Home to the capital, it houses all of Nevis' government buildings, as well as many of the island's historic sites.

Saint Paul Charlestown has a much shorter length of coast than any other parish: only about 1/2 mile.

From this developed coastline, which consists almost entirely of the Charlestown port, the parish's boundaries move inland, over gently sloping terrain, until the base of Nevis Peak is reached.

From there, the land rises sharply to the peak's summit, at 3,232 feet, just 3 miles inland.

The higher parts of the mountain slopes are draped in tropical forests, and the town of Charlestown dominates the coastal plain.