Page 237 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

slaves, while the coal mined from Western Virginia went to the northern cities in Ohio. The Union was desperate not to lose these coal supplies.
The creation of a state meant a capital had
to be established. Both Wheeling and Charleston were used at first. But Wheeling was on the border with Virginia, and Charleston was central to the new state. The new capitol was completed in 1885.
Fires resulted in the destruction of the first capitol, and the modern one dates from a rebuilding in 1932.
Charleston was now the center for state government as well as a mining and manufacturing center. New industries, such as chemical, glass, timber and steel migrated to the state, attracted by the area’s natural resources. There was a huge amount of new construction in Charleston. Much of the downtown building is from this time of prosperity.
However, since then, heavy industries and
coal mining have declined, leaving the city mainly dependent on government offices for employment.
In an effort to revitalise the downtown area, which had declined as middle classes moved to the suburbs and out of town mall were built, a streetscaping scheme was undertaken.
The new businesses centered on Capitol Street and Hale Street are now more concentrated on leisure and entertainment.
A panorama of Charleston.
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