KANAWHA COUNTY WV By 1840 Charleston had more than 1000 residents, The salt industry boomed, and many fine homes were built along the banks of the Kanawha River; the business climate was favorable. In 1850 the counties population had grown to 15,353, which included 3,140 slaves and 212 free blacks; the bulk of the population was concentrated around the salt works at Malden - the Kanawha Salines (SW part of the county) and Big Chimney (NE section of the county). According to the 1860 census, there were 1,500 people in Charleston, with salt still the major industry, although coal was also shipped via the Kanawha River from its tributaries which included the Elk River.