The first white settler in what is now South Charleston was Jacob Reeder, who built a cabin here in 1814. South Charleston was originally named Charlestown, in honor of Charles Paist, one of the first merchants in town. The name was later changed because of several other Charlestowns, and mail was frequently mis-sent. The village was originally in Stokes Township, Madison County, but the area was later put into Clark County when it was formed in 1817.
The village of South Charleston was founded by Conrad Criz on November 1, 1815. The original plat contained eight squares of four lots each, and was surveyed by John T. Stewart. Charles Paist, Robert Evans, Maddox & Heiskell, Albert Munson and Thomas Norton were early merchants and businessmen of South Charleston.