Malden, West Virginia


Malden — originally called Kanawha Salines — is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA, within the Charleston metro area. The ZIP code for Malden is 25306 and the area code is 304. Malden is set in the Eastern Standard Time Zone.

History

Malden is perhaps best known for the Kanawha Salines salt wells.
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.
The Kanawha Saline post office was established in 1814 and discontinued in 1879. The community changed its name to Malden, establishing Malden PO in 1879; it closed in 1961. This probably means that Malden became a Rural Branch of Charleston in 1961. The present name most likely is derived from Malden, Massachusetts.
Malden is home to 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.