Map of Kanawha County, West Virginia

Kanawha County (/kəˈnɔːə/ kə-NAW-ə) is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia’s most populous county. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capital. Kanawha County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Kanawha County overview:
Name:	Kanawha County
FIPS code:	54-039
State:	West Virginia
Founded:	October 5, 1789
Named for:	Kanawha River
Seat:	Charleston
Largest city:	Charleston
Total Area:	911 sq mi (2,360 km²)
Land Area:	902 sq mi (2,340 km²)
Total Population:	180,745
Population Density:	200/sq mi (77/km²)

Kanawha County location map. Where is Kanawha County?

Kanawha County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Kanawha County. — Location of Kanawha County in the the United States.

Kanawha County location on the West Virginia map. Where is Kanawha County. — Location of Kanawha County in West Virginia.

History

The county began taking formation on November 14, 1788, under the authorization of the Virginia General Assembly and was founded on October 5, 1789. The county was named for the Kanawha River, which in turn was named after a Native American tribe that lived in the area. During the American Civil War, a number of state infantry and cavalry regiments were organized in the county for both Confederate Army and Union Army service.

In 1863 West Virginia’s counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts. Kanawha County was divided into ten districts: Big Sandy, Cabin Creek, Charleston, Elk, Jefferson, Loudon, Malden, Poca, Union, and Washington. In the 1970s the historic districts were consolidated into five new magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, and District 5. A District 6 was created in the 1980s, but in the 1990s the county was redistricted again, reducing the number of magisterial districts to four: District 1, District 2, District 3, and District 4.

Kanawha County was the site of a bloody miners’ strike in 1912, and a school textbook controversy in 1974, that resulted in bombings, and received national attention.

Kanawha County Road Map

Kanawha CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Kanawha County, West Virginia. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 911 square miles (2,360 km), of which 902 square miles (2,340 km) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km) (1.0%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in West Virginia by area.