West Virginia

Kanawha

180,745
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Kanawha

Kanawha, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 3,239. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 180,745.

Its recorded population peaked at 252,925 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 29 percent.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of the Great Kanawha (1778), Elk River Crossing Skirmish, First Capture of Charleston, and 93 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020180,745
2010193,063
2000200,073
1990207,619
1980231,414
1970229,515
1960252,925
1950239,629
1940195,619
1930157,667
1920119,650
191081,457
190054,696
189042,756
188032,466
187022,349
186016,150
185015,353
184013,567
18309,326
18206,399
18103,866
18003,239
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Kanawha

Military engagements that took place in Kanawha, West Virginia.

Battle of the Great Kanawha (1778)
1778
Elk River Crossing Skirmish
1861
First Capture of Charleston
1861
Skirmish at Coalsmouth (St. Albans)
1861
Charleston West Virginia Operations
1861
Skirmish at Camp Piatt
1861
Action at St. Albans (1862)
1862
Confederate Attempt to Retake Charleston (September 1862)
1862
Skirmish at Short Mountain (Kanawha)
1862
Engagement at Pocatalico
1862
Lightburn's Retreat (Kanawha Valley)
1862
Battle of Kanawha Valley Recapture
1862
Jenkins' Kanawha Raid (1862)
1862
Engagement near Montgomery (Fayette-Kanawha Border)
1862
Confederate Raid through Kanawha Valley (November 1864)
1864
Raid on Charleston (November 1864)
1864

Historic places in Kanawha

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

Coal River Locks, Dams, and Log Booms Archeological District
Alum Creek
Cox-Parks House
Charleston
Starks, Samuel, House
Charleston
African Zion Baptist Church
Malden
Holly Grove Mansion
Charleston
Charleston Municipal Auditorium
Charleston
Edgewood Historic District
Charleston
Smith-Giltinan House
Charleston
Craik-Patton House
Charleston
St. John's Episcopal Church
Charleston
Gilmore, Elizabeth Harden, House
Charleston
West Virginia Capitol Complex
Charleston
Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove
Plaza Theatre
Charleston
Chilton House
St. Albans
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
St. Albans
Chesapeake and Ohio Depot
Charleston
Sunrise
Charleston
East End Historic District
Charleston
Ebenezer Chapel
Marmet
Chilton, W. E. II, House
Charleston
Fort Scammon
Charleston
Edwards William H. & William S., House
Coalburg
St. Albans Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Depot
St. Albans
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 Kanawha County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Kanawha 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 Kanawha

When does Kanawha first appear in the US census?
Kanawha, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 3,239.
What is the population of Kanawha?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Kanawha had a recorded population of 180,745.
When did Kanawha's population peak?
Kanawha's recorded population peaked at 252,925 in 1960.
Were any battles fought in Kanawha?
16 documented military engagements took place in Kanawha, including Battle of the Great Kanawha (1778), Elk River Crossing Skirmish, First Capture of Charleston.
How many historic places are in Kanawha?
93 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kanawha, West Virginia.
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