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West Virginia Population News Articles

Population Density

Historic & Projected Growth

Population by County


POPULATION DENSITY

People per square mile, 2010:   77.0

People per square mile, 2020: 74.6


HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040

Year
Population
1790
55,873
1800
78,592
1810
105,469
1820
136,808
1830
176,924
1840
224,537
1850
302,313
1860
376,688
1870
442,014
1880
618,457
1890
762,794
1900
958,800
1910
1,221,119
1920
1,463,701
1930
1,729,205
1940
1,901,974
1950
2,005,552
1960
1,860,421
1970
1,744,237
1980
1,950,186
1990
1,793,477
2000
1,808,344
2010
1,852,994
2020
1,793,716
2030
*1,746,577
2040
*1,661,849

Sources: Census figures from U.S. Bureau of the Census & *Estimates from Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)


Population by County

Census 2020 Population
Census 2010 Population
Change from 2010
Percent Change
WEST VIRGINIA
1,793,716
1,852,994
-59,278
-3.20%
Barbour County
15465
16,589
-1,124
-6.78%
Berkeley County
122076
104,169
17,907
17.19%
Boone County
21809
24,629
-2,820
-11.45%
Braxton County
12447
14,523
-2,076
-14.29%
Brooke County
22559
24,069
-1,510
-6.27%
Cabell County
94350
96,319
-1,969
-2.04%
Calhoun County
6229
7,627
-1,398
-18.33%
Clay County
8051
9,386
-1,335
-14.22%
Doddridge County
7808
8,202
-394
-4.80%
Fayette County
40488
46,039
-5,551
-12.06%
Gilmer County
7408
8,693
-1,285
-14.78%
Grant County
10976
11,937
-961
-8.05%
Greenbrier County
32977
35,480
-2,503
-7.05%
Hampshire County
23093
23,964
-871
-3.63%
Hancock County
29095
30,676
-1,581
-5.15%
Hardy County
14299
14,025
274
1.95%
Harrison County
65921
69,099
-3,178
-4.60%
Jackson County
27791
29,211
-1,420
-4.86%
Jefferson County
57701
53,498
4,203
7.86%
Kanawha County
180745
193,063
-12,318
-6.38%
Lewis County
17033
16,372
661
4.04%
Lincoln County
20463
21,720
-1,257
-5.79%
Logan County
32567
36,743
-4,176
-11.37%
McDowell County
19111
22,113
-3,002
-13.58%
Marion County
56205
56,418
-213
-0.38%
Marshall County
30591
33,107
-2,516
-7.60%
Mason County
25453
27,324
-1,871
-6.85%
Mercer County
59664
62,264
-2,600
-4.18%
Mineral County
26938
28,212
-1,274
-4.52%
Mingo County
23568
26,839
-3,271
-12.19%
Monongalia County
105822
96,189
9,633
10.01%
Monroe County
12376
13,502
-1,126
-8.34%
Morgan County
17063
17,541
-478
-2.73%
Nicholas County
24604
26,233
-1,629
-6.21%
Ohio County
42425
44,443
-2,018
-4.54%
Pendleton County
6143
7,695
-1,552
-20.17%
Pleasants County
7653
7,605
48
0.63%
Pocahontas County
7869
8,719
-850
-9.75%
Preston County
34216
33,520
696
2.08%
Putnam County
57440
55,486
1,954
3.52%
Raleigh County
74591
78,859
-4,268
-5.41%
Randolph County
27932
29,405
-1,473
-5.01%
Ritchie County
8444
10,449
-2,005
-19.19%
Roane County
14028
14,926
-898
-6.02%
Summers County
11959
13,927
-1,968
-14.13%
Taylor County
16705
16,895
-190
-1.12%
Tucker County
6762
7,141
-379
-5.31%
Tyler County
8313
9,208
-895
-9.72%
Upshur County
23816
24,254
-438
-1.81%
Wayne County
38982
42,481
-3,499
-8.24%
Webster County
8378
9,154
-776
-8.48%
Wetzel County
14442
16,583
-2,141
-12.91%
Wirt County
5194
5,717
-523
-9.15%
Wood County
84296
86,956
-2,660
-3.06%
Wyoming County
21382
23,796
-2,414
-10.14%

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census


Mission WV receives funding for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program across the state – July 5, 2023

Professor investigates variation in drinking water quality in W.Va. – July 5, 2023

Little publicized but treacherous, methane from coal mines upends the lives of West Virginia families – July 2, 2023

The best trees to cultivate in West Virginia to sustain pollinators – June 19, 2023

WV Among Top States for Public Health Harms from Fossil Fuels – June 29, 2023

Historic Winchester and Western Railroad to Serve New West Virginia Steel Mill – December 11, 2022

Morgantown, West Virginia, passes resolution to reduce greenhouse gas – December 9, 2022

‘I just walk all night to stay warm’: As more people live on the streets, unsheltered West Virginians struggle to survive  – December 8, 2022

Revealed: Nearly 100 potential PFAS-polluted sites in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia from fracking waste – December 7, 2022

6 Steps to a More Flood-Resilient West Virginia – November 30, 2022

$500 million program to site clean energy projects at former mines – July 7, 2022

Environmental, labor groups join forces to fight climate change – June 21, 2022

West Virginia Communities Receive Funding For Flood Protection And Rural Water Supply Projects Through Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act – March 9, 2022

Upshur, Barbour, Lincoln County (West Virginia) school systems to receive EPA funding for eco- friendly buses– March 8, 2022

West Virginia has the highest percentage of bridges in poor condition, data shows – March 1, 2022

Fastest-growing counties in West Virginia – February 28, 2022

2021 West Virginia farm & land numbers released – February 23, 2022

An Army of Two Fights Pollution in West Virginia’s Waterways – November 29, 2021

WV State Auditor plans to launch program to track federal infrastructure dollars – November 28, 2021

West Virginia has the third worst road infrastructure, report finds – November 23, 2021

West Virginia under toxic threat from highest industrial selenium pollution levels in the country – November 19, 2021

West Virginia at Risk for Greater Climate Change Costs With Manchin Holding Out on Spending Plan –  November 5, 2021

Union Carbide Faces New Lawsuit Over Water Pollution – September 10, 2021

Counties most concerned about climate change in West Virginia – September 5, 2021

Mountaintop mining causes 40% loss of aquatic biodiversity – September 2, 2021

West Virginia’s climate has warmed by 2.17° F since 1970 – August 28, 2021

West Virginia’s vital mussel population at risk according to report – August 24, 2021

‘All the water’s bad’: In McDowell County, you have to get creative to find safe drinking water – June 17, 2021

Rising CO2 Levels Could Change W.Va. – June 15, 2021

West Virginia Town Residents Say Coal Dust Is Taking Their Breath Away – June 14, 2021

Lovettsville Council to Write EPA on Rockwool Concerns – June 11, 2021

Groups gauging blowout’s impact on Cheat River and Muddy Creek  – March 14, 2021

Another attempt to tighten drinking water health criteria rule fails on House floor as Hansen amendment defeated – March 12, 2021

More environmental rollbacks moving through West Virginia’s Legislature – March 10, 2021

House approves rollback of state regulation of oil and gas tanks near water intakes – March 10, 2021

WV congressman not giving the green light for the President’s green energy push – February 22, 2021

Climate Change in W.Va.: ‘Nobody Wants to Drink Unsafe Water’ – December 1, 2020

Proposed settlement would require Marshall County plant to limit mercury pollution, fund river conservation – December 1, 2020

Court Halts Key Permits for Mountain Valley Pipeline – November 10, 2020

First Energy announces long-term goal of carbon neutrality – November 9, 2020

W.Va. environmental, social justice groups release climate change guide – September 30, 2020

$12 million committed to improvement projects at WV state parks – September 25, 2020

Legislators and citizen groups call for a stronger water quality rule – September 23, 2020

Senate Report Calls for Natural Solutions to Battle Climate Change – August 31, 2020

Judge Rules Justice-Controlled Coal Company Liable For Pollution Violations At W.Va. Mine – July 27, 2020

Leaving giant carbon footprints: Average Sudbury person generates 9,700 pounds of greenhouse gases each year. In Dorchester, it’s only 2,227 pounds. – July 22, 2020

WV Groups Sue DEP Over Feared Collapse of Mine Reclamation Fund – July 21, 2020

Corridor H makes progress towards connecting West Virginia – July 16, 2020

The Impacts of Climate Change and the Trump Administration’s Anti-Environmental Agenda in West Virginia – June 2, 2020

WV communities receive funding for broadband, water and sewer projects – June 3, 2020

Construction begins on Forks of Coal nature center – June 5, 2020

Tucker County Mine Permit Renewal Draws Concerns Over Future Of Beaver Creek – June 10, 2020

After Deadly Floods, West Virginia Created A Resiliency Office. It’s Barely Functioning. – January 27, 2020

New Trump administration proposal would roll back environmental law to speed development – January 9, 2020

Study Finds Coal Closures Saved Thousands Of Lives – January 7, 2020

How many West Virginia students are homeless? – October 11, 2019

Residents of this West Virginia coal town say now is the time to rebuild, sustain coal industry – October 7, 2019

We’re Just Starting to Learn How Fracking Harms Wildlife – October 2, 2019

Report: Majority of WV counties in bottom third nationally for safe drinking water – October 2, 2019

Local programs raising awareness of bird population decline and land conservation – September 29, 2019

Lyme disease continues its rapid spread in WV – August 23, 2019

Appalachian pipelines face new setbacks amid renewed national scrutiny – August 15, 2019

Hotter, wetter, dryer: WVU research forecasts an uptick in extreme weather, temperatures in West Virginia – August 11, 2019

Sierra Club, others oppose Mason coal-to-liquids plant – August 11, 2019

Addressing climate change in West Virginia – June 28, 2019

West Virginia Rivers Coalition establishes local presence – June 8, 2019

West Virginia Coal Industry Data Shows Mines Releasing Excessive Pollution – June 5, 2019

A European plant burns trash for energy in West Virginia. Will it further upend coal? – April 29, 2019

Pioneer Trail to get $2.2M for repairs – April 26, 2019

Air Pollution Continues to Decline, Smog Remains a Problem – April 24, 2019

Report: Nearly 20 percent of WV bridges structurally deficient – April 14, 2019

Berkeley County moves forward with litter control efforts despite Senate bill veto – April 7, 2019

Committee abruptly adjourns during refugee, sanctuary city discussion – February 6, 2019

Heresy? The operator of the country’s ‘cleanest, most modern’ coal plant is trying out gas and solar – February 4, 2019

Senate gives industry more time on water quality standards – February 8, 2019

Unger proposes public meeting requirement for air, water permits – January 21, 2019

Landslide, Rupture Issues Raise Problems for Gas Pipeline Permit – January 11, 2019