Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Charleston, West Virginia
State West Virginia
City Charleston**
County1 Kanawha
City Population (2005)2 53,421 3.0% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 70** (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Very Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Charleston
State Population (2005)2 1,771,750
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Danny Jones
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.cityofcharleston.org
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) danny.jones@cityofcharleston.org
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Republican
Next General Mayoral Election Thursday, March 15, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name Joe Manchin III
State/Governor Website http://www.wv.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 304-558-2000
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2009
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.28    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 16.7%    
     Disability Status 22.2% 66  
     Emphysema 1.56% 72  
     Cardiovascular Disease 29.65% 72  
     Diabetes 6.37% 72  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.16% 5  
     Adult Asthma 9.89% 65  
     Adult Obesity 24.6%   50
     People Without Health Insurance 17.0%   38
     Age: Children under 5 years 5.5% 5  
     Age: 65 years and over 17.6% 71  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 21.0% 33  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 16.2% 40  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 34.2% 51  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Individuals Below Poverty 16.7% 32  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 24.5% 42  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 42.5% 18  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 5.3% 4  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 30.0 (of 51) 32  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 55,736,758 pounds   33
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 55,980,620 pounds 30
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 20,940,072 pounds 40
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 291,710,436 pounds 24
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 452,172,686 pounds 30
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 69.4 grams 37
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.156 tons per person 37
Recycling Rate (1997) 20.0% 35
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 1,568,210 tons 10
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 0.9 tons/person 2
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 108,207 tons 44
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 6.9% 46
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) -22.1% 5
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -65.5% 44
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    4.1***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 507,100 tons   43
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 225,900 tons   44
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 92,319,700 tons   41
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 4,730.0 pounds   42
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 3.7 days 25  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 3.0 PM2.5 42  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 17.1 PM2.5 54  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 3.3 days 24  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 1.3 PM2.5 32  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 16.4 PM2.5 55  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 25 ug/m3 22  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.010 ppm 50  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.4***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Upper Kanawha ---  
# of Units in Watershed 397 units 2  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 267 units 4  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 189 units 61  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 70.8% 32  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 32.7% 44  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 42.53 inches 20  
Water Area Total, square miles 145 square miles 70  
Water Area Inland, square miles 145 square miles 69  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Charleston ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 51 years 41  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 152 days 5  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Charleston ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 49 years 48  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 34.0 inches 19  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 4,620,000,000 gallons/day 51  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 2,530,000,000 gallons/day 8  
Ground water, gallons/day 146,000,000 gallons/day 64  
Surface water, gallons/day 4,470,000,000 gallons/day 45  
Irrigation, gallons/day 0 gallons/day 71  
Public Supply, gallons/day 217,000,000 gallons/day 61  
Industrial, gallons/day 1,330,000,000 gallons/day 12  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 3,010,000,000 gallons/day 41  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 352,000,000 gallons/day 52  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier West Virginia-American Water Company ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 201,665 people 61  
Year(s) Included in Summary 2000-2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 55 contaminants 56  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 44 contaminants 58  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 11 contaminants 46  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.7***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 1,690.4 people per square mile 62  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 858.5 housing units per square mile 57  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 16.3 minutes 5  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 16.3 minutes 5  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 11.8% 53  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 4.8% 30  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 5.7% 19  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.8% 34  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 102.7 31  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 79.5 MV registrations   17
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 6.7%   3
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 42.7 MV registrations   15
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.11 MV registrations   15
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 36,993 miles   14
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.349%   20
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 8.6%   46
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.03 miles   34
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 26.25 miles   34
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,169,000,000   20
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $31,601 per mile   35
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 49.7%   19
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $34,009 56  
Median Household Income (2000) $34,009 55  
Per capita income (2004) $26,017 16  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $26,017 5  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 12.7% 33  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 16.7% 39  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 16.7% 32  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.9% 32  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 24.5% 42  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.5% 18  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.8% 29  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
 
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 8,082 kids (0.5% of total pop.) 71  
Largest School District Enrollment 29,250 kids (1.7% of total pop.) 56  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 42.5% 18  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 65.8% 19  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 83.8% 33  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 32.6% 25  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 21% 33  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade C   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 24,505 units 70  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 41.9% 47  
Cost of Living: Housing 60.2 16  
Cost of Living: Utilities 76.8 3  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 95.4 7  
Cost of Living: Overall 82.0 11  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 54.22%   45
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 36.60%   41
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 57.10%   48
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 24.8%   44
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 9,364.3 incidents per 100,000 people 63  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,552.3 incidents per 100,000 people 64  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 7,812.0 incidents per 100,000 people 63  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 1,634.9 incidents per 100,000 people 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    2.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 55% 3  
Total City Urbanized Area % 37.2% 6  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.9    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.16% 5
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.89% 65
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.48% 71
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.56% 72
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 29.65% 72
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 6.37% 72  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 24.6% 50
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 9.4% 36
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 0.2 ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) >25% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 22.0% 49
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 9.1% 45
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 215.4 47
Cost of Living: Health 87.3 5  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 16.4% 35
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 17.0% 38
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 3.7% 37
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.6% 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 1 farm 65
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 1 market 69
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 0 grocery stores 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 0 other sources 57
Cost of Living: Food 97.7 18
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 104.0% 69
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 56.5% 70
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.9***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories False   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs None   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes5 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 1.6%   42
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 47 years 32
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 48% 54
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 5.9 mph 60
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.1 mph 56
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 4.8 mph 60
Heating Degree Days 4,646 days 28
Cooling Degree Days 1,031 days 28
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 51 years 7
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 83% 46
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 56% 20
Elevation, feet 597 feet 39
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 53,421 70** (of 72 in EDN study) 3.0% of state population
City Population (2000) 53,421 70 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 1,771,750 37 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region South ---  
EPA Region 3 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 32.0 square miles 65 0.9% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 24,087 square miles 41  
Watershed Name Upper Kanawha ---  
Elevation, feet 597 ft. (181.6 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 33.4°F (0.8°C) 39
Average Daily Temperature - July 73.9°F (23.3°C) 24  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 40.8 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 79.3% 8  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 17.6% 2  
Under 5 years of age 2,961 kids (5.5% of total pop.) 71  
One Race-White % (2005) 98.1% 1  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 1.9% 72  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 0.8% 71  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 5.3% 69  
Largest School District Name Kanawha Co. ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network