Beckley, WV Demographics

A map of Beckley's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	11,881	12,001	70.6%	69.4%
Black	2,767	3,384	16.5%	19.6%
Multiracial	1,075	1,004	6.4%	5.8%
Hispanic	600	376	3.6%	2.2%
Asian	446	408	2.7%	2.4%
Native American/Other	49	113	0.3%	0.7%

Beckley, West Virginia has an estimated population of 16,818, a slight decrease from the 17,286 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 70.6% White, 16.5% Black, 6.4% Multiracial, 3.6% Hispanic, 2.7% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Beckley, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Beckley has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than West Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Beckley, that probability was 47.5% in 2020 and 46.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Beckley is ranked the 9th most populous place in West Virginia, out of 439 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Beckley was ranked the 9th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Beckley's White Population

11,881 residents of Beckley, or 70.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Beckley is significantly lower than in West Virginia overall, where 89.7% of the population is White. Beckley ranks 422nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beckley's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Beckley's population has increased from 69.4% to 70.6%.

Beckley is more White than neighboring Raleigh (31.4% White). Beckley is less White than neighboring Sprague (92% White), Mabscott (91.8% White), MacArthur (99.9% White), and Stanaford (95.9% White).

Beckley's Black Population

2,767 residents of Beckley, or 16.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Beckley is considerably higher than in West Virginia overall, where 3.1% of the population is Black. Beckley ranks 15th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beckley's Black population has declined by an estimated 18.2%. Black residents' share of Beckley's population has decreased from 19.6% to 16.5%.

Beckley is more Black than neighboring Sprague (5.9% Black), Mabscott (1.7% Black), MacArthur (0% Black), and Stanaford (1.9% Black). Beckley is less Black than neighboring Raleigh (31.4% Black).

Beckley's Asian Population

446 residents of Beckley, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Beckley is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Beckley ranks 14th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beckley's Asian population has grown by an estimated 9.3%. Asian residents' share of Beckley's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.7%.

Beckley is more Asian than neighboring Sprague (0% Asian), Raleigh (0% Asian), Mabscott (0.3% Asian), MacArthur (0% Asian), and Stanaford (1.1% Asian).

Beckley's Hispanic Population

600 residents of Beckley, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Beckley is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 2.1% of the population is Hispanic. Beckley ranks 76th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beckley's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 59.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Beckley's population has increased from 2.2% to 3.6%.

Beckley is more Hispanic than neighboring Sprague (0% Hispanic), Mabscott (1.4% Hispanic), MacArthur (0% Hispanic), and Stanaford (0% Hispanic). Beckley is less Hispanic than neighboring Raleigh (14.8% Hispanic).

Beckley's Native American/Other Population

49 residents of Beckley, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Beckley is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Beckley ranks 108th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beckley's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 56.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Beckley's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Beckley is more Native American/Other than neighboring Sprague (0% Native American/Other), Raleigh (0% Native American/Other), MacArthur (0.1% Native American/Other), and Stanaford (0% Native American/Other). Beckley is less Native American/Other than neighboring Mabscott (1.6% Native American/Other).

Beckley's Multiracial Population

1,075 residents of Beckley, or 6.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Beckley is slightly higher than in West Virginia overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Beckley ranks 67th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beckley's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 7.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Beckley's population has increased from 5.8% to 6.4%.

Beckley is more Multiracial than neighboring Sprague (2.1% Multiracial), Mabscott (3.2% Multiracial), MacArthur (0% Multiracial), and Stanaford (1.2% Multiracial). Beckley is less Multiracial than neighboring Raleigh (22.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.