CHARLES TOWN CITY

What CHARLES TOWN CITY does

Charles Town City is the municipal government of Charles Town, West Virginia, a historic city of approximately 6,500 residents founded in 1786 by Charles Washington (youngest brother of President George Washington) and currently serving as the county seat of Jefferson County. The city delivers the full spectrum of municipal services to its residents, businesses, and visitors, including community development (building permits, zoning, planning, and code compliance), parks and recreation across five public parks plus the new Charles Town Public Pool, a CALEA-accredited police department, fire and emergency coordination through Citizens Fire Company and Independent Fire Company, municipal court, maintenance, finance and tax administration, and water/sanitation services via the Charles Town Utility Board. Operations are supported by a Council-Manager form of government led by City Manager John Nissel, with functional department heads across police, finance, planning, building inspection, parks and recreation, and economic development.

The city's technology footprint is a stack of third-party civic platforms rather than proprietary systems: a Revize-powered website, MGO Connect (MyGovernmentOnline) for online permit and license applications, ProgressiveCloud for B&O tax filings, ParkMobile for metered parking payments, HDL for third-party tax collections (contracted March 2024), and the My Charles Town mobile app (replacing Connect CT by 12/31/2025) for resident engagement. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability; service delivery is built on conventional SaaS integrations and traditional in-person City Hall operations at 101 E Washington Street.

Revenue is generated through a diversified municipal tax and fee structure: a 1% citywide sales tax (since July 2015), Business & Occupation (B&O) taxes filed semi-annually by all licensed businesses, annual business license fees, building and development permit fees (e.g., $25 zoning use permit), annual parking permits ($90 first residential / $180 standard), metered parking via ParkMobile, utility payments through the Utility Board at 661 S. George Street, and program-specific fees such as public pool admission ($4–$5) and $1 yard-waste stickers. Economic development is supported by grant programs (Community Grants up to $50,000, Revive Commercial Grants $2,500–$25,000, Façade Improvement, Walkability 50/50 match up to $5,000) and B&O tax credit incentives, channeled in partnership with the Charles Town Now non-profit under the Main Street America program.

Name

CHARLES TOWN CITY

Legal name

City of Charles Town

Website

https://charlestownwv.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1786

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Charles Town City is a municipal government serving approximately 6,500 residents in Jefferson County, West Virginia, providing public safety, parks and recreation, permitting, licensing, utility, and economic development services funded by local taxes and fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement (BPAIACAB)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety administration
• Community development
• Parks and recreation
• Business licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Charles Town

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Business and Occupation (B&O) Taxes: B&O taxes are due twice a year (January 31 and July 31) from all businesses holding or renewing a license in Charles Town. Tax rates are specific to each business type. The city contracted with HDL for third-party collection of outstanding B&O taxes as of March 18, 2024.
2. Business License Fees: Businesses must obtain a City of Charles Town Business License, which requires a WV Business Registration Certificate. The city also offers B&O tax credit incentives to attract new businesses.
3. Building and Development Permits: The city processes building permits, zoning permits, sign permits, subdivision applications, and land disturbance permits. Permit fees are set by the city and include residential and commercial permit fee schedules.
4. Community Grant Program Revenue: The city offers community grants to nonprofits ($2,500 to $25,000, some up to $50,000), Revive Commercial Grants, Façade Improvement Program, and Walkability Improvement Grants (50/50 match up to $5,000). These are expenditures rather than revenue sources.
5. Parking Fees and Permits: Parking permit costs: $180 annual for standard permit, $90 for first residential permit within parking district. ParkMobile app-based payment for metered parking. As of July 1, 2020, the city enforces parking regulations under Article 361 and Article 365.
6. Utility Payments: Water and sanitation service provided by Charles Town Utility Board. Payments can be made online, by phone, mail, or in person at 661 S. George Street.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Charles Town City is a municipal government that delivers core public services to approximately 6,500 residents of Jefferson County, West Virginia, including community development (building permits, zoning, planning), parks and recreation (five public parks and a public swimming pool), CALEA-accredited police services, coordinated fire and emergency response, finance and tax administration (B&O taxes, business licensing), municipal court operations, utility board water and sanitation services, downtown parking, and economic development support including grants and the Main Street Program. The city also operates distinctive community programs such as the HIP SIPS District (PODA) outdoor drinking area, Charles Washington Hall venue rentals, and signature events including WV Fest and the Car Show.

Product overview

CHARLES TOWN CITY is a municipal government providing comprehensive public services to approximately 6,500 residents in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The city's service portfolio consists of traditional government operations including Community Development (building permits, zoning, planning), Parks & Recreation (five parks, public pool), Police Services (CALEA-accredited), Fire & Emergency Services, Finance & Tax Administration (B&O taxes, business licensing), Economic Development (grants, business support), Municipal Court, and Utility Services. Notable special initiatives include the HIP SIPS District (outdoor designated drinking area), downtown parking with ParkMobile integration, and the newly opened Public Pool. The city operates on the Revize CMS platform for its web presence, with citizens able to access permits via MGO Connect, file B&O taxes through ProgressiveCloud, and pay parking via ParkMobile.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Charles Town App: Mobile application for Charles Town residents to access city services and information
• Hip Sips District (PODA)
• Charles Town Utility Board
• CTPR

Products and services

• Community Development Services Comprehensive land use planning, building inspection, code compliance, and zoning administration for Charles Town. Covers new construction permits, subdivision applications, variance requests, certificate of appropriateness for historic properties, rental registration, and vacant building registration.
• Parks and Recreation Management of five public parks including Jefferson Memorial Park (with pool), Evitts Run Park, Charles Town Skate Park, Willingham Knolls Park, and Happy Retreat/Craighill Estates. Offers pavilion rentals, pool access, recreational programs, and summer lifeguard services.
• Police Services CALEA-accredited police department providing law enforcement to approximately 6,500 residents. Includes patrol division, criminal investigation, school resource officer, parking enforcement, and crossing guards.
• Fire and Emergency Services Fire protection provided by Citizens Fire Company (approximately 50 active members, 1,300+ calls per year) and Independent Fire Company in Ranson (protecting approximately 35,000 people). Services include fire suppression, emergency medical response, and coordination through the Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency.
• Finance and Tax Services Municipal finance operations including Business and Occupation (B&O) tax collection, business licensing, budget management, and payment processing. B&O taxes are due January 31 and July 31 each year. Tax filing available online via the ProgressiveCloud portal or in-person at City Hall. HDL was contracted on March 18, 2024 for third-party collection of outstanding B&O taxes.
• Economic Development Business development support including startup assistance, grants (Revive Commercial Grant $2,500-$25,000, up to $50,000 for strong applications; Façade Improvement Program; Walkability Improvement Grant 50/50 up to $5,000; Community Grant Program $2,500-$25,000), business licensing, B&O tax credit incentives, and redevelopment projects. Partners with Charles Town Now nonprofit for the Main Street Program.
• HIP SIPS District (PODA) Private Outdoor Designated Area (PODA) program allowing to-go drinks in designated cups throughout downtown Charles Town. Licensed participating establishments include Abolitionist Ale Works and HomeSpun Shakes & Burgers. Operating hours Monday-Friday 5PM-10PM, Saturday-Sunday 10AM-10PM.
• Downtown Parking Municipal parking services including metered spaces, parking permits, ParkMobile mobile payments, and parking enforcement. Parking permits available at City Hall, valid July 1 to June 30. Residential permits $90, additional permits $180, and standard annual permits $180. As of July 1, 2020, the city enforces parking regulations under Article 361 and Article 365.
• Municipal Court Handles traffic citations and local ordinance violations. Court sessions held first Wednesday 5-7PM and second Tuesday 9-10AM. Payment options include online, phone, mail, or in-person at City Hall.
• Utility Board Services Water and sanitation services provided by Charles Town Utility Board. Payments processed at 661 S. George Street or online. Customer service available Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM with drop box for after-hours payments.
• Charles Washington Hall Venue Rentals Rental venue for events featuring a 45ft x 35ft ballroom, 15ft x 35ft stage, and 10ft x 35ft balcony with 15 round tables, 5 rectangular tables, and 195 padded chairs. Managed by Accounting Clerk II Virginie Bauer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,500 residents served
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• HDL (Revenue and Tax Collections)minorOthers · 18 March 2024On March 18th, 2024, the City of Charles Town contracted with HDL as a third-party collections company to collect outstanding License and B&O taxes.
• Charles Town NowcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharles Town Now is a non-profit organization that supports the city of Charles Town. They are an accredited Main Street Program affiliated with Main Street America. The purpose of the organization is to promote economic development while focusing on historic preservation. The Economic Vitality Committee, Promotions Committee, and Design Committee are always looking for volunteers.
• North Mildred DepotmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Mildred Depot is a redevelopment project in Charles Town. The city encourages redevelopment as critical to economic growth and is promoting current redevelopment projects including this one.
• Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency (JCESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCESA assists the Jefferson County volunteer fire departments in providing fire and emergency medical services to all citizens and visitors of Jefferson County, West Virginia. Services are provided in a non-discriminatory manner with compassion, integrity and commitment.
• Citizens Fire CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens Fire Company serves the citizens of Charles Town and outlying communities of Jefferson County. The company has approximately 50 active members and averages approximately 1,300 calls for service per year.
• Independent Fire CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent Fire Company is located in Ranson and provides fire, rescue, and EMS services. Currently protects a population of approximately 35,000 people in the Jefferson County area.
• Friends of Happy RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends of Happy Retreat is a non-profit organization established in 2005 that acquired the historic Happy Retreat property and put it into public use. The organization purchased the historic mansion and approximately two acres surrounding it.
• West Virginia State Fire Marshal's OfficecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAll commercial projects require approved plan submissions through the State Fire Marshal's Office PRIOR to submitting plans to the City of Charles Town. An approval letter from the State Fire Marshal must accompany all commercial building permit applications.
• Arcadia Building CorpminorOthersArcadia Building Corp deeded approximately 66 acres to CTPR (Charles Town Parks & Recreation) in 2006, including land for Willingham Knolls Park and land in Craighill Estates subdivision along Evitts Run.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Granicus: Government experience and digital service platform used by comparable municipalities for communications, permitting, and citizen engagement; adjacent technology peer to Charles Town's current vendor stack.
• HDL Companies: Revenue and tax collection vendor contracted by Charles Town in March 2024 for B&O tax collections; comparable municipal revenue-administration service provider to peer cities' similar third-party collection arrangements.
• CivicPlus: Major municipal government technology platform (websites, civic engagement, payments) directly comparable to Charles Town's Revize CMS plus MGO Connect and ParkMobile stack; relevant for benchmarking digital service delivery peers.
• Main Street America: National accreditation program under which Charles Town was designated in 2018; relevant peer network for benchmarking economic development and historic preservation outcomes across comparable Main Street Communities.

Regional players

• City of Martinsburg, WV: County seat of neighboring Berkeley County, WV; provides a comparable municipal service stack at a larger scale, useful as a regional benchmark for budget, staffing, and economic development programs.

Direct peers

• Town of Harpers Ferry, WV: Historic small town adjacent to Charles Town with overlapping heritage tourism, parks management, and small-municipal service delivery; comparable in scale and visitor-driven economics.
• Town of Bolivar, WV: Very small historic town adjacent to Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County; useful peer for understanding operations at the smallest end of WV municipal scale.
• Corporation of Shepherdstown, WV: Historic small town in Jefferson County, WV (the state's oldest), offering a directly comparable portfolio of municipal services, historic preservation focus, and Main Street-style programming.
• City of Ranson, WV: Immediately adjacent city in Jefferson County, WV, sharing the same county services (fire, EMS via Independent Fire Company) and providing a directly comparable small-municipal service portfolio to Charles Town residents.

Broad incumbents

• Jefferson County Commission, WV: Parent county government providing overlapping services (fire/EMS via JCESA, planning, utilities coordination) and serving as the broader public-sector incumbent in Charles Town's service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http://charlestownwv.us
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://charlestownwv.us
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charles-town-city

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHARLES TOWN CITY