West Virginia

Taylor

16,705
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Taylor

Taylor, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 5,367. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,705.

Its recorded population peaked at 19,919 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 16 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Pruntytown, Taylor County (1861), Skirmish at Grafton (May 1861), Jones-Imboden Raid — Fight at Grafton (1863), and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,705
201016,895
200016,089
199015,144
198016,584
197013,878
196015,010
195018,422
194019,919
193019,114
192018,742
191016,554
190014,978
189012,147
188011,455
18709,367
18607,463
18505,367
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Taylor

Military engagements that took place in Taylor, West Virginia.

Skirmish at Pruntytown, Taylor County (1861)
1861
Skirmish at Grafton (May 1861)
1861
Jones-Imboden Raid — Fight at Grafton (1863)
1863
B&O Raid at Grafton (1863)
1863
Skirmish at Pruntytown (Taylor County)
1863

Historic places in Taylor

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

Grafton Downtown Commercial Historic District
Grafton
Andrews Methodist Church
Grafton
Grafton National Cemetery
Grafton
Tygart River Reservoir Dam
Grafton
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 Taylor County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Taylor 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 Taylor

When does Taylor first appear in the US census?
Taylor, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 5,367.
What is the population of Taylor?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Taylor had a recorded population of 16,705.
When did Taylor's population peak?
Taylor's recorded population peaked at 19,919 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Taylor?
5 documented military engagements took place in Taylor, including Skirmish at Pruntytown, Taylor County (1861), Skirmish at Grafton (May 1861), Jones-Imboden Raid — Fight at Grafton (1863).
How many historic places are in Taylor?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Taylor, West Virginia.
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