West Side - Charleston, WV

After the American Revolution, early pioneers settled in the Charleston area for the natural resources and easy water access. In early-19th century, salt discovered along the banks of the Kanawha River resulted in the drilling of the area's first salt mine. Once in place, the area began to grow like wildfire.

The town continued to grow and flourish during the Civil War, turning Charleston into the center of state government throughout the 20th century. Natural resources, such as coal and gas, continued to attract people and new industries to the area. As industries like the glass and timber industry came along, the railroad brought more people along with it.

Today Charleston continues its tradition as the government center, while also claiming the title of the health care center in West Virginia.

West Side features a variety of locally owned Southern-style barbecue restaurants as well as well-known chains and Italian eateries. While you won't find a central restaurant location in the community of West Side, you will find a variety of privately owned restaurants. Ichiban Pan Asian restaurant brings the taste of the big city to this small town. Dig into menu items such as the chef's calamari, grilled calamari with spinach & shitake mushrooms in a garlic teriyaki sauce. A romantic dinner for two consists of soup or salad and a whole red snapper lightly pan-fried in a spicy ginger sauce with scallions.

The locals refer to the Rollin Smoke BBQ as one of the best barbecue places in Charleston. When you walk into this cozy little joint, be prepared to sink your teeth into smoky fall-off-the-bone wings and huge racks of tender, flavorful ribs. Believe it or not, the sides hold just as much taste appeal as the meat. Locals can't get enough of the rich, creamy Southern-style mac and cheese. The West Side area spoils locals with choice when it comes to barbecue establishments. Find Dem 2 Brothers and a Grill at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Virginia Street West for some of the area's best dishes. For the perfect lunch, you can't go wrong with the moist, smoky pulled pork served here paired with a side of homemade mac and cheese.

Inside the community of West Side, you won't find a large night scene. Most residents take a short five- to 10-minute drive to the city for entertainment. For just hanging out, the locals love the Boulevard Tavern, because it features live artists. Whether you enjoy discovering up-and-coming artists or established musicians that span across the jazz realm and into the rock world, this place fulfills your need for entertainment. One of the best-kept secrets of the Charleston area, Sam's Uptown Cafe looks like a dive bar from the outside. Once inside, the friendly service, incredible bar food and inexpensive drinks prove that looks can be deceiving. Why go anywhere else when you just spend $3 to $4 for a beer here?

Approximately 60 percent of the residents in West Side rely on a personal vehicle for transportation, while 20 percent walk and the other 20 percent rely on public transportation. Those who travel by car to work usually spend about 15 minutes of travel time commuting.

The public bus system, also known as KRT, takes residents from point A to point B for the low cost of $1.00, with a 25-cent fee per zone.

Due to its location in the largest city in West Virginia, taxis prove readily available for residents and visitors — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you don't want to spend time trying to hail a cab, call the cab company to arrange a pickup.

If you have a smartphone, use it to schedule taxi pickups or arrange a ride through Uber ride-sharing services.

No matter the form of transportation you choose, getting around the city won't be a problem. Residents of West Side have convenient, easy access to Interstates 79 and 77 to travel north or south and Interstate 64 to travel east to west.

With West Virginia serving as the recreational capital of the east, you won't have a problem finding a park where you can let loose or sit back and relax. Families enjoy visiting Cato Park and Haddad Riverfront Park for the benches and playgrounds equipment. Kanawha Park makes the ideal excursion for hikers, with a variety of hiking trails for residents to enjoy.

As the largest city in West Virginia, Charleston has earned quite a reputation for the variety of annual festivals and events. In February residents from all over Charleston, visit the North Charleston Community Center for the February Valentine’s Promotion. You'll also find a large crowd around the food vendors and entertainment at the Charleston FestivALL.

Even though West Side lies within city limits, the cost of living dips significantly lower than the city of Charleston. Due to the lower cost of living, residents can expect to pay anywhere from $500 a month to $1,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Only 33 percent of the population pays less than $500 a month in rent.

Getting around the city of Charleston doesn't cost the residents a large amount of money. Driver pays approximately 1 percent less for gas the residents of the city of Charleston, and about 1 percent above the national gas average. The KRT bus costs just $1.00 plus 25 cents for transfers, making it an economical transport option, and beer at local pubs sets you back just $3 or $4.

Well-known throughout the city for unique, one-of-a-kind shops, the streets of West Side don't host any high-end, high-value shops. When residents need these types of stores or specialty boutiques, they take a short 5 to 10-minute drive west into the city.

Within the city, you'll find Charleston Town Center, a large shopping mall that features 130 specialty shops and over a dozen eateries. Locals love the Salvage Yard Street Wear, one of the few small businesses left in the shopping mall. This locally owned store caters to those who favor independent street clothes and the tattoo culture.

When it comes to colorful upscale women’s clothing, the ladies head over to Heidi Dylan Boutique. This popular woman’s boutique features a unique combination of gypsy glamour and other stylish clothing for juniors and women, with an extensive range of sizes available.

For groceries, locals shop at Bigley’s Foodland for basic everyday essentials. However, for the freshest meats cut just the way they like it, residents visit Johnnie’s Fresh Meats.

Head to The Capitol Market for fresh produce, or make the trek to the West Side Farmer’s Market.