Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 151, settled in 1892.
56% of residents live below the poverty line in Keystone, above both the West Virginia town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Keystone has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 1,088 in 1900, a peak of 2,942 in 1940, 176 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1911 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Keystone, and how to reach them.
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 Keystone.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities. Since 2001, 24 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Keystone.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keystone has chilly winters and pleasant summers. Keystone’s July high is 83°F, against 86°F in West Virginia’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
39% of Keystone adults say their health is fair or poor. Among 62 West Virginia towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Keystone. 23% of Keystone adults report frequent mental distress.
| Keystone | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 18% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 51% | 41% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 16% | 12% |
| What stands out | Keystone | WV |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 9.2% | 14.1% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.2% | 9.6% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 36.3% | 16.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Keystone Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Keystone; the nearest are
College town 31 of every 100 Keystone residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
City in West Virginia, United States
Keystone is a city in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 176. Keystone is one of the few municipalities in West Virginia with an African-American majority, with 57 percent of the residents being black. The term "Free State of McDowell" was coined by Matthew Thomas Whittico, a local newspaper editor and community leader from Keystone in the early 20th century. Keystone possessed a unique combination of political, social, and economic characteristics that made it an attractive place for African-Americans to migrate to in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Keystone has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.