South Charleston, WV Demographics

A map of South Charleston's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	11,623	11,329	86.4%	83.0%
Black	682	1,109	5.1%	8.1%
Multiracial	662	678	4.9%	5.0%
Hispanic	272	252	2.0%	1.8%
Asian	202	169	1.5%	1.2%
Native American/Other	16	110	0.1%	0.8%

South Charleston, West Virginia has an estimated population of 13,457, a slight decrease from the 13,647 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.4% White, 5.1% Black, 4.9% Multiracial, 2.0% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, and 0.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of South Charleston, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

South Charleston 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 South Charleston, that probability was 30.1% in 2020 and 24.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

South Charleston is ranked the 12th 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). South Charleston was ranked the 12th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

South Charleston's White Population

11,623 residents of South Charleston, or 86.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in South Charleston is slightly lower than in West Virginia overall, where 89.7% of the population is White. South Charleston ranks 398th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, South Charleston's White population has grown by an estimated 2.6%. White residents' share of South Charleston's population has increased from 83.0% to 86.4%.

South Charleston is more White than neighboring Dunbar (77% White), West Dunbar (39.5% White), Jefferson (83.1% White), Institute (47.4% White), and Charleston (76.4% White).

South Charleston's Black Population

682 residents of South Charleston, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in South Charleston is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 3.1% of the population is Black. South Charleston ranks 40th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, South Charleston's Black population has declined by an estimated 38.5%. Black residents' share of South Charleston's population has decreased from 8.1% to 5.1%.

South Charleston is less Black than neighboring Dunbar (7.6% Black), West Dunbar (55.8% Black), Jefferson (15.5% Black), Institute (41.7% Black), and Charleston (9.5% Black).

South Charleston's Asian Population

202 residents of South Charleston, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in South Charleston is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. South Charleston ranks 33rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, South Charleston's Asian population has grown by an estimated 19.5%. Asian residents' share of South Charleston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

South Charleston is more Asian than neighboring Dunbar (0.8% Asian), West Dunbar (0% Asian), Jefferson (0% Asian), and Institute (0% Asian). South Charleston is less Asian than neighboring Charleston (2.6% Asian).

South Charleston's Hispanic Population

272 residents of South Charleston, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in South Charleston is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 2.1% of the population is Hispanic. South Charleston ranks 108th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, South Charleston's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.9%. Hispanic residents' share of South Charleston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.0%.

South Charleston is more Hispanic than neighboring West Dunbar (0% Hispanic), and Jefferson (1.3% Hispanic). South Charleston is less Hispanic than neighboring Dunbar (3.9% Hispanic), Institute (8.4% Hispanic), and Charleston (2.2% Hispanic).

South Charleston's Native American/Other Population

16 residents of South Charleston, 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 South Charleston is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. South Charleston ranks 76th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, South Charleston's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 85.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of South Charleston's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.1%.

South Charleston is more Native American/Other than neighboring West Dunbar (0% Native American/Other), Jefferson (0% Native American/Other), and Institute (0% Native American/Other). South Charleston is less Native American/Other than neighboring Dunbar (2.3% Native American/Other), and Charleston (0.2% Native American/Other).

South Charleston's Multiracial Population

662 residents of South Charleston, or 4.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in South Charleston is comparable to the share in West Virginia overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. South Charleston ranks 111th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 439 places.

Since the 2020 Census, South Charleston's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 2.4%. Multiracial residents' share of South Charleston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.9%.

South Charleston is more Multiracial than neighboring West Dunbar (4.7% Multiracial), Jefferson (0% Multiracial), and Institute (2.5% Multiracial). South Charleston is less Multiracial than neighboring Dunbar (8.4% Multiracial), and Charleston (9.1% 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.