Located along the
Kanawha River and the
Elk River, the West Side is bounded by
U.S. Route 60 to the north (W Washington St) and west (Patrick Street), the Kanawha River to the south and by the Elk River and
Interstate 64 to the east. Like much of Charleston, the West Side suffers from large tracts of
urban decay with 31% of West Side buildings vacant as of 2019[2] as Charleston overall has lost roughly 45% of its peak population and is part of the
Rust Belt. Over 40% of children on the West Side are living in poverty,[3] more than double the national average (17.5%).[4]
Points of Interest
Luna Park Historic District - Site of the former
Luna Park amusement park. Homes were built mostly after the demolition of the park and are the nicest example of this era on the West Side.[5]
Magic Island - a public park along the Kanawha River and off of Kanawha Blvd W.[6]
Elk City - a distinct sub-neighborhood within the West Side, currently undergoing
gentrification.[7]