McDowell County
Also known as McDowell County, West Virginia, McDowell County, Virginia, McDowell County, WV
county in West Virginia, United States
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- West Virginia
- Founded
- February 20, 1858
- Named after
- James McDowell
- Seat
- Welch
- Largest city
- Welch
- Total
- 534.899 sq mi (1,385.38 km )
- Land
- 533.458 sq mi (1,381.65 km )
- Water
- 1.441 sq mi (3.73 km ) 0.27%
- Estimate 2025
- 16,878
- Density
- 32.141/sq mi (12.410/km )
- Demonym
- McDowellian (Colloquial)
- Time zone
Article
A coal miner's house and family, 1946
McDowell County is a county in the State of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,111, and was estimated to be 16,878 in 2025.