West Virginia
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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
West Virginia Population News Articles
WV Senate Oks rule that would weaken water protection against selenium pollution – Feb 9, 2026
West Virginia bill barring use of toxic pesticides near schools opposed by state farm industry – Feb 9, 2026
ICE arrests 650 illegal aliens in West Virginia – Jan 30, 2026
West Virginia environmentalists decry $500 million loss in funding for addressing mine pollution – Jan 21, 2026
Proposed West Virginia Data Center Complex Raises Pollution Risks – Jan 15, 2026
‘I just need basic answers’: West Virginians want transparency as they struggle to get info about planned data centers – Sep 28, 2025
Sierra Club challenges W.Va. attorney general over deregulating greenhouse gases – Sep 26, 2025
Army Corps Seeks to Evade Water Protections to Speed West Virginia Fossil Fuel Projects – Sep 24, 2025
Officials urge caution as West Virginia experiences drought conditions – Sep 22, 2025
West Virginia issues new round of violations against South Fork Coal Company – Sep 12, 2025
West Virginia near bottom for environmental protection in 2025 new report says – June 10, 2025
West Virginia attorney general joins joint statement condemning LA protests, supporting troop deployments – June 10, 2025
West Virginia Air Quality Alert: Wildfire Smoke Triggers Code Orange Until 10 p.m. Thursday – June 5, 2025
West Virginia ratepayers footing the bill for infrastructure build out – May 29, 2025
WV law changes standards for plugging abandoned oil wells – May 27, 2025
Experts: Plans to loosen environmental rules will hurt West Virginians’ health – May 14, 2025
Will West Virginia’s drought affect your chance at getting a live Christmas tree? – Nov 29, 2024
EPA agrees to update toxic air pollution rule for Institute chemical plant after citizen group lawsuit – Nov 28, 2024
Manchin, Capito announce progress empowering W.Va. to permit carbon storage projects – Nov 27, 2024
$25,000 EPA penalty for clean water act violations already paid off by city of Salem, mayor says – Nov 19, 2024
Extreme weather (drought, hurricane) provides stress and relief for West Virginia outdoor economic sector – Nov 16, 2024
The phrase ‘climate change’ becomes unavoidable as drought roils state’s agriculture – Sept 13, 2024
West Virginia American Water invests more than $175,000 for Hinton infrastructure improvements – Sept 12, 2024
As immigrants struggle inside and outside a Hardy County chicken plant, lawmakers say it’s not the state’s role to address issues – Aug 30, 2024
Counties with the worst droughts in West Virginia – Aug 23, 2024
Collecting rainwater and cleaning up a creek this West Virginia morning– Aug 19, 2024
CO2 levels rising faster than ever after decades of high WV reliance – June 11, 2024
In West Virginia’s ‘Poultry Capital,’ immigrant workers struggle to find the help and support they need – June 10, 2024
Mine Water Is Spewing into this West Virginia Community While Companies Squabble Over Who Is Responsible – June 7, 2024
West Virginia welcomes nine new babies, thanks to Ascend WV – Jun 7, 2024
State To Receive $140 Million From Interior For Abandoned Mines – June 5, 2024
Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail: West Virginia becoming part of Tornado Alley – June 3, 2024
West Virginia among winners of competition to produce hydrogen fuel – October 12, 2023
Discover the Largest Cities in West Virginia (By Population, Total Area, and Economic Impact) – October 6, 2023
West Virginia Latinos share importance of fighting immigration misconceptions, impact of Hispanic culture – October 5, 2023
New documentary puts spotlight on Minden, West Virginia, pollution and cancers – September 25, 2023
In West Virginia, Plan to Clean up Radioactive Fracking Waste Ends in Monster Lawsuit – September 22, 2023
EPA Region 3 Celebrates Electric School Bus Delivery in Wirt County, West Virginia – September 15, 2023
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