RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 29 SHOWN OF 29

Most sparsely populated, West Virginia cities · 1990

West Virginia cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 29 cities in West Virginia that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Cheat Lake, WVWV10,902278−38%

02Brookhaven, WVWV6,212415−19%

03Charles, WVWV9,329493−1%

04Bridgeport, WVWV9,427636−8%

05Oak Hill, WVWV7,629699−10%

06Teays Valley, WVWV14,1511,162−34%

07Hurricane, WVWV7,3671,222−13%

08Weirton, WVWV18,1331,225+8%

09Nitro, WVWV6,2701,282+0%

10South Charleston, WVWV13,0721,398+2%

11Bluefield, WVWV9,1581,421+11%

12Cross Lanes, WVWV9,6711,740+5%

13Charleston, WVWV46,1171,825+7%

14Clarksburg, WVWV15,5621,856+8%

15Beckley, WVWV16,3731,926+6%

16Elkins, WVWV6,6222,042+6%

17Buckhannon, WVWV5,0542,074+3%

18Martinsburg, WVWV19,2112,122−6%

19Princeton, WVWV5,5782,337+11%

20Fairmont, WVWV18,0352,349+6%

21New Martinsville, WVWV5,0392,508+12%

22Wheeling, WVWV25,6802,530+11%

23Morgantown, WVWV30,2932,542−3%

24Vienna, WVWV10,3212,737+0%

25Parkersburg, WVWV28,5932,870+2%

26St. Albans, WVWV10,2103,097−3%

27Dunbar, WVWV7,0503,104+7%

28Huntington, WVWV44,8153,381+7%

29Moundsville, WVWV7,6593,699+8%

SHOWING 1–29 OF 29

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES