West Virginia

Wetzel

14,442
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Wetzel

Wetzel, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 4,284. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,442.

Its recorded population peaked at 23,855 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 39 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Confederate Raid in Wetzel County, Raid on New Martinsville, Wetzel County (1863), and 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,442
201016,583
200017,693
199019,258
198021,874
197020,314
196019,347
195020,154
194022,342
193022,334
192023,069
191023,855
190022,880
189016,841
188013,896
18708,595
18606,703
18504,284
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Wetzel

Military engagements that took place in Wetzel, West Virginia.

Confederate Raid in Wetzel County
1862
Raid on New Martinsville, Wetzel County (1863)
1863

Historic places in Wetzel

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

War Memorial Building
New Martinsville
New Martinsville Downtown Historic District
New Martinsville
Fish Creek Covered Bridge
Hundred
North Street Historic District
New Martinsville

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Everything a full report reveals about Wetzel County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Wetzel 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 Wetzel

When does Wetzel first appear in the US census?
Wetzel, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 4,284.
What is the population of Wetzel?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wetzel had a recorded population of 14,442.
When did Wetzel's population peak?
Wetzel's recorded population peaked at 23,855 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Wetzel?
2 documented military engagements took place in Wetzel, including Confederate Raid in Wetzel County, Raid on New Martinsville, Wetzel County (1863).
How many historic places are in Wetzel?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wetzel, West Virginia.
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