– Art Wallhausen
| Area occupied by native “Mound Builders” | |
| Current location settled by first of many pioneers from Eastern states. | |
| Town of Charleston planned by Joseph Moore, named after his brother. | |
| Charleston named county seat of the new Mississippi County. | |
| POPULATION: Charleston 273; Mississippi County 5,869 | |
| Civil War “Battle of Charleston” | |
| Town chartered by General Assembly; Railroad service established, including a Mississippi River ferry to Illinois; Elegant homes built by pioneer families; Newspapers established; Town now mercantile center for large rural population. |
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| Major earthquake damaged most buildings in town. | |
| POPULATION: Charleston 1,893, Mississippi Count; 11,837 | |
| Construction of county courthouse and most buildings still lining Main Street; Construction of landmarks like hotel, schools and churches. |
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| POPULATION: Charleston 3,410; Mississippi County 12,860 | |
| Difficult time for agriculture. Bank failures and sale of farm land for back taxes; Paving of roads and construction of bridges on Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. |
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| Opening of Brown Shoe Company factory, employing over 500 men and women. | |
| POPULATION: Charleston 5,182; Mississippi County 23,149 | |
| WWII and recovery; mechanization of agriculture; out-migration of farm workers. | |
| POPULATION: Charleston 5,911; Mississippi County 20,695 | |
| School district mergers; end of segregation; new, larger schools built; “Urban Renewal” — elimination of poor housing and “new look” Main Street; Construction of Interstate-57 with two Charleston interchanges & shopping center; Creation of industrial park and airport; acquisition of small factories. |
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| POPULATION: Charleston 5,230; Mississippi County 15,726 | |
| Closure of Brown Shoe Factory and other small factories; Loss of many retailing and service businesses; reduced school enrollments. |
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| POPULATION: Charleston 4,732; Mississippi County 13,427 | |
| Construction of state prison with capacity of 1,650 men; Closure of two newspapers; Continued loss of retailing and reduction in school enrollments. |
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| POPULATION(including prisoners) : Charleston 5,056; Mississippi County 12,577 |