West Virginia

Raleigh

74,591
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Raleigh

Raleigh, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 1,765. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 74,591.

Its recorded population peaked at 96,273 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 23 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Beckley (Raleigh Courthouse), Action at Fayetteville (1862), Confederate Raid through Raleigh County (1862), and 11 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202074,591
201078,859
200079,220
199076,819
198086,821
197070,080
196077,826
195096,273
194086,687
193068,072
192042,482
191025,633
190012,436
18909,597
18807,367
18703,673
18603,367
18501,765
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Raleigh

Military engagements that took place in Raleigh, West Virginia.

Skirmish at Beckley (Raleigh Courthouse)
1862
Action at Fayetteville (1862)
1862
Confederate Raid through Raleigh County (1862)
1862
Action at Fayetteville (1864)
1864

Historic places in Raleigh

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

Beckley Feed and Hardware Company
Beckley
Beckley Mill Site
Beckley
Little Beaver Dam
Crow
Trump-Lilly Farmstead
Hinton
Sophia Historic District
Sophia
Phillips-Sprague Mine
Beckley
Beckley Courthouse Square Historic District
Beckley
Wildwood
Beckley
St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery
Sandstone
Browse all West Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in West Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more West Virginia counties.

CalhounClayDoddridgeFayetteGilmerGrantGreenbrierHampshireHancockHardyHarrisonJacksonJeffersonKanawhaLewisLincolnLoganMarionMarshallMason
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Everything a full report reveals about Raleigh County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Raleigh 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 Raleigh

When does Raleigh first appear in the US census?
Raleigh, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 1,765.
What is the population of Raleigh?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Raleigh had a recorded population of 74,591.
When did Raleigh's population peak?
Raleigh's recorded population peaked at 96,273 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Raleigh?
4 documented military engagements took place in Raleigh, including Skirmish at Beckley (Raleigh Courthouse), Action at Fayetteville (1862), Confederate Raid through Raleigh County (1862).
How many historic places are in Raleigh?
11 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Raleigh, West Virginia.
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