Moving to Beckley, West Virginia

Beckley, West Virginia, is a city located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. The city is situated in a valley between two mountain ranges, making it a picturesque and inviting place to live. The climate of Beckley is classified as humid subtropical and experiences all four seasons. Summers are hot and humid while winters are generally mild with occasional snowfalls.

The history of Beckley dates back to the late 1800s when it was founded as a coal mining town. Since then, the city has seen many changes and developments, including the establishment of several major industries such as railroads, lumber mills, and textiles. Today, Beckley’s economy is diverse and includes manufacturing, retail trade, healthcare services, education services, finance and insurance services.

Education in Beckley is provided by public schools operated by Raleigh County Schools as well as several private schools and institutions such as Concord University and New River Community & Technical College. In addition to these schools there are also several local libraries offering educational resources for both children and adults alike.

Beckley is home to many landmarks that reflect its rich history such as the Raleigh County Courthouse which was built in 1891; The Historic Fayette Station Coal Mining Museum which celebrates the city’s coal mining past; Tamarack which offers locally made crafts from artisans across Appalachia; Grandview State Park which offers stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains; Exhibition Coal Mine which offers an educational tour through an authentic coal mine; The Raleigh Playhouse where visitors can watch live performances; The Wildwood House Museum which showcases Victorian-era furniture; and lastly the historic General Lewis Inn which dates back to 1848.

Population: 17,254. Estimated population in July 2024: 16,936 (-1.8% change)
Males: 7,775 (45.1%), Females: 9,479 (54.9%)

Raleigh County

Zip codes: 25801.

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.6 years
Median household income: $28,122
Median house value: $72,200

Population by Race

Races in Beckley:

• White Non-Hispanic (73.2%)
• Black (22.9%)
• Two or more races (1.2%)
• Hispanic (0.7%)
• Asian Indian (0.7%)
• American Indian (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (15.3%), German (9.1%), English (8.6%), Irish (8.3%), Italian (3.8%), Scotch-Irish (1.7%).

Elevation: 2416 feet

Land area: 9.2 square miles

Population by Education

Beckley, West Virginia is a small city nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. With a population of just over 17,000, it is a close-knit and friendly community. The median age of its residents is 43, with most of the population having roots in Appalachia. As far as living costs go, Beckley has an affordable cost of living compared to other cities in the US. According to Best Places, the cost of living index for Beckley is 81.6, which is 19.4% lower than the national average and cheaper than most cities in West Virginia. The median home price in Beckley is $125,500 while the median rent price is $699 per month. Utilities are also quite reasonable; electricity bills average around $117 per month while natural gas bills average around $58 per month. Additionally, groceries are reasonably priced as well; milk costs about $3.37 per gallon while a loaf of bread costs around $2.09. Overall,Beckley is an affordable place to live, with costs lower than the national average in most categories.

For population 25 years and over in Beckley

• High school or higher: 80.2%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.0%
• Graduate or professional degree: 8.1%
• Unemployed: 7.9%
• Mean travel time to work: 18.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Beckley city

• Never married: 24.3%
• Now married: 49.8%
• Separated: 1.6%
• Widowed: 12.3%
• Divorced: 12.0%

2.7% Foreign born (1.8% Asia, 0.4% Europe, 0.3% Africa).

Population change in the 1990s: -2,059 (-10.7%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Beckley:

• BECKLEY APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL (306 STANAFORD ROAD)
• RALEIGH GENERAL HOSPITAL (1710 HARPER ROAD)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Beckley:

• PLATEAU MEDICAL CENTER (about 15 miles; OAK HILL, WV)
• SUMMERS COUNTY ARH HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; HINTON, WV)
• MONTGOMERY GENL HOSP (about 30 miles; MONTGOMERY, WV)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Beckley:

• RALEIGH COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 5 miles; BECKLEY, WV; Abbreviation: BKW)
• YEAGER (about 49 miles; CHARLESTON, WV; Abbreviation: CRW)
• GREENBRIER VALLEY (about 56 miles; LEWISBURG, WV; Abbreviation: LWB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Beckley:

• KEE FIELD (about 29 miles; PINEVILLE, WV; Abbreviation: I16)
• WELCH MUNI (about 34 miles; WELCH, WV; Abbreviation: I25)
• MERCER COUNTY (about 35 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; Abbreviation: BLF)

Amtrak stations near Beckley:

• 11 miles: PRINCE (RTE. 41 NORTH). Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.
• 15 miles: THURMOND (C & O DEPOT)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Beckley:

• THE COLLEGE OF WEST VIRGINIA (Full-time enrollment: 1,765; Location: 609 S KANAWHA ST; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.cwv.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
• ACADEMY OF CAREERS AND TECHNOLOGY (Full-time enrollment: 146; Location: 390 STANAFORD RD; Public)
• VALLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY (Full-time enrollment: 128; Location: 713 South Oakwood Avenue; Private, for-profit; Website: www.vct.edu)
• BECKLEY BEAUTY ACADEMY (Full-time enrollment: 43; Location: 109 S FAYETTE ST; Private, for-profit)
• MOUNTAINEER MINE SAFETY AND TRAINING (Location: PO BOX 3012; Private, for-profit)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Beckley:

• CONCORD COLLEGE (about 26 miles; ATHENS, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,723)
• BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE (about 35 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,096)
• WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE (about 44 miles; INSTITUTE, WV; Full-time enrollment: 3,688)
• NEW RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 59 miles; DUBLIN, VA; Full-time enrollment: 2,262)
• RADFORD UNIVERSITY (about 63 miles; RADFORD, VA; Full-time enrollment: 8,034)
• SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 64 miles; RICHLANDS, VA; Full-time enrollment: 2,412)
• VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIV (about 71 miles; BLACKSBURG, VA; Full-time enrollment: 25,754)

Schools

Public high schools in Beckley:

• WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,380; Location: 400 STANAFORD RD; Grades: 09 – 12)
• ACADEMY OF CAREERS AND TECHNOLOGY (Location: 390 STANAFORD ROAD; Grades: 10 – 12)

Private high school in Beckley:

• MT. TABOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 19; Location: 262 MT. TABOR RD.; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Beckley:

• BECKLEY/STRATTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 761; Location: 401 GRAY FLATS ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
• PARK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 403; Location: 212 PARK AVE; Grades: 06 – 08)
• CRANBERRY-PROSPERITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 290; Location: 4575 ROBERT C BYRD DR.; Grades: PK – 05)
• CRESCENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 274; Location: 205 CRESCENT RD; Grades: KG – 05)
• STANAFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 268; Location: 950 STANAFORD RD.; Grades: PK – 05)
• MAXWELL HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 234; Location: 1001 MAXWELL HILL RD; Grades: KG – 05)
• STRATTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 224; Location: 1129 SOUTH FAYETTE STREET; Grades: PK – 05)
• CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 164; Location: 114 LEBANON LANE; Grades: KG – 05)
• INSTITUTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 134; Location: 301 PARK AVE; Grades: KG – 05)
• BURLINGTON BECKLEY CENTER (Students: 26; Location: 4700 ROBERT C. BYRD DRIVE; Grades: 06 – 12)

Private primary/middle school in Beckley:

• ST FRANCIS DE SALES SCHOOL (Students: 167; Location: 622 SOUTH OAKWOOD AVE; Grades: PK – 6)

Libraries

Library in Beckley:

• RALEIGH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,226,407; Location: 221 N. KANAWHA ST.; 188,508 books; 2,418 audio materials; 3,794 video materials; 196 serial subscriptions)