West Virginia

Mercer

59,664
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Mercer

Mercer, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,233. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 59,664.

Its recorded population peaked at 75,013 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 20 percent.

On the ground today, 11 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Princeton (1861), Battle of Princeton (May 1862), First Battle of Princeton, and 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202059,664
201062,264
200062,980
199064,980
198073,942
197063,206
196068,206
195075,013
194068,289
193061,323
192049,558
191038,371
190023,023
189016,002
18807,467
18707,064
18606,819
18504,222
18402,233
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Mercer

Military engagements that took place in Mercer, West Virginia.

Skirmish at Princeton (1861)
1861
Battle of Princeton (May 1862)
1862
First Battle of Princeton
1862
Action at Princeton (WV)
1862
Engagement at Princeton Court House (WV)
1862
Battle of Princeton Court House
1862
Recapture of Princeton (1862)
1862
Flat Top Mountain Skirmish
1862
Second Battle of Princeton
1862
Skirmish at Flat Top Mountain
1862
Battle of New River Bridge
1864

Historic places in Mercer

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

Bluefield Downtown Commercial Historic District
Bluefield
Municipal Building
Bluefield
Mercer Street Historic District
Princeton
Mercer County Courthouse
Princeton
McNutt, Dr. Robert B., House
Princeton
Hale, Dr. James W., House
Princeton
President's House, Bluefield State College
Bluefield
Virginian Railway Yard Historic District
Princeton
Bramwell Additions Historic District (Boundary Increase) (Additional Documentation)
Bramwell
Bramwell Additions Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Bramwell
Bluefield Green Book Historic District
Bluefield
Bramwell Historic District
Bramwell
Hancock House
Bluefield
Country Club Hill Historic District
Bluefield
Upper Oakhurst Historic District
Bluefield
South Bluefield Historic District
Bluefield
Jefferson Street Historic District
Bluefield
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 Mercer County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Mercer 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 Mercer

When does Mercer first appear in the US census?
Mercer, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,233.
What is the population of Mercer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mercer had a recorded population of 59,664.
When did Mercer's population peak?
Mercer's recorded population peaked at 75,013 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Mercer?
11 documented military engagements took place in Mercer, including Skirmish at Princeton (1861), Battle of Princeton (May 1862), First Battle of Princeton.
How many historic places are in Mercer?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mercer, West Virginia.
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