Algoma Coal and Coke Company Store · National Register of Historic Places
Northfork’s story
125 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1901Northfork is settled
NorthforkWV
A town of 202, settled in 1901.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Magnolia677 · CC BY 4.0
Population
202
2025 Census estimate · −13.3% since 2020
Typical home
$35K
−13.7% in a year
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
51.3
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Northfork a good place to live?
Of the 53 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower typical home value than Northfork. Northfork’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile, above both West Virginia’s towns (0.4) and U.S. towns (0.4). Algoma Coal and Coke Company Store and John J. Lincoln House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Northfork has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
202 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
KeystoneNorthfork
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Northfork: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Northfork, and how to reach them.
PowerAppalachian Power17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMcdowell County PSD Greenbrier7 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Northfork’s trash rules yet
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 hereMcDowell Clerk of the County CommissionMcDowell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code2486824868 100%Census 2020
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 Northfork.
Housing
A larger share of households in Northfork own their home than in the typical West Virginia or U.S. town
92% of households own their home in Northfork, against 68% in West Virginia’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. Typical home values fell 14% in the year to September 2026. The typical Northfork home is worth about $35,000, down 13.7% in a year, 80% below the West Virginia typical home.
$35KZillow home value
Typical home value
Northfork$35K
West Virginia$177K
−13.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Northfork stands out in West Virginia and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
The FEMA risk score in Northfork is 98 of 100. Since 1978, 44 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Northfork.
98risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
44
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Northfork
Northfork has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Northfork’s July high is 82°F.
20″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–44°
Spring41–64°
Summer59–81°
Fall43–65°
Oct 17
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Northfork is
Northfork beats the West Virginia average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 21. 41% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Northfork. No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a higher share of adults who have obesity than Northfork.
| Northfork | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 18% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 52% | 41% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 16% | 12% |
32 measures vs. West Virginia
5 better6 too close to call21 worse
| What stands out | Northfork | WV |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 8.5% | 14.1% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 25.1% | 30.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 36.1% | 16.2% |
Welch Community Hospital
9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
Northfork has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
1.0 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 613 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Northfork
17pages on Northfork
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Northfork
About 1 of every 100 Northfork residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
About Northfork
Town in West Virginia, United States
Northfork is a town in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States, located on U.S. Route 52 between Welch and Bluefield. The population was 231 at the 2020 census. Northfork was incorporated in 1901, so named because of its location on the north fork of the Elkhorn Creek at its junction with the south fork. It was consolidated with the town of Clark on March 26, 1948.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,686 ft
- ZIP code
- 24868
- Area code
- 304
Questions about Northfork
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Northfork, WV a good place to live?
Northfork has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.