RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 31 SHOWN OF 31

Most sparsely populated, West Virginia cities · 2020

West Virginia cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 31 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

01Brookhaven, WVWV6,212618+21%

02Ranson corporation, WVWV6,853670–

03Cheat Lake, WVWV10,902693+55%

04Oak Hill, WVWV7,629839+8%

05Bridgeport, WVWV9,427881+28%

06Weirton, WVWV18,1331,061−6%

07Bluefield, WVWV9,1581,076−16%

08Charles, WVWV9,3291,114+125%

09Nitro, WVWV6,2701,239−3%

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

11Cross Lanes, WVWV9,6711,556−6%

12Charleston, WVWV46,1171,556−9%

13Clarksburg, WVWV15,5621,653−4%

14Beckley, WVWV16,3731,820+0%

15Buckhannon, WVWV5,0541,820−9%

16Hurricane, WVWV7,3671,874+33%

17Elkins, WVWV6,6221,909−1%

18New Martinsville, WVWV5,0391,947−13%

19Princeton, WVWV5,5781,948−7%

20Wheeling, WVWV25,6801,962−14%

21Teays Valley, WVWV14,1511,976+13%

22Fairmont, WVWV18,0352,141−4%

23Parkersburg, WVWV28,5932,524−10%

24Dunbar, WVWV7,0502,670−8%

25Vienna, WVWV10,3212,684−2%

26Moundsville, WVWV7,6592,784−19%

27Martinsburg, WVWV19,2112,832+25%

28Pea Ridge, WVWV6,9882,848+4%

29Huntington, WVWV44,8152,888−9%

30Morgantown, WVWV30,2932,981+13%

31St. Albans, WVWV10,2103,004−6%

SHOWING 1–31 OF 31

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