West Virginia

McDowell

19,111
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About McDowell

McDowell, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,535. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,111.

Its recorded population peaked at 98,887 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 81 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Pigeon Roost Creek, and 18 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,111
201022,113
200027,329
199035,233
198049,899
197050,666
196071,359
195098,887
194094,354
193090,479
192068,571
191047,856
190018,747
18907,300
18803,074
18701,952
18601,535
Source

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

Battles & engagements in McDowell

Military engagements that took place in McDowell, West Virginia.

Skirmish at Pigeon Roost Creek
1862

Historic places in McDowell

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

Carter Coal Company Store
Caretta
Pocahontas Fuel Company Store
Switchback
Welch Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Welch
Carter Coal Company Store
Coalwood
Pocahontas Fuel Company Store
Maybeury
McDowell County Courthouse
Welch
Lincoln, John J., House
Elkhorn
Jones, James Ellwood, House
Switchback
Ashland Company Store
Ashland
Pocahontas Fuel Company Store and Office Buildings
Jenkinjones
Welch Commercial Historic District
Welch
Peerless Coal Company Store
Vivian
Houston Coal Company Store
Kimball
Algoma Coal and Coke Company Store
Algoma
World War Memorial
Kimball
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 McDowell County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of McDowell 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 McDowell

When does McDowell first appear in the US census?
McDowell, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,535.
What is the population of McDowell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), McDowell had a recorded population of 19,111.
When did McDowell's population peak?
McDowell's recorded population peaked at 98,887 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in McDowell?
1 documented military engagement took place in McDowell, including Skirmish at Pigeon Roost Creek.
How many historic places are in McDowell?
18 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in McDowell, West Virginia.
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