McDowell County Demographics

A map of McDowell County's Population by Race

McDowell County, West Virginia has an estimated population of 17,943, a decrease from the 19,111 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.5% White, 8.8% Black, 2.5% Multiracial, 2.1% Hispanic, 0.1% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of McDowell County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

McDowell has become considerably 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 McDowell County, that probability was 29.6% in 2020 and 24.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

McDowell County is ranked the 32nd most populous county in West Virginia, out of 55 counties. McDowell County was ranked the 32nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

McDowell County's White Population

15,515 residents of McDowell County, or 86.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in McDowell County is slightly lower than in West Virginia overall, where 89.7% of the population is White. McDowell County ranks 52nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.2%. White residents' share of McDowell County's population has increased from 83.0% to 86.5%.

McDowell County is less White than neighboring Wyoming County (96.8% White), Tazewell County (92.7% White), Buchanan County (93.2% White), Logan County (95.6% White), and Mercer County (88.6% White).

McDowell County's Black Population

1,577 residents of McDowell County, or 8.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in McDowell County is higher than in West Virginia overall, where 3.1% of the population is Black. McDowell County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Black population has declined by an estimated 26.3%. Black residents' share of McDowell County's population has decreased from 11.2% to 8.8%.

McDowell County is more Black than neighboring Wyoming County (0.3% Black), Tazewell County (3% Black), Buchanan County (3.8% Black), Logan County (2% Black), and Mercer County (4.1% Black).

McDowell County's Asian Population

9 residents of McDowell County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in McDowell County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. McDowell County ranks 48th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 55.0%. Asian residents' share of McDowell County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

McDowell County is less Asian than neighboring Tazewell County (0.6% Asian), Buchanan County (0.8% Asian), Logan County (0.3% Asian), and Mercer County (0.2% Asian).

McDowell County's Hispanic Population

373 residents of McDowell County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in McDowell County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 2.1% of the population is Hispanic. McDowell County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 4.4%. Hispanic residents' share of McDowell County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.1%.

McDowell County is more Hispanic than neighboring Wyoming County (0.8% Hispanic), Tazewell County (1.4% Hispanic), Buchanan County (1.1% Hispanic), Logan County (0.8% Hispanic), and Mercer County (1.3% Hispanic).

McDowell County's Native American/Other Population

20 residents of McDowell County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in McDowell County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. McDowell County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 71.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of McDowell County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

McDowell County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Wyoming County (0% Native American/Other), and Logan County (0% Native American/Other). McDowell County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Mercer County (0.6% Native American/Other).

McDowell County's Multiracial Population

449 residents of McDowell County, or 2.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in McDowell County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. McDowell County ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 27.8%. Multiracial residents' share of McDowell County's population has decreased from 3.3% to 2.5%.

McDowell County is more Multiracial than neighboring Wyoming County (2% Multiracial), Tazewell County (2.1% Multiracial), Buchanan County (1% Multiracial), and Logan County (1.3% Multiracial). McDowell County is less Multiracial than neighboring Mercer County (5.2% 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.