West Virginia

Braxton

12,447
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Braxton

Braxton, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,575. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 12,447.

Its recorded population peaked at 23,973 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 48 percent.

On the ground today, 10 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Sutton West Virginia Skirmishes, Action at Sutton, Braxton County (1861), Skirmish at Sutton (Braxton County), and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202012,447
201014,523
200014,702
199012,998
198013,894
197012,666
196015,152
195018,082
194021,658
193022,579
192023,973
191023,023
190018,904
189013,928
18809,787
18706,480
18604,992
18504,212
18402,575
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Braxton

Military engagements that took place in Braxton, West Virginia.

Sutton West Virginia Skirmishes
1861
Action at Sutton, Braxton County (1861)
1861
Skirmish at Sutton (Braxton County)
1861
Skirmish near Sutton (1862)
1862
Skirmish at Bulltown (1862 Supplemental)
1862
Engagement at Sutton (Braxton County)
1862
Skirmish at Bulltown West Virginia
1863
Action at Sutton, Braxton County (1863)
1863
Engagement at Bulltown (WV)
1863
Skirmish at Bulltown (Braxton County)
1863

Historic places in Braxton

National Register of Historic Places listings in Braxton, West Virginia.

Smith, Michael, House
Cedarville
Sutton Downtown Historic District
Sutton
Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike
Burnsville
Union Civil War Fortification
Napier
Cunningham House and Outbuildings
Napier
Gassaway Depot
Gassaway
Browse all West Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in West Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more West Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Braxton County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Braxton County, West Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Braxton

When does Braxton first appear in the US census?
Braxton, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,575.
What is the population of Braxton?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Braxton had a recorded population of 12,447.
When did Braxton's population peak?
Braxton's recorded population peaked at 23,973 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Braxton?
10 documented military engagements took place in Braxton, including Sutton West Virginia Skirmishes, Action at Sutton, Braxton County (1861), Skirmish at Sutton (Braxton County).
How many historic places are in Braxton?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Braxton, West Virginia.
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