Fastest growing cities in West Virginia
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in West Virginia using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Glen Fork
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +325
--- #5,916 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 246.2%
--- #3 among cities in West Virginia, #235 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 457
--- #232 largest city in West Virginia, #19,592 largest city nationwide
#19. Pleasant Valley
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +362
--- #5,645 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.5%
--- #78 among cities in West Virginia, #8,196 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,498
--- #42 largest city in West Virginia, #8,075 largest city nationwide
#18. Brookhaven
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +400
--- #5,354 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.5%
--- #93 among cities in West Virginia, #10,128 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,707
--- #28 largest city in West Virginia, #6,019 largest city nationwide
#17. Inwood
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +402
--- #5,345 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.3%
--- #74 among cities in West Virginia, #7,527 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,426
--- #45 largest city in West Virginia, #8,183 largest city nationwide
#16. Cross Lanes
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +506
--- #4,809 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.5%
--- #104 among cities in West Virginia, #11,286 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,727
--- #16 largest city in West Virginia, #4,156 largest city nationwide
#15. Cassville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +518
--- #4,746 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 69.1%
--- #19 among cities in West Virginia, #1,461 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,268
--- #122 largest city in West Virginia, #13,452 largest city nationwide
#14. Oak Hill
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +520
--- #4,740 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.8%
--- #97 among cities in West Virginia, #10,520 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,179
--- #19 largest city in West Virginia, #4,743 largest city nationwide
#13. Falling Waters
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +664
--- #4,159 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 85.6%
--- #16 among cities in West Virginia, #1,068 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,440
--- #104 largest city in West Virginia, #12,730 largest city nationwide
#12. Barboursville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +676
--- #4,123 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.9%
--- #61 among cities in West Virginia, #6,158 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,456
--- #34 largest city in West Virginia, #7,043 largest city nationwide
#11. Teays Valley
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +691
--- #4,085 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 5.1%
--- #105 among cities in West Virginia, #11,552 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,350
--- #11 largest city in West Virginia, #3,032 largest city nationwide
#10. Hurricane
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +697
--- #4,074 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.1%
--- #80 among cities in West Virginia, #8,375 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,961
--- #22 largest city in West Virginia, #5,320 largest city nationwide
#9. Granville
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +708
--- #4,044 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 109.4%
--- #10 among cities in West Virginia, #764 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,355
--- #111 largest city in West Virginia, #13,058 largest city nationwide
#8. Shannondale
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +958
--- #3,388 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 37.9%
--- #34 among cities in West Virginia, #3,007 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,487
--- #43 largest city in West Virginia, #8,093 largest city nationwide
#7. Ranson corporation
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,111
--- #3,116 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 25.7%
--- #50 among cities in West Virginia, #4,464 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,433
--- #29 largest city in West Virginia, #6,209 largest city nationwide
#6. Welch
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,128
--- #3,092 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 45.8%
--- #30 among cities in West Virginia, #2,449 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,590
--- #41 largest city in West Virginia, #7,972 largest city nationwide
#5. Morgantown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,271
--- #2,869 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4.4%
--- #106 among cities in West Virginia, #12,014 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 30,347
--- #3 largest city in West Virginia, #1,476 largest city nationwide
#4. Bridgeport
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,358
--- #2,741 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.0%
--- #64 among cities in West Virginia, #6,393 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,336
--- #18 largest city in West Virginia, #4,292 largest city nationwide
#3. Charles Town
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,460
--- #2,633 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 28.8%
--- #47 among cities in West Virginia, #4,008 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,534
--- #26 largest city in West Virginia, #5,529 largest city nationwide
#2. Martinsburg
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,644
--- #2,442 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.6%
--- #85 among cities in West Virginia, #9,059 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 18,777
--- #7 largest city in West Virginia, #2,402 largest city nationwide
#1. Cheat Lake
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,292
--- #1,953 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 30.0%
--- #46 among cities in West Virginia, #3,843 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,930
--- #15 largest city in West Virginia, #4,093 largest city nationwide
