Malden, West Virginia

Malden, West Virginia
Unincorporated community
Malden Location within West Virginia and the United States Show map of West Virginia Malden Malden (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°18′02″N 81°33′25″W
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Kanawha
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	25306

Malden — originally called Kanawha Salines — is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States,^[1] within the Charleston metro area.

History

The Kanawha Saline(s) post office was established in 1814 and discontinued in 1879.^[2] The community changed its name to Malden, establishing Malden PO in 1879; it closed in 1961.^[2] This probably means that Malden became a Rural Branch of Charleston in 1961. The present name most likely is derived from Malden, Massachusetts.^[3]

Arts and culture

Malden is the location of the Salines salt wells,^[4] and the Booker T. Washington Park, owned and maintained by the West Virginia State University.

The African Zion Baptist Church and Malden Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[5]

Notable people

Notable people from Malden include General Lewis Ruffner and his wife Viola Ruffner, and Booker T. Washington, president of Tuskegee Institute and a national African-American leader in the early 20th century.^[4]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Malden, West Virginia
2. Helbock, Richard W. (2004) United States Post Offices, Volume VI - The Mid-Atlantic, p. 135, Scappoose, Oregon: La Posta Publications.
3. Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. pp. 398–399.
4. Easter, Makeda (April 16, 2020). "Slavery documents from Southern saltmakers bring light to dark history". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
5. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.