Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 610, settled in 1905.
32% of residents live below the poverty line in Big Chimney, against 16% in West Virginia’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Big Chimney. Big Chimney has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Big Chimney beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 1921 and 4 maps from 1909 on.
Big Chimney is unincorporated, so Kanawha County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Big Chimney.
1.7% of Big Chimney working residents work locally, below both West Virginia’s towns (14%) and U.S. towns (8%). Since 2013, Big Chimney has added 197 jobs, to 778 in 2023. The median commute is under 7 miles. The top destinations are Charleston (44%), South Charleston (8%) and Bridgeport (2%).
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
FEMA puts 93% of Big Chimney’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 92% of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to Big Chimney households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2012.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
A winter brings about 32 inches of snow, with January nights at 25° and July afternoons at 87°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Big Chimney: 14% of adults binge drink. Only 6 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Big Chimney.
| Big Chimney | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 44% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 84% | 81% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 21% | 17% |
| What stands out | Big Chimney | WV |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.2% | 16.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.4% | 9.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
3 within 15 miles of the center of Big Chimney
About 0 of every 100 Big Chimney residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Where Big Chimney’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States
Big Chimney is a census-designated place (CDP) located on U.S. Route 119 in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 629 (slightly up from 627 at the 2010 census). It is accessible by West Virginia Route 114 or exit 5 from I-79. The town is named after the tall chimney of the local salt works, which was a prominent landmark.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Big Chimney has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.