Charleston, a town in Charleston Township, was laid out by George Berry on September 23, 1848, for Jacob Hufford, and the plat was registered in the office of the County Recorder on June 1, 1849.

The population in 1914 was 65, with three churches, public school, post office, express and telegraph offices, telephone connections, a hotel, a general store, and depot.

[4] In 2010 the unincorporated town of Charleston consisted of 32 people living in 15 homes.

A fire on Sunday, July 5, 2009, destroyed the Prairie House restaurant under the tower.

Five fire departments from nearby communities – Donnellson, Des Moines Township, Montrose, Fort Madison, and West Point – were unable to save the building.