(Capitale) Charleston - 50,000 (300,000)

Parkersburg - 31,000  (165,000)

Wheeling - 29,000  (145,000)

rivière Ohio

rivière New

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great tour of Wheeling. So many lonely buildings.

Wheeling is a gem and Charleston has a great downtown.

Terrific photos!  Thanks.

 

I am always astounded at how few people are on the street in photosets like this one. So much cool architecture, such depopulated places....

 

Stuart

 

How I would rate them (having grew up in that area):

 

Charleston: Population has decreased from near 100,000 south to just under 50,000 in 50 years. It is still the largest city in the state but its growth is now in the metro valley between there and Huntington. Depopulation is mostly on the west side; other neighborhoods tend to be middle to higher income and stable. Did you check out Capitol Market, Capitol Street and the Town Center - the largest urban mall in the US when it was completed in 1983?

 

Parkersburg: Still a great city, if you don't mind a downtown devoid of historic architecture. A lot was demolished in the 1960s-1990s for urban renewal, but the city hasn't lost really much population - sans its massive annexation that jumped its population mid-20th century. The Blennerhassett is probably one of the top 5 hotels in the state - really worth it.

 

Wheeling: Declining since 1930, namely because of Yost's Law that killed off three major employers - its breweries. There was a lag period of about 11 years before the population really started dropping. Its current mayor is demo happy.