3, WV, USA, 2016
Matheny’s story
74 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2016 and 5 maps from 1910 on.
- 1952Matheny is settled
MathenyWV
With 586 residents, this town was settled in 1952.
Photo: Idawriter · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
586
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$160K
Census ACS
Median age
51.5
years
Jobs based here
20
A commuter town
Settled
1952
74 years ago
Is Matheny a good place to live?
No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Matheny. Matheny has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
586 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Matheny.
Natural hazards
Matheny faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
97risk score of 100
Compared with 97% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in Matheny is higher. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 83% come from inland flooding and 10% from cold waves. Federal aid has come to Matheny households in 6 declared disasters; the latest was in 2025.
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents in Matheny work locally than in the typical West Virginia or U.S. town
1%work in town
The median commute is under 19 miles. Matheny: 18% of residents live below the poverty line, where West Virginia’s towns sit at 16% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. The top destinations are Pineville (16%), Oceana (12%) and Beckley (5%).
| Matheny | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 14% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 16% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Matheny1%
Pineville16%
Oceana12%
Beckley5%
Beaver2%
19 mi
median commute distance
20
jobs based in Matheny
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Matheny’s year
20″snow a winter
The peak summer temperature in Matheny is 83°F.
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–45°
Spring41–66°
Summer61–82°
Fall44–66°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 16
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Matheny is
In Matheny, 21% of adults smoke cigarettes. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Matheny is ahead of West Virginia on 1 and behind on 6. Matheny: nearly a fifth of adults report frequent physical distress, against 17% in West Virginia’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. Also worth knowing: among 62 West Virginia towns, just 5 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Matheny.
| Matheny | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 44% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 32% | 25% |
32 measures vs. West Virginia
1 better25 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Matheny | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.9% | 79.5% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 28.7% | 19.5% |
Welch Community Hospital
15.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Matheny
15pages on Matheny
The big questions
Getting set up
Moving to Matheny: who provides what
Matheny is unincorporated, so Wyoming County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerAppalachian Power17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOceana Community of water system18 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesWyoming CountyWyoming County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn West Virginia you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWyoming Clerk of the County CommissionWyoming County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP codes24860, 2484924860 99% · 24849 1%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Matheny for work
Where Matheny’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
20jobs based in Matheny
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Matheny; the nearest are
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · Beckley23.9 mi$8,424 in-state tuitionNew River Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Beaver26.3 mi$5,156 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Matheny residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
About Matheny
Community in West Virginia, US
Matheny is a census-designated place (CDP) in Wyoming County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 446 (down from 531 at the 2010 census). The Laurel Fork flows through the community.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,375 ft
- ZIP code
- 24860
Questions about Matheny
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Matheny, WV a good place to live?
Matheny has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Matheny is in here
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