West Virginia

Pendleton

6,143
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Pendleton

Pendleton, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 2,452. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,143.

Its recorded population peaked at 10,884 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 44 percent.

On the ground today, 10 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Upper Tract WV Skirmish (1862), Engagement at Franklin WV (Fremont's retreat), Circleville WV (Pendleton County) Guerrilla Action (1862), and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,143
20107,695
20008,196
19908,054
19807,910
19707,031
19608,093
19509,313
194010,884
19309,660
19209,652
19109,349
19009,167
18908,711
18808,022
18706,455
18606,164
18505,795
18406,940
18306,271
18204,846
18104,239
18003,962
17902,452
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Pendleton

Military engagements that took place in Pendleton, West Virginia.

Upper Tract WV Skirmish (1862)
1862
Engagement at Franklin WV (Fremont's retreat)
1862
Circleville WV (Pendleton County) Guerrilla Action (1862)
1862
Action at Mechanicsburg Gap (Pendleton County)
1862
Brandywine WV (Pendleton County) Skirmish (1863)
1863
Action at Seneca Rocks (Pendleton County)
1863
Skirmish at Warm Sulphur Springs (Pendleton)
1863
Action at Seneca Trail (Pendleton County)
1863
Skirmish at Franklin (Pendleton County)
1863
McNeill's Rangers Raid into Pendleton
1864

Historic places in Pendleton

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

Priest Mill
Franklin
Pitsenbarger, Ananais, Farm
Franklin
McCoy Mill
Franklin
Franklin Historic District
Franklin
Old Probst Church
Brandywine
Sites Homestead
Seneca Rocks
Circleville School
Circleville
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 Pendleton County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Pendleton 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 Pendleton

When does Pendleton first appear in the US census?
Pendleton, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 2,452.
What is the population of Pendleton?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Pendleton had a recorded population of 6,143.
When did Pendleton's population peak?
Pendleton's recorded population peaked at 10,884 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Pendleton?
10 documented military engagements took place in Pendleton, including Upper Tract WV Skirmish (1862), Engagement at Franklin WV (Fremont's retreat), Circleville WV (Pendleton County) Guerrilla Action (1862).
How many historic places are in Pendleton?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pendleton, West Virginia.
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