Birch RiverWV
A town of 7, settled in 1828.
Is Birch River a good place to live?
Birch River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
7 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Birch River: who provides what
Birch River is unincorporated, so Nicholas 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.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Birch River.
Birch River has four seasons and pleasant summers
Birch River has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Birch River’s July high is 83°F, below both the West Virginia town median (86°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The schools Birch River’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Nicholas County Schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch River Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 64 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts
Birch River faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 67% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Birch River stands out in West Virginia and nationally, with more of its adults who have been diagnosed with depression
34% of Birch River adults have been diagnosed with depression, where West Virginia’s towns sit at 31% and U.S. towns at 23%. 41% of Birch River adults have high blood pressure. Birch River beats the West Virginia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
| Birch River | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 31% | 23% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 21% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 34% | 33% |
| What stands out | Birch River | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 71.7% | 66.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Birch River
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Birch River; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Birch River residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
About Birch River
Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States
Birch River is a census-designated place (CDP) in northern Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The community is situated in the valley of the Birch River and is the location of the western terminus of West Virginia Route 82, at U.S. Route 19. As of the 2020 census, its population was 86 (down from 107 at the 2010 census).
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,112 ft
- ZIP code
- 26610
Questions about Birch River
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Birch River, WV a good place to live?
Birch River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.