[root@linux root]# createdb --help 
createdb creates a PostgreSQL database. 
 
Usage: 
  createdb [OPTION]... [DBNAME] [DESCRIPTION] 
 
Options: 
  -D, --location=PATH       alternative place to store the database 
  -E, --encoding=ENCODING   encoding for the database 
  -O, --owner=OWNER         database user to own the new database 
  -T, --template=TEMPLATE   template database to copy 
  -e, --echo                show the commands being sent to the server 
  -q, --quiet               don't write any messages 
  --help                    show this help, then exit 
  --version                 output version information, then exit 
 
Connection options: 
  -h, --host=HOSTNAME       database server host or socket directory 
  -p, --port=PORT           database server port 
  -U, --username=USERNAME   user name to connect as 
  -W, --password            prompt for password 
 
By default, a database with the same name as the current user is created. 
 
Report bugs to <pgsql-bugs@postgresql.org>. 
 

[root@linux root]# createdb -E UNICODE root 
CREATE DATABASE 
[root@linux root]# psql 
Welcome to psql 7.4.1, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal. 
 
Type:  \copyright for distribution terms 
       \h for help with SQL commands 
       \? for help on internal slash commands 
       \g or terminate with semicolon to execute query 
       \q to quit 
 
root=# SHOW server_encoding ; 
 server_encoding 
----------------- 
 UNICODE 
(1 row)