Sissonville, WV: Near Charleston, Not In It

Sissonville is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia — approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of downtown Charleston along I-77 / US-21 / WV-622.

Location Context

• Coordinates: 38.528°N, 81.633°W
• Elevation: ~650 ft (200 m)
• Population: ~5,000 (census-designated place area)
• Commute to Charleston: 15–20 minutes via I-77 North

Why the Confusion?

Sissonville shares Charleston's:

• Metropolitan Statistical Area (Charleston, WV MSA)
• ZIP codes (25312, 25313, 25320 overlap)
• School district (Kanawha County Schools)
• Media market (Charleston-Huntington DMA)
• Emergency services mutual aid

But it has its own: post office, volunteer fire dept, community center, Little League, identity.

Notable Features

Sissonville High School (Indians). Kanawha State Forest (adjacent, 9,300 acres). Pocatalico River tributaries. Historic: Salt industry (19th c.), Civil War skirmishes, 2012 natural gas pipeline explosion (3 homes destroyed).