Kanawha County Demographics

A map of Kanawha County's Population by Race

Kanawha County, West Virginia has an estimated population of 176,537, a slight decrease from the 180,745 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 85.9% White, 6.1% Multiracial, 4.8% Black, 1.6% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kanawha County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kanawha has become 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 Kanawha County, that probability was 27.8% in 2020 and 25.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kanawha County is ranked the most populous county in West Virginia, out of 55 counties. Kanawha County was ranked the 1st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Kanawha County's White Population

151,690 residents of Kanawha County, or 85.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kanawha County is slightly lower than in West Virginia overall, where 89.7% of the population is White. Kanawha County ranks 50th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kanawha County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Kanawha County's population has increased from 84.5% to 85.9%.

Kanawha County is less White than neighboring Boone County (97.1% White), Putnam County (93.6% White), Roane County (95% White), Clay County (96.8% White), and Jackson County (95.6% White).

Kanawha County's Black Population

8,544 residents of Kanawha County, or 4.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kanawha County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 3.1% of the population is Black. Kanawha County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kanawha County's Black population has declined by an estimated 36.3%. Black residents' share of Kanawha County's population has decreased from 7.4% to 4.8%.

Kanawha County is more Black than neighboring Boone County (0.4% Black), Putnam County (0.9% Black), Roane County (0% Black), Clay County (0.1% Black), and Jackson County (0.1% Black).

Kanawha County's Asian Population

2,023 residents of Kanawha County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kanawha County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Kanawha County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kanawha County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 5.4%. Asian residents' share of Kanawha County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Kanawha County is more Asian than neighboring Boone County (0.2% Asian), Putnam County (0.8% Asian), Roane County (0.2% Asian), Clay County (0% Asian), and Jackson County (0.4% Asian).

Kanawha County's Hispanic Population

2,789 residents of Kanawha County, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kanawha County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 2.1% of the population is Hispanic. Kanawha County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kanawha County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Kanawha County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Kanawha County is more Hispanic than neighboring Boone County (0.7% Hispanic), Putnam County (1.5% Hispanic), Roane County (1.2% Hispanic), Clay County (0.2% Hispanic), and Jackson County (1.1% Hispanic).

Kanawha County's Native American/Other Population

759 residents of Kanawha County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kanawha County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Kanawha County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kanawha County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 33.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kanawha County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Kanawha County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Boone County (0% Native American/Other), Roane County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Clay County (0.1% Native American/Other). Kanawha County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Jackson County (0.5% Native American/Other).

Kanawha County's Multiracial Population

10,732 residents of Kanawha County, or 6.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kanawha County is slightly higher than in West Virginia overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Kanawha County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kanawha County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 24.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Kanawha County's population has increased from 4.8% to 6.1%.

Kanawha County is more Multiracial than neighboring Boone County (1.6% Multiracial), Putnam County (2.7% Multiracial), Roane County (3.3% Multiracial), Clay County (2.9% Multiracial), and Jackson County (2.3% 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.