What is the capital city of West Virginia?

Charleston is the capital city of West Virginia, a designation it has held since 1885. As the state capital, Charleston is the political and cultural center of West Virginia, housing the state government, including the offices of the governor and the legislature. The city is located in the central part of the state, at the confluence of the Kanawha and Elk Rivers, which plays a crucial role in its development and significance as a hub for transportation and commerce.

Understanding that Charleston serves as the capital helps to highlight its importance in state history and governance, while the other cities listed—Huntington, Martinsburg, and Wheeling—are significant in their own right but do not serve as the seat of state government. These cities contribute to the rich tapestry of West Virginia's communities but do not have the same governmental status as Charleston.