Birch RiverWV
Settled in 1828, this town now has 7 residents.
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.
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Birch River’s year
Birch River’s midsummer 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 one school is below. The public schools here belong to the Nicholas County Schools. 64 students attend Birch River’s public school.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch River Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 64 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts
The biggest natural risk in Birch River is inland flooding, at a high overall level
Expected losses in Birch River break down as 64% from inland flooding and 29% from cold waves. On expected storm and flood damage, Birch River sits above 67% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Birch River after 6 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · 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
The share of adults in Birch River who have high blood pressure: 41%. Birch River: 14% of adults have diabetes, against 16% in West Virginia’s towns and 12% across U.S. towns. Also worth knowing: only 2 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Birch River.
| 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.