West Virginia

Nicholas

24,604
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Nicholas

Nicholas, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 1,853. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 24,604.

Its recorded population peaked at 28,126 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 13 percent.

On the ground today, 20 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Carnifex Ferry, Summersville West Virginia Skirmishes, Battle of Carnifex Ferry Sep 10 1861, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202024,604
201026,233
200026,562
199026,775
198028,126
197022,552
196025,414
195027,696
194024,070
193020,686
192020,717
191017,699
190011,403
18909,309
18807,223
18704,458
18604,627
18503,963
18402,515
18303,346
18201,853
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Nicholas

Military engagements that took place in Nicholas, West Virginia.

Action at Carnifex Ferry
1861
Summersville West Virginia Skirmishes
1861
Battle of Carnifex Ferry Sep 10 1861
1861
Skirmish at Big Sewell Mountain
1861
Skirmish at Summersville (Nicholas County)
1861
Action at Gauley Mount (Nicholas County)
1861
Carnifex Ferry Approach Skirmish
1861
Gauley Bridge Operations
1861
Skirmish at Cross Lanes (Nicholas County)
1861
Battle of Summersville
1861
Battle of Cross Lanes
1861
Second Battle of Carnifex Ferry
1862
Skirmish at Muddlety (Nicholas Co.)
1862
Skirmish at Muddlety Creek
1862
Skirmish at Leivasy
1862
Skirmish at Birch River
1862
Jones-Imboden Raid — Action at Summersville
1863
Skirmish at Summersville West Virginia
1863
Battle of Summersville
1863
McCausland's Kanawha Valley Raid (1864)
1864

Historic places in Nicholas

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

Carnifex Ferry State Park
Kesslers Cross Lanes
Halstead, Capt. John, Farm
Kesslers Cross Lanes
Mason-Drennen House
Drennen
Lockwood Historic District
Lockwood
Downtown Richwood Historic District
Richwood
Nicholas County High School
Summerville
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 Nicholas County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Nicholas 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 Nicholas

When does Nicholas first appear in the US census?
Nicholas, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 1,853.
What is the population of Nicholas?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Nicholas had a recorded population of 24,604.
When did Nicholas's population peak?
Nicholas's recorded population peaked at 28,126 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Nicholas?
20 documented military engagements took place in Nicholas, including Action at Carnifex Ferry, Summersville West Virginia Skirmishes, Battle of Carnifex Ferry Sep 10 1861.
How many historic places are in Nicholas?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Nicholas, West Virginia.
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