Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city of 7,337 people in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Why visit Charles Town
Townapedia lists 29 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 7 places to eat and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include New Opera House, Catholic Distance University, Claymont Court and Altona.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Charles Town
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Charles Town
Charles Town is a city in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 6,534 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 8,869 in 2024. The city is named for its founder Charles Washington, youngest brother of President George Washington. It is part of the northwestern fringes of the Washington metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Charles Town, West Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
New Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Theater in Charles Town, West Virginia, United States
Catholic Distance University
School · 2.0 mi
Worldwide Catholic university based in Hamilton, Virginia, U.S. offering theological instruction and degrees via Internet
Museums and landmarks29
Claymont Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Human settlement in United States of America
577 Claymont Mansion Rd, Charles Town
Altona
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic farm in West Virginia
Aspen Hill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic farmhouse north of Charles Town, West Virginia, United States
Barleywood
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Human settlement in United States of America
Belvedere
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Mansion in West Virginia
Beverley
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Human settlement in West Virginia, United States of America
Blakeley
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house near Charles Town, West Virginia, United States
Cedar Lawn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Human settlement in Charles Town, West Virginia, United States of America
Cool Spring Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Human settlement in West Virginia, United States of America
Downtown Charles Town Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic district in West Virginia, United States
Gibson-Todd House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Building in West Virginia, United States
Happy Retreat
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Human settlement in United States of America
17 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
_and_West_Virginia_State_Route_51_(Washington_Street)_in_Charles_Town,_Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
_at_the_exit_for_Jefferson_County_Route_340-18_(Augustine_Avenue)_in_Charles_Town,_Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
_between_Washington_Street_and_Davenport_Street_in_Charles_Town,_Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
Restaurants and cafes7
Joan + Joe Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.0 mi
18426 Charles Town Road, Charles Town
Mo-Fr 07:00-17:30, Sa 08:00-16:00
Churches and places of worship13
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Blue Ridge Elementary School
School · 5.3 mi
18866 Charles Town Rd, Harpers Ferry
Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy
School · 4.6 mi
449 Rose Hill Drive, Kearneysville
South Jefferson Elementary School
School · 2.7 mi
4599 Summit Point Rd, Charles Town
Virtual Preparatory Academy of West Virginia
School · 4.6 mi
449 Rose Hill Drive, Kearneysville
Healthcare1
Map of Charles Town
87 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 25°F | 2.1 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 3.4 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 42°F | 3.4 in |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 4.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 3.9 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 64°F | 3.8 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 3.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 45°F | 27°F | 3.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Martinsburg E Wv Rgnl Ap Hcn (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jefferson County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-12: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2012-07-23: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
High View Farm Airport (61VA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Bolivar 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- Berryville 10 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- Purcellville 13 mi southeast, about 20 min by car
- Lovettsville 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Martinsburg 14 mi north, about 23 min by car
- Brunswick 14 mi east, about 23 min by car
- Winchester 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Point of Rocks 19 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Jefferson 20 mi east, about 31 min by car
- Leesburg 21 mi southeast, about 33 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 2016-09-27 12 32 38 The Jefferson County Court House at the intersection of West Virginia State Route 115 (George Street) and West Virginia State Route 51 (Washington Street) in Charles Town..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-16 17 51 43 View north along U.S. Route 340 (Berryville PIke) at the exit for Jefferson County Route 340-18 (Augustine Avenue) in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hillside near Charles Town, Nyttend, Public domain
- Beverley near Charles Town, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- 2016-09-27 11 33 40 View west along West Virginia State Route 51 (Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard) between Washington Street and Davenport Street in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Happy Retreat east parlor Charles Town WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Happy Retreat west parlor Charles Town WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Happy Retreat Charles Town WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016-09-27 13 25 46 View south along U.S. Route 340 just south of West Virginia State Route 115 (George Street) in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-16 17 54 52 View north along U.S. Route 340 (Charles Town Bypass) at the exit for West Virginia State Route 115 (Charles Town) in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016-09-27 11 53 08 View east along West Virginia State Route 51 (Washington Street) at Water Street in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-16 09 29 08 View south along U.S. Route 340 (Charles Town Bypass) at the exit for West Virginia State Route 115 (Charles Town) in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-05-16 11 38 06 View north along U.S. Route 340 at West Virginia State Route 115 (Charles Town Road) in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2020-05-19 13 12 40 View south along West Virginia State Route 115 (South George Street) at the exits for SOUTH U.S. Route 340 and Citizens Way (Berryville, Virginia) in Charles Town, Jefferson..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016-09-27 12 52 49 View north along West Virginia State Route 115 (George Street) at Citizens Way in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-05-16 11 12 22 View east along West Virginia State Route 51 (West Washington Street) at South West Street in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2020-05-19 10 51 32 View north along West Virginia State Route 115 (South George Street) at the exits for SOUTH U.S. Route 340 and Citizens Way (Berryville, Virginia) in Charles Town, Jefferson..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-17 12 45 54 View south along U.S. Route 340 (Charles Town Bypass) from the overpass for West Virginia State Route 115 (South George Street-Charles Town Road) in Charles Town, Jefferson..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2020-05-19 13 15 25 View south along West Virginia State Route 115 (Charles Town Road) at the exit for NORTH U.S. Route 340 (TO West Virginia State Route 9, Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg) in Charles..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016-09-27 11 53 30 View east along West Virginia State Route 51 (Washington Street) between Fritts Way and Lawrence Street in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court Front Entrance, ArchonMeld, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Opera House Charles Town WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- William Grubb Farmhouse, Nyttend, Public domain
- Harewood, West Virginia, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charles Town City Hall WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chew's Hermitage, Nyttend, Public domain
- Perkins House Charles Town WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Richwood Hall, West Virginia, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Robert Worthington House, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- White House Farm, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Cedar Lawn, West Virginia, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cool Spring Farm WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ranson City Hall WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court WV9, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court pergola ruins WV1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court WV10, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court WV8, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court WV7, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court WV6, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Claymont Court WV5, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
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_from_the_overpass_for_West_Virginia_State_Route_115_(South_George_Street-Charles_Town_Road)_in_Charles_Town,_Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
_at_the_exit_for_NORTH_U.S._Route_340_(TO_West_Virginia_State_Route_9,_Harpers_Ferry,_Martinsburg)_in_Charles_Town,_Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
_between_Fritts_Way_and_Lawrence_Street_in_Charles_Town,_Jefferson_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
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