Mercer County Demographics

A map of Mercer County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	51,880	52,264	88.6%	87.6%
Multiracial	3,036	2,405	5.2%	4.0%
Black	2,372	3,694	4.1%	6.2%
Hispanic	789	705	1.3%	1.2%
Native American/Other	359	304	0.6%	0.5%
Asian	127	292	0.2%	0.5%

Mercer County, West Virginia has an estimated population of 58,563, a slight decrease from the 59,664 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 88.6% White, 5.2% Multiracial, 4.1% Black, 1.3% Hispanic, 0.6% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Mercer County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Mercer has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is 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 Mercer County, that probability was 22.7% in 2020 and 21.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Mercer County is ranked the 9th most populous county in West Virginia, out of 55 counties. Mercer County was ranked the 8th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Mercer County's White Population

51,880 residents of Mercer County, or 88.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Mercer County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 89.7% of the population is White. Mercer County ranks 47th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mercer County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Mercer County's population has increased from 87.6% to 88.6%.

Mercer County is more White than neighboring Raleigh County (86.9% White). Mercer County is less White than neighboring Bland County (92.9% White), Summers County (90.2% White), Giles County (93.7% White), and Wyoming County (96.8% White).

Mercer County's Black Population

2,372 residents of Mercer County, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Mercer County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 3.1% of the population is Black. Mercer County ranks 6th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mercer County's Black population has declined by an estimated 35.8%. Black residents' share of Mercer County's population has decreased from 6.2% to 4.1%.

Mercer County is more Black than neighboring Bland County (3.9% Black), Giles County (2.7% Black), and Wyoming County (0.3% Black). Mercer County is less Black than neighboring Summers County (6.1% Black), and Raleigh County (6.7% Black).

Mercer County's Asian Population

127 residents of Mercer County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Mercer County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Mercer County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mercer County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 56.5%. Asian residents' share of Mercer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Mercer County is more Asian than neighboring Bland County (0.1% Asian), Summers County (0% Asian), and Wyoming County (0.1% Asian). Mercer County is less Asian than neighboring Raleigh County (0.9% Asian), and Giles County (0.5% Asian).

Mercer County's Hispanic Population

789 residents of Mercer County, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Mercer County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 2.1% of the population is Hispanic. Mercer County ranks 26th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mercer County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 11.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Mercer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Mercer County is more Hispanic than neighboring Bland County (1.2% Hispanic), and Wyoming County (0.8% Hispanic). Mercer County is less Hispanic than neighboring Raleigh County (1.8% Hispanic), and Giles County (1.8% Hispanic).

Mercer County's Native American/Other Population

359 residents of Mercer County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Mercer County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Mercer County ranks 9th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mercer County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 18.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Mercer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Mercer County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Bland County (0% Native American/Other), Raleigh County (0.3% Native American/Other), Giles County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Wyoming County (0% Native American/Other). Mercer County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Summers County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Mercer County's Multiracial Population

3,036 residents of Mercer County, or 5.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Mercer County is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Mercer County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 55 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Mercer County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 26.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Mercer County's population has increased from 4.0% to 5.2%.

Mercer County is more Multiracial than neighboring Bland County (1.8% Multiracial), Summers County (1.7% Multiracial), Raleigh County (3.5% Multiracial), Giles County (1.2% Multiracial), and Wyoming County (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.