West Virginia

Wayne

38,982
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Wayne

Wayne, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 4,760. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 38,982.

Its recorded population peaked at 46,021 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 15 percent.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Wayne Courthouse (1862), Action at Wayne Court House, Skirmish at Warfield (Martin County), and 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202038,982
201042,481
200042,903
199041,636
198046,021
197037,581
196038,977
195038,696
194035,566
193031,206
192026,012
191024,081
190023,619
189018,652
188014,739
18707,852
18606,747
18504,760
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Wayne

Military engagements that took place in Wayne, West Virginia.

Skirmish at Wayne Courthouse (1862)
1862
Action at Wayne Court House
1862
Skirmish at Warfield (Martin County)
1862
Jenkins' Ceredo-Kenova Raid
1862
Raid on Guyandotte and Ceredo (Second, 1862)
1862
Mud River Skirmish (Wayne County)
1862
Action on Tug Fork (Johnson/Martin Counties)
1863

Historic places in Wayne

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

Dunlow Norfolk & Western Railway Depot
Dunlow
Camp Mad Anthony Wayne
Huntington
Ramsdell, Z. D., House (Additional Documentation)
Ceredo
Miller, Joseph S., House
Kenova
Browse all West Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in West Virginia

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

McDowellMercerMineralMingoMonongaliaMonroeMorganNicholasOhioPendletonPleasantsPocahontasPrestonPutnamRaleighRandolphRitchieRoaneSummersTaylor
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Wayne County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Wayne 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Wayne County, West Virginia report
Or see a real report first

Explore West Virginia records

West Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from West Virginia›

Frequently asked about Wayne

When does Wayne first appear in the US census?
Wayne, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 4,760.
What is the population of Wayne?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wayne had a recorded population of 38,982.
When did Wayne's population peak?
Wayne's recorded population peaked at 46,021 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Wayne?
7 documented military engagements took place in Wayne, including Skirmish at Wayne Courthouse (1862), Action at Wayne Court House, Skirmish at Warfield (Martin County).
How many historic places are in Wayne?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wayne, West Virginia.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report