Charles Town, WV (Charleston, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown: home, private schools, college) - West Virginia - City-Data Forum

wolfeyes · 11-01-2007, 02:35 PM

Could someone tell me if Charles Town WV is a good place to live?
Do they have good schools in this area?
What type of shopping is in this area?
Are the hospitals in this area good..Do they have a good a Cardiac Care Center, if not what is the closet town that does?
What type of other medical doctors are in this area?.. such as family practice and dentist..etc.
What is the weather like in the winter? Does this area get lots of snow?

Thanks

lgunn · 11-11-2007, 10:42 PM

I am a mother who lives in Charles Town and think it is a good place, perhaps the best in the Eastern Panhandle to own a home. We do have good schools but I must say they are very few. Charles Town is growing but I can't say you can remain locally and find all the shops to cater to all needs. However, commuting to Winchester, VA or Frederick, MD where the shops are is not a burden (about 30 minutes). There is Jefferson Memorial Hospital (it's ok but not large). I could not tell about Cardiac Care Center but I do have my family practice doctor very close to home and I am happy with care there. My dentist is about 35 to 45 minutes away but that was my choice as we do have dentists around here. Snow: it all depends where you come from: if you are coming from the South (Florida) yes we do get lots of snow. But if you are from Maine or Colorado our snow is nothing but dust. For the past two years we haven't had a whole lot of snow.

Hope this helps.

jillisucat · 11-12-2007, 07:48 PM

I'm also a mother who lives in CT and it is definitely a nice place to live. Growing fast, there are more and more shops nearby. There are decent private schools around here too, if you aren't happy with the public schools. I go to local doctors and dentists and am happy. Don't know about cardiac care, sorry.

billscamaros · 11-13-2007, 09:12 AM

jefferson memorial hospital in charles town is part of the WVU system, so there might be a level of cardiac care there. if not, then you could look to the winchester medical center (about 30 mins away).

my three kids have attended south jefferson elementary, charles town middle and jefferson high. we were thrilled with south jefferson, and have no complaints about the middle and high schools. other than the constant shortage of qualified teachers. WV teacher salaries are controlled by the state capital, and no locality pay is available. there is a constant pull for teachers to cross into virginia due to much higher salaries.

there is a new high school scheduled to open up this coming year, and two of my kids will eventually attend that school. i'm not sure where they will find the additional teachers to fill those jobs.

charles town is in growth mode, with additional stores and restaraunts opening soon. both winchester and martinsburg have malls; both are about a 30 min drive. it's about an hour into sterling/herndon/reston, with tysons corners being an additional 15 mins. a ton of shopping available there.

snow isn't too bad in WV eastern panhandle or northern virginia. maybe one or two snowfalls (up to 6 inches) a year; less than that most years.

good luck.

BellaElla · 11-14-2007, 08:51 AM

I live in Berryville,VA. and I do a lot of my shopping such in CT . I like it for the most part. It is really growing fast! The traffic is increasing quite a bit.I think a lot of people come out for the racetrack.
I've been to the hospitals ER a few times and it has always been quick care. I don't know about the cardiac care.The hospital in Winchester is excellent.My father in law has been there for heart issues several times and was pleased with the care.
I wouldn't mind living in CT.

Georgia · 11-14-2007, 06:14 PM

Charles Town is coming full circle. 20 years ago Charles Town was not a good place to be, whereas Martinsburg was the Norman Rockwell of the area.
Fast forward 20 years, Jefferson began zoning (2005) instituted smart growth, cleaning up down town, Harpers Ferry next door is beautiful, and Shepherdstown is a nice college location.
Martinsburg on the other hand has entered to realm of ghetto.

Your ok with Jefferson or for that matter Morgan County.

As far as medical care in the area, I would choose Winchester Medical.
This is a state issue more than a local.

wolfeyes · 11-15-2007, 02:50 PM

To Everyone...Thanks a bunch for the information...

bennieowen · 11-24-2007, 05:30 AM

What would the commute be like from Charles Town to Dulles area..on a regular basis? I will be working near there and am looking for a quaint community within an hour's drive or so.

duscsm · 12-14-2008, 02:48 PM

I know this thread is a year old, but I thought I'd mention this just in case anyone else ever needed to know. My husband commutes from Charles Town to Dulles every day, and it generally takes him around 50 minutes.

Karen Lewis · 04-05-2010, 08:51 AM

The schools are superb - that having gone through them and later functioned in a large city - far ahead of other schools.

Charleston has the finest in medical care - I'm in the medical profession and worked there, also, had our own experiences in the Charleston Area Medical Center (composed of several hospitals) and was saved from near death experiences as a family. They are right up to date in medical care.

There is a little more snow than surrounding states, but more in the higher elevations than Charleston.

This is an old answer, but the WV state overall is lovely, and the people are the kindest you will ever meet, will very literally not just give, but demand you take the coat off of their back - feed you their last bite - it's own culture.