CHARITON, a city of southern Iowa, U.S.A., on the Chari ton river, 53 m. S.E. of Des Moines; the county seat of Lucas county. It is on Federal highway 34, and is served by the Burling ton and Rock Island railways. The population in 193o Federal census was 5,365. Coal is mined in the vicinity, and the city has creameries, and broom and wagon factories. It was settled about 185o.