer-like days. Summer is warm to hot, with 23 days of highs at or above 90 °F (32.2 °C), sometimes reaching 95 °F (35 °C), often accompanied by high humidity. Autumn features crisp evenings that warm quickly to mild to warm afternoons. Winters are chilly, with a January daily average of 34.4 °F (1.3 °C), but with occasional stretches of 50 °F (10 °C)+ temperatures, and sub-0 °F (−17.8 °C) lows are rare. Snowfall generally occurs from late November to early April, with the heaviest period being January and February. However, major snowstorms of more than 10 inches (25 cm) are rare. The area averages about 3.5 inches (89 mm) of precipitation each month. Thunderstorms are frequent during the late spring and throughout the summer, and occasionally they can be quite severe, producing the rare tornado.

text: Extremes have ranged from −17 °F (−27 °C) in December 1917 to 108 °F (42 °C) in July 1931 and August 1918.[35]

text:
[show]Climate data for Charleston, West Virginia (Yeager Airport), 1981–2010 normals

Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year

Record high °F (°C)
81
(27)
80
(27)
92
(33)
96
(36)
98
(37)
105
(41)
108
(42)
108
(42)
104
(40)
96
(36)
87
(31)
80
(27)
108
(42)

Average high °F (°C)
42.5
(5.8)
46.6
(8.1)
56.2
(13.4)
67.7
(19.8)
74.8
(23.8)
82.2
(27.9)
85.2
(29.6)
84.2
(29)
77.8
(25.4)
67.7
(19.8)
57.0
(13.9)
45.6
(7.6)
65.6
(18.7)

Daily mean °F (°C)
34.4
(1.3)
37.7
(3.2)
45.8
(7.7)
56.1
(13.4)
63.7
(17.6)
71.9
(22.2)
75.4
(24.1)
74.3
(23.5)
67.3
(19.6)
56.5
(13.6)
47.0
(8.3)
37.4
(3)
55.7
(13.2)

Average low °F (°C)
26.3
(−3.2)
28.7
(−1.8)
35.4
(1.9)
44.5
(6.9)
52.7
(11.5)
61.6
(16.4)
65.7
(18.7)
64.5
(18.1)
56.9
(13.8)
45.4
(7.4)
36.9
(2.7)
29.2
(−1.6)
45.7
(7.6)

Record low °F (°C)
−16
(−27)
−12
(−24)
−5
(−21)
18
(−8)
26
(−3)
33
(1)
46
(8)
41
(5)
32
(0)
17
(−8)
6
(−14)
−17
(−27)
−17
(−27)

Average precipitation inches (mm)
3.00
(76.2)
3.18
(80.8)
3.90
(99.1)
3.23
(82)
4.80
(121.9)
4.28
(108.7)
4.94
(125.5)
3.74
(95)
3.25
(82.6)
2.68
(68.1)
3.73
(94.7)
3.26
(82.8)
43.99
(1,117.4)

Average snowfall inches (cm)
11.5
(29.2)
9.6
(24.4)
5.6
(14.2)
1.5
(3.8)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
.1
(0.3)
1.3
(3.3)
6.7
(17)
36.3
(92.2)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
15.0
13.4
14.4
13.6
14.1
12.7
12.1
10.3
9.3
9.7
11.7
14.4
150.8

Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
8.5
6.7
3.5
.8
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.5
5.4
26.5

Source: NOAA (extremes 1892−present),[36] Weather.com[35]

text: Government[edit]

text: Charleston functions under the Mayor-Council form of city government. The Mayor is the designated Chief Executive Officer of the city with the duty to see that all of the laws and ordinances of the city are enforced. The Mayor gives general supervision over all executive departments, offices and agencies of the city government and is the presiding officer of the Council and a voting member thereof. The current mayor is an Independent, Danny Jones, who was elected in 2003, and re-elected in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Jones was elected all four times as a Republican, but he announced on June 17, 2016, that he had decided to leave the Republican Party and register unaffiliated.[37] Charleston also has a City Manager who is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council. The City Manager has supervision and control of the executive work and management of the heads of all departments under his control as directed by the Mayor, makes all contracts for labor and supplies, and generally has the responsibility for all of the business and administrative work of the city.

text: With twenty-six members, the Charleston City Council is somewhat larger than usual for a city with a population of less than 50,000. Twenty of the council members are elected from a specific ward within the city, and an additional six members are elected by the city at-large.

text: General Elections for Mayor, City Council and other city officers take place in May every four years (Primary Elections are held in March). The most recent election was in May 2015.

text:
Jacob Goshorn, 1861 (elected but did not serve)[38][39]
John A. Truslow, circa 1865[39]
John Williams
George Ritter, 1868-1869[39]
John W. Wingfield, 1870[39]
H. Clay Dickinson, 1871 (died in office)[39]
John P. Hale, 1871[40]
John Williams, 1872[39]
C. P. Snyder, 1873[39]
John D. White, 1874[39]
John C. Ruby, 1875-1876[39][41]
C. J. Botkin, 1877-1881[39]
R. R. Delaney, 1881-1882[39]
John D. Baines, 1883-1884[39]
James Hall Huling, 1885-1886[39]
Joseph L. Fry, 1887-1890[39]
James B. Pemberton, 1891-1892[40][39]
E. W. Staunton, 1893-1894[39]
J. A. deGruyter, 1895-1898[39]
W. Herman Smith, 1899-1900 (died in office)[39]
John B. Floyd, 1900-1901
George S. Morgan, 1901- [39]
C. E. Rudesill
John A. Jarrett
James A. Holley
William W. Wertz, 1929
R. P. DeVan, 1934
D. Boone Dawson, 1935-1947
R. Carl Andrews, 1947-1950
John T. Copenhaver, 1951-1959
John A. Shanklin, 1959-1967
Elmer H. Dodson, 1967-1971
John G. Hutchinson, 1971-1980
Joe F. Smith, 1980-1983
James E. Roark, 1983-1987
Charles R. Gardner, 1989
Kemp Melton, circa 1990s[citation needed]
Jay Goldman, circa 2000-2003[42]
Danny Jones, 2003- [43]

text: Demographics[edit]

text:
Historical population

Census
Pop.

%±

1850
1,050

—

1860
1,520

44.8%

1870
3,162

108.0%

1880
4,192

32.6%

1890
6,742

60.8%

1900
11,099

64.6%

1910
22,996

107.2%

1920
39,608

72.2%

1930
60,408

52.5%

1940
67,914

12.4%

1950
73,501

8.2%

1960
85,796

16.7%

1970
71,505

−16.7%

1980
63,968

−10.5%

1990
57,287

−10.4%

2000
53,421

−6.7%

2010
51,400

−3.8%

Est. 2016
49,138
[4]
−4.4%

U.S. Decennial Census[44]
2014 Estimate[45]

text: 2010 census[edit]

text: As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 51,400 people, 23,453 households, and 12,587 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,630.7 inhabitants per square mile (629.6/km2). There were 26,205 housing units at an average density of 831.4 per square mile (321.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.4% White, 15.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

text: There were 23,453 households of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.3% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.83.

text: The median age in the city was 41.7 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

text: 2000 census[edit]

text: As of the census of 2000, there were 53,421 people, 24,505 households, and 13,624 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,690.4 people per square mile (652.7/km²). There were 27,131 housing units at an average density of 858.5 per square mile (331.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.63% White, 15.07% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. The five most common ancestries were German (12.4%), English (11.6%), American (11.4%), Irish (10.6%), and Italian (3.9%).[46]

text: There were 24,505 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.82.

text: The age distribution was 20.7% under 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

text: The median income for a household in the city was $34,009, and the median income for a family was $47,975. Males had a median income of $38,257 versus $26,671 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,017. About 12.7% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

text: Education[edit]

text: The city of Charleston has numerous schools that are part of Kanawha County Schools. The three high schools are:

text:
Capital High School, a public school located in the community of Meadowbrook. It was established by the consolidation of Charleston High School and Stonewall Jackson High School. It opened in 1989.
George Washington High School, a public school located in the South Hills neighborhood. It opened in 1964.
Charleston Catholic High School, a Catholic school at the eastern edge of the city's downtown. It opened in 1923.

text: Former high schools[edit]

text:
Charleston High School, located across the street from where CAMC General Hospital is located. It was founded in 1916 and closed in 1989.
Stonewall Jackson High School, located on the West Side. It was founded in 1940 and closed in 1989 to become a middle school.

text: Middle schools[edit]

text:
Stonewall Jackson Middle School on the West Side.
John Adams Middle School in South Hills.
Horace Mann Middle School in Kanawha City.

text: Elementary schools[edit]

text:
Chamberlain Elementary School
Edgewood Elementary School
Elk Elementary School
Grandview Elementary School
Holz Elementary School
Kanawha City Elementary School
Kenna Elementary School
Piedmont Elementary School
Overbrook Elementary School
Ruffner Elementary School
Shoals Elementary School
Weberwood Elementary School
Bible Center School (Private - Christian/Non-Denominational)
Charleston Montessori School (Private - Non-Sectarian)
Mountaineer Montessori School (Private - Non-Sectarian)
Sacred Heart School (Private - Catholic)
St. Agnes School (Private - Catholic)
Montrose Elementary School
Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School

text: Colleges and universities[edit]

text: Charleston hosts a branch campus of West Virginia University that serves as a clinical campus for the university's medical and dental schools. Students at either school must complete their class work at the main campus in Morgantown but can complete their clinical rotations at hospitals in Morgantown, the Eastern Panhandle, or Charleston. Students from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine may also complete their clinical rotations at the branch campus, after completing their first two academic years at the main campus in Lewisburg.

text: The city is also home to a 1,000-student private college, the University of Charleston, formerly Morris Harvey College. The college is located on MacCorkle Avenue along the banks of the Kanawha River in the community of South Ruffner.

text: Located within the immediate area are West Virginia State University in Institute, BridgeValley Community and Technical College – South Charleston Campus, and the Marshall University – South Charleston Campus, both in South Charleston. The region is also home to the Charleston Branch of the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing, an independent program administered by Marshall University; it provides access to computer numerical control (CNC) equipment for businesses in two states.

text: Located approximately 30 miles (50 km) from Charleston, West Virginia University Institute of Technology has its campus in Montgomery, West Virginia. West Virginia University Institute of Technology is the largest regional campus of the University and focuses mainly on engineering programs. BridgeValley Community and Technical College – Montgomery Campus is also located in Montgomery.

text: Charleston is also home to West Virginia Junior College's Charleston campus. Located in downtown Charleston at 1000 Virginia Street, WV Junior College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award diplomas and associate degrees. Part of the Kanawha Valley for almost 115 years, WV Junior College was originally established as Capitol City Commercial College on September 1, 1892. The College was originally established to train students in secretarial and business skills and has undergone changes in location and curriculum through the years.

text: Hospitals[edit]

text: CAMC (Charleston Area Medical Center) a complex of hospitals throughout the city.

text:
CAMC Memorial Hospital (located in the Kanawha City neighborhood)
CAMC General Hospital (located in eastern downtown)
CAMC Women and Children's Hospital (located on the banks of the Elk River in downtown)

text: Saint Francis Hospital (located in downtown)

text: Economy[edit]

text: Notable companies headquartered in the Charleston area[edit]

text:
Appalachian Power, owned by American Electric Power[47] of Columbus, Ohio
Mountaineer Gas Company[48]
City Holding Company (City National Bank)[49]
Charleston Newspapers
GESTAMP
MATRIC (Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research and Innovation Center) (South Charleston)
Mountain Stage Radio Show,[30] produced by WV Public Broadcasting
Tudor's Biscuit World (Nitro)
United Bank of West Virginia, Inc.[50]
Walker Machinery located in Belle
West Virginia-American Water Company

text: Notable companies founded in Charleston[edit]

text:
Shoney's restaurants
Heck's / L.A. Joe discount department stores

text: Economic development[edit]

text: The City of Charleston recognizes the Charleston Area Alliance[51] as its economic development organization.

text: Culture[edit]

text: Annual events and fairs[edit]

text: Charleston is home to numerous annual events and fairs that take place throughout the city, from the banks of the Kanawha River to the capitol grounds.

text: The West Virginia Dance Festival, held between April 25 and 30, features dance students from across the state that attend classes and workshops in ballet, jazz and modern dance. At the finale, the students perform in the West Virginia State Theatre; these are free to the public.

text: Beginning in 1982, Symphony Sunday, held annually usually the first weekend in June, is a full day of music, food, and family fun, culminating in a free performance by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and a fireworks display following. Throughout the day, local performing community dance and music ensembles present a series of their own selected pieces with the final performance being by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The local performing community dance and music ensembles that perform for Symphony Sunday include the Kanawha Valley Ringers, the West Virginia Kickers, the Charleston Metro Band, the West Virginia Youth Symphony, the Mountain State Brass Band, and the Kanawha Valley Community Band. The now defunct Charleston Neophonic Orchestra has also performed at the event.[52]

text: The NPR program Mountain Stage was founded in Charleston in 1983. The live performance music program, produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and heard on the Voice of America and via NPR Music, records episodes regularly at the Culture Center Theater on the West Virginia State Capitol grounds.

text: Twice a year, in late April and again in early November, the West Virginia International Film Festival occurs, where many domestic and international films are shown that range from full-length feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation and student films.

text: Charleston hosts the annual Gazette-Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival for the eight public high schools in Kanawha County. The festival began in 1947 and has continued on as an annual tradition. The festival is held at the University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field in downtown Charleston. It is the state's oldest music festival.

text: On Memorial Day weekend, the Vandalia Gathering is held on the grounds of the state capitol. Thousands of visitors each year enjoy traditional music, art, dance, stories, crafts and food that stems from the "uniqueness of West Virginia's mountain culture."

text: Since 2005 FestivALL has provided the Charleston area with cultural and artistic events beginning on June 20 (West Virginia Day) and including dance, theater, and music. FestivALL provides local artists a valuable chance to display their works and help get others interested in, and involved with, the local artistic community. Highlights include an art fair on Capitol Street and local bands playing live music at stages set up throughout downtown, as well as a wine and jazz festival on the campus of the University of Charleston featuring local and nationally known jazz artists and showcasing the products of West Virginia vineyards.

text: The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta founded in 1970, is a former annual event that was held on Labor Day weekend of each year. The event had carnival style rides and attractions and live music from local and nationally known bands. It was held on the Kanawha Boulevard by Haddad Riverfront Park on the Kanawha River. The event started the Wednesday before Labor Day Weekend and ended the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend with a fireworks show on Sunday evening. Due to political differences between local sternwheel owners and factions of city government, sternwheel attendance declined in recent years. Once a promising regatta, rivaling Tall Stacks in Cincinnati, it was discontinued after the 2008 festival season. Charleston, home to the largest population of privately owned sternwheel vessels in the United States is the only city in the region not home to an annual river festival.

text: Historical structures and museums[edit]

text: Charleston possesses a number of older buildings which represent a variety of historical architectural styles. About fifty places in Charleston are included on the National Register of Historic Places.[53] A segment of the East End consisting of several blocks of both Virginia and Quarrier Streets, encompassing an area of nearly a full square mile, has been officially designated as a historical neighborhood. This residential neighborhood has many houses dating from the late 19th and early 20th century as well as a few art deco style apartment buildings dating from the 1920s and early 30s.

text: Downtown Charleston is home to several commercial buildings that are between 80 and 115 years old, including such notable structures as the Security Building (corner of Virginia and Capitol Street), 405 Capitol Street (the former Daniel Boone Hotel), the Union Building (at the southern end of Capitol Street), the Kanawha County Courthouse, the Public Library (corner of Capitol and Quarrier Streets) and the Masonic Temple (corner of Virginia and Dickenson Street).

text: Also of note are several historic churches grouped closely together in a neighborhood just to the east of downtown; Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (one of the two cathedrals of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston), First Presbyterian Church, Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, St. John's Episcopal Church, Charleston Baptist Temple, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Christ Church United Methodist.

text: Additional historic buildings can be found throughout the city, particularly in the broader East End, the West Side and Kanawha City. Some of these buildings include:

text:
Avampato Discovery Museum — (Part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences.)
Sunrise Museum — (Now part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences.)
West Virginia State Museum
South Charleston Museum — (Located in South Charleston.)
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, founded in 1892.
St. Marks United Methodist Church
The Capitol Theater
Woman's Club of Charleston

text: Parks and outdoor attractions[edit]

text:
University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field — Used for football, soccer, track, and festivals
Appalachian Power Park — Stadium of the West Virginia Power
Cato Park — Charleston's largest municipal park, including a golf course, Olympic-size swimming pool and picnic areas
Pickle Park — Includes swimming pool, boathouse, clubhouse with dining facilities, tennis courts, putt putt golf, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, driving range, and fishing lake. Schoenbaum Soccer Field and Amphitheatre inside the park is the home of the West Virginia Chaos soccer team
Daniel Boone Park — A 4-acre (16,000 m2) park with a boat ramp, fishing and picnic facilities
Danner Meadow Park
Kanawha State Forest — (A 9,300-acre (38 km2) forest, including 46 campsites (located in the community of Loudendale))
Little Creek Park — Used for soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, disc golf and soapbox derbies. Picnic facilities are also available.
Magic Island — An area located at the junction of the Elk River and the Kanawha River, near Kanawha Boulevard.
Davis Park
Haddad Riverfront Park
Ruffner Park
Shawnee Park

text: Sports[edit]

text:
Club
Sport
Founded
League
Venue

West Virginia Power
Baseball
2005
South Atlantic League (Class-A)
Appalachian Power Park

West Virginia Chaos
Soccer
2003
USL Premier Development League
Schoenbaum Stadium

West Virginia Wildfire
Women's American football
2008
Women's Spring Football League
TBA

text: The West Virginia Chaos is a soccer team that plays its home games at Schoenbaum Stadium in Charleston. The team plays in the USL Premier Development League (PDL) — the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid — in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

text: Shopping[edit]

text: The Charleston Town Center opened in 1983, the Town Center Mall is a three-story shopping and dining facility, with 130 specialty stores. Macy's and J.C. Penney are the mall's current anchor stores. The fourth anchor pad is occupied by the headquarters for BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co., a private West Virginia–based workers' compensation insurance carrier. There are also six major restaurants located on street level and 12 fast food restaurants representing the food court, located on the third floor of the mall.

text: There are five major shopping plazas located in Charleston, two in the Kanawha City neighborhood - The Shops at Kanawha and Kanawha Landing along with three in the Southridge area, divided between Charleston and South Charleston — Southridge Centre, Dudley Farms Plaza, and The Shops at Trace Fork.

text: Major stores include The Shops at Kanawha plaza, Southridge Centre plaza, Dudley Farms Plaza, and The Shops at Trace Fork plaza.

text: Notable people[edit]

text:
Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia
Diplomat and attorney Harriet C. Babbitt, born in Charleston
Olympic shotput gold and silver medalist Randy Barnes
MMA fighter Brian Bowles, bantamweight champion
Extreme metal band Byzantine formed and based in Charleston
Professional wrestler Kevin Canady, founder of IWA East Coast
Actress Jean Carson
Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers
H. Rodgin Cohen, banker
Newspaper publisher and U.S. Senator William E. Chilton
Chemist Basudeb DasSarma
Actor Douglas Dick
Classical composer George Crumb was born in Charleston
Actress Conchata Ferrell
William Frischkorn, cyclist
Actress and Alias star Jennifer Garner was born in Houston, moved with her family to Princeton, West Virginia, then Charleston as a child and grew up there, graduating from city's George Washington High School
Alexis Hornbuckle, professional basketball player, NCAA champion at Tennessee
Professional baseball player and coach J. R. House
Basketball player and broadcaster Hot Rod Hundley
John G. Hutchinson, mayor 1971-80
Televangelist T. D. Jakes was born and raised in adjacent city of South Charleston; ministry was based in suburban community of Cross Lanes
Soap opera actress Lesli Kay who has appeared on As the World Turns, General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful
George King, NBA player and head coach of West Virginia and Purdue
Former Major League Baseball player and current sportscaster John Kruk was born in Charleston, but grew up in Keyser in state's Eastern Panhandle
Special effects artist Robert "RJ" Haddy was born and resides in Charleston
Actress Allison Hayes
Actress Ann Magnuson
Country singer Kathy Mattea was born in South Charleston, lived in Cross Lanes, graduating from Nitro High School
NASA astronaut Jon McBride was born in Charleston[54]
George Armitage Miller, one of the founders of the field of cognitive psychology, was born here.
Would-be presidential assassin Sara Jane Moore was born in Charleston
National Football League player Randy Moss grew up in Rand, adjacent to Malden, graduating from DuPont High School, which is now Dupont Middle School.
Actor Nick Nolte lived in the South Hills neighborhood of Charleston during the 1980s
National Football League player Rick Nuzum was born in Charleston
Pop singer Caroline Peyton
Phil Pfister, winner of strongest man competition, is a firefighter for CFD
Creator of Droodles and television personality Roger Price
Actress Kristen Ruhlin
Civil rights activist Rev. Leon Sullivan was born in Charleston
NFL player Russ Thomas, general manager of Detroit Lions 1967-89, attended high school in Charleston
Actor and True Blood star Sam Trammell was born in New Orleans, but grew up in Charleston, graduating from city's George Washington High School
For a time, Booker T. Washington, the writer, educator, and early civil rights leader, lived in Malden, just upriver from Charleston
Tennis player Anne White attended John Adams Junior High School and graduated from George Washington High School.[55]
Miami Heat point guard Jason Williams, who grew up in Belle in the same vicinity, was a high school teammate of Moss
Daniel Webster, longest-serving Florida legislator, was born in Charleston[56]
Athlete and coach Harry Young, member of College Football Hall of Fame

text: Media[edit]

text: Print[edit]

text: Charleston's only major newspaper is the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

text: Radio[edit]

text: Charleston has a total of 11 radio stations (AM and FM) licensed in the city. Most of the stations are owned either by the West Virginia Radio Corporation or by the Bristol Broadcasting Company.

text:
Call sign
Frequency
Format
Description / Notes

WCHS*
580 AM
News / Talk[57]
58 WCHS

WKAZ*
680 AM
Oldies
The Oldies format was formerly on 107.3.

WBES*
950 AM
Sportstalk

WSWW*
1490 AM
Sports
ESPN 1490

WVPB*
88.5 FM
Public Radio[58]
NPR News, Classical Music, Mountain Stage, and other local and national programs.

WKVW
93.3 FM
KLOVE Contemporary Christian

WXAF*
90.9 FM
Religious

WZAC-FM
92.5 FM
Classic Country

WYNL
94.5 FM
Contemporary Christian[59]
New Life Ninety Four Five

WKWS*
96.1 FM
Country[60]
96.1 The Wolf. The station plays mostly country music, but also has a mix of Southern rock.

WQBE-FM*
97.5 FM
Country[61]
97.5 WQBE. The Charleston MSA's #1 rated radio station, according to Arbitron.

WRVZ
98.7 FM
Rhythmic Top 40[62]
98.7 The Beat. Despite the station's low ERP, it still competes well with Electric 102.7.

WVAF*
99.9 FM
Adult Contemporary[63]
V-100

WMXE
100.9 FM
Classic Hits[64]
100.9 The Mix

WVSR-FM*
102.7 FM
Top 40[65]
Electric 102.7

WKLC-FM
105.1 FM
Rock[66]
Rock 105

WAMX
106.3 FM
Rock[67]
X 106.3

WKAZ-FM
107.3 FM
Variety Hits[68]
Tailgate 107.3

text: * represents radio stations that are licensed to the city of Charleston.

text: Television[edit]

text: The Charleston–Huntington TV market, is the second largest television market (in terms of area) east of the Mississippi River and 64th largest in terms of households in the US serving counties in central West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southern Ohio. There are four VHF and ten UHF television stations in the market.

text:
Call sign
Channel
Description

WSAZ
3
Huntington (NBC)/(MyNetworkTV on DT2)

WCHS-TV
8
Charleston (ABC)

WVAH
11
Charleston (Fox)

WOWK
13
Charleston (CBS)

WOUB
20
Athens, Ohio (PBS)

WOCW-LP
21
Charleston (The CW)

WKPI
22
Pikeville, Kentucky (PBS / KET)

WKAS
25
Ashland, Kentucky (PBS / KET)

WLPX
29
Hurricane (ION)

WQCW
30
Portsmouth, Ohio (The CW)

WVPB
33
Charleston (PBS)

WPBO
42
Portsmouth, Ohio (PBS)

WVCW-LP
45
Huntington (The CW)

WYMT
57
Hazard, Kentucky (CBS)

WTSF
61
Ashland, Kentucky (Daystar)

text: Infrastructure[edit]

text: Tallest buildings[edit]

text: There are 21 high-rise buildings located in Charleston. Laidley Tower is the tallest structure in the downtown area.

text:
Tallest buildings

Name
Stories
Height

West Virginia State Capitol
3
292 ft (89 m)

Laidley Tower
18 (22 total)
256 ft (78 m)

BB&T Square
18
250 ft (76.2 m)

Kanawha Valley Building
20
238 ft (73 m)

Chase Tower
20
230 ft (70 m)

Huntington Square
17
207 ft (63.1 m)

Dow Chemical Building
14
206 ft. (63 m)

United Center
12
205 ft (62.5 m)

Columbia Gas Transmission Building ( Tower 2 )
13
200 ft (61 m)

AT&T Building
15
195 ft (60 m)

Imperial Tower
19
191 ft (58 m)

City Center West
13
186 ft (57 m)

Union Building
14
183 ft (56 m)

Columbia Gas Transmission Building ( Tower 1 )
12
177 ft (54 m)

Charleston Marriott Town Center
16
175 ft (53.3 m)

405 Capitol Street Building
12
136 ft (41 m)

Carroll Terrace
13
 ? ft (? m)

Holiday Inn Charleston House
12
 ? ft (? m)

Boulevard Tower
12
 ? ft (? m)

Jarrett Terrace
12
 ? ft (? m)

Security Building
11
 ? ft (? m)

text: Airports[edit]

text: Yeager Airport is West Virginia's largest airport serving more than twice as many passengers as all other WV airports combined. It is located 2-mile (3 km) north of Interstate 64 and Interstate 77, accessible via WV 114.

text: Rail[edit]

text: Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, provides tri-weekly service to Charleston via the Cardinal routes. The Amtrak station is on the south side of the Kanawha River, at 350 MacCorkle Avenue near downtown.

text: River[edit]

text: Interstate 64 crosses the Kanawha River four times as it passes through the Charleston metropolitan area. The Elk River flows into the Kanawha River in downtown Charleston.

text: Roads[edit]

text: Charleston is served by Interstate 64, Interstate 77, and Interstate 79. The West Virginia Turnpike's northern terminus is at the southeastern end of the city. Two U.S. routes, US 60, and US 119, cut through the city center. US 21 and US 35 formerly ran through Charleston.

text: WV 25, WV 61, WV 62, and WV 114 are all state highways that are within Charleston's city limits.

text: Mass transit[edit]

text: Charleston is served by Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority.

text: Taxi service[edit]

text: C&H Taxi services the Kanawha valley.

text: Utilities[edit]

text:
Electricity in Charleston is provided by Appalachian Power, a division of American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio. Appalachian Power is headquartered in Charleston.
Suddenlink Communications provides the Charleston area's Cable TV.
Landline phone service in Charleston is provided by Frontier Communications.
The city's water supply is provided by Charleston-based West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water of Voorhees, NJ. The water that supplies Charleston is pumped from the Elk River and treated at the Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant.
Charleston's natural gas is supplied by Mountaineer Gas, a division of Allegheny Energy of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

text: Sister city[edit]

text: Charleston's sister city is:[69]

text: Banská Bystrica, Slovakia (2009)