Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2022: 28.9%
(22.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 54.0% for Black residents, 84.9% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 100.0% for American Indian residents, 100.0% for two or more races residents)
According to our research of West Virginia and other state lists, there were 6 registered sex offenders living in Welch, West Virginia as of April 28, 2024. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Welch is 503 to 1. The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average.
Crime rates in Welch by year
Type
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Murders (per 100,000)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Rapes (per 100,000)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Robberies (per 100,000)
0 (0.0)
1 (41.6)
0 (0.0)
1 (42.3)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Assaults (per 100,000)
3 (137.9)
5 (207.8)
15 (622.7)
19 (803.0)
9 (390.8)
4 (185.7)
Burglaries (per 100,000)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
1 (41.5)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
1 (46.4)
Thefts (per 100,000)
5 (229.8)
5 (207.8)
12 (498.1)
21 (887.6)
3 (130.3)
3 (139.3)
Auto thefts (per 100,000)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
1 (41.5)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
Arson (per 100,000)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
City-Data.com crime index
36.8
62.3
150.7
208.8
83.4
46.0
The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 246.1. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.
Latest news from Welch, WV collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations
Ancestries: European (27.1%), American (20.1%), English (8.8%), Italian (6.5%), Irish (5.0%), German (2.7%).
Current Local Time: EST time zone
Incorporated in 1894
Elevation: 1360 feet
Land area: 3.27 square miles.
Population density: 1,055 people per square mile (low).
237 residents are foreign born (5.2% Latin America, 1.0% Europe).
This city:
6.9%
West Virginia:
1.6%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2022: $586 (0.6%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2022: $259 (0.5%)
Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Charleston, WV (63.2 miles , pop. 53,421).
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Greensboro, NC (135.4 miles , pop. 223,891).
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (389.7 miles , pop. 1,517,550).
Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (8.2%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (7.8%)
Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (5.6%)
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (5.3%)
Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (4.2%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4.1%)
Health technologists and technicians (3.8%)
Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (10.4%)
Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (10.1%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (7.9%)
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (7.9%)
Extraction workers (7.7%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6.8%)
Top executives (6.0%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (11.1%)
Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (8.4%)
Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (6.8%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (6.2%)
Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (6.2%)
Health technologists and technicians (6.2%)
Legal support workers (4.9%)
Average climate in Welch, West Virginia
Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations
Earthquake activity:
Welch-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above West Virginia state average. It is 1% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 202.1 miles away from the city center On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi) earthquake occurred 71.7 miles away from the city center On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 139.6 miles away from the city center On 11/2/2006 at 17:53:02, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 0.6 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 24.9 miles away from the city center On 11/23/2006 at 10:42:57, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB) earthquake occurred 29.2 miles away from the city center On 6/29/1996 at 19:30:42, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 MB, 3.9 LG, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 26.8 miles away from the city center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Natural disasters:
The number of natural disasters in McDowell County (23) is greater than the US average (15). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 18 Emergencies Declared: 4
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 13, Storms: 12, Landslides: 8, Mudslides: 4, Winter Storms: 4, Hurricanes: 2, Blizzard: 1, Fire: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Snowfall: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Wind: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Hospitals and medical centers in Welch:
STEVENS CLINIC HOSPITAL (US 52 SOUTH)
WELCH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (Government - State, 454 MCDOWELL STREET)
MCDOWELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $201,057; Location: 90 HOWARD ST.; 99,865 books; 1,927 audio materials; 1,952 video materials; 12 state licensed databases; 104 print serial subscriptions)
Notable locations in Welch: Mcdowell County Emergency Ambulance Authority Station 2 (A), Jan - Care Ambulance Service Incorporated Welch (B), McDowell County Courthouse (C), Welch City Hall (D), McDowell County Correctional Center (E), Welch Volunteer Fire Department (F). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Welch include: Anderson Memorial Presbyterian Chapel (A), Church of Christ (B), Church of God (C), Court Street Methodist Church (D), First Baptist Church (E), First Methodist Church (F), Saint James Baptist Church (G), Temple Emanuel (H), Welch Pentecostal Holiness Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Rockhouse Branch (A), Puncheoncamp Branch (B), Little Indian Creek (C), Little Cub Branch (D), Elkhorn Creek (E), Browns Creek (F). Display/hide their locations on the map
Hotels: Big Four Motel (Big Four), Pocahontas Motel (Pineville Road), Count GILU Motel (Vocational School Road).
Courts: McDowell County - Circuit Court Judge-King Kenrick (Court House Annex), McDowell County - County Court Commissioners (Court House).
Birthplace of: Steve Harvey - Comedian, Arnett Howard - Jazz trumpeter, Darrell Kestner - Professional golfer, Rod Martin - Football player, Alex Hawkins - Football player, John Wockenfuss - Baseball player, Karen Austin - Actor.
McDowell County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Low Potential
Drinking water stations with addresses in Welch and their reported violations in the past:
WELCH CITY OF (Address: 88 HOWARD STREET , Population served: 2,907, Groundwater):
Past health violations:
MCL, Average - Between APR-2009 and JUN-2009, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JUL-23-2009), St Formal NOV issued (JUL-23-2009), St Compliance achieved (JUL-31-2009), St Public Notif received (AUG-13-2009)
MCL, Average - Between JAN-2009 and MAR-2009, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (APR-28-2009), St Formal NOV issued (APR-28-2009), St Public Notif received (MAY-28-2009), St Compliance achieved (JUL-31-2009)
MCL, Average - Between OCT-2008 and DEC-2008, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-06-2009), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-06-2009), St Public Notif received (MAR-16-2009), St Compliance achieved (JUL-31-2009)
MCL, Average - Between JUL-2008 and SEP-2008, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-28-2008), St Formal NOV issued (OCT-28-2008), St Public Notif received (DEC-01-2008), St Compliance achieved (JUL-31-2009)
MCL, Average - Between OCT-2006 and DEC-2006, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JAN-02-2007), Fed Formal NOV issued (JAN-09-2007), Fed Compliance achieved (FEB-01-2007), St Public Notif requested (FEB-06-2007), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-06-2007), St Public Notif received (MAR-06-2007)
MCL, Average - Between JUL-2006 and SEP-2006, Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (NOV-21-2006), St Formal NOV issued (NOV-21-2006), St Public Notif received (DEC-20-2006), St Compliance achieved (DEC-21-2006)
6 other older health violations
Past monitoring violations:
Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) - In JUL-2010, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (AUG-01-2010)
MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD BARTLEY (Population served: 1,632, Groundwater under infl of surface water):
Past monitoring violations:
Lead Consumer Notice - In DEC-30-2013, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-14-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-14-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2013 and DEC-2013, Contaminant: CARBON, TOTAL. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JAN-27-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-13-2014), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-13-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2013 and NOV-2013, Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (FEB-11-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-13-2014), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-13-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2013 and NOV-2013, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (FEB-11-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-13-2014), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-13-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-2013 and SEP-2013, Contaminant: CARBON, TOTAL. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-31-2013), St Formal NOV issued (OCT-31-2013), St Compliance achieved (JAN-27-2014)
3 minor monitoring violations
36 regular monitoring violations
21 other older monitoring violations
MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD COALWOOD (Population served: 1,008, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
Lead Consumer Notice - In DEC-30-2013, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-14-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-14-2014)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2012, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-07-2013), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-07-2013), St Compliance achieved (SEP-24-2013)
One routine major monitoring violation
26 regular monitoring violations
MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD BERWIND (Population served: 863, Groundwater under infl of surface water):
Past health violations:
MCL, Average - Between JAN-2013 and MAR-2013, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (APR-30-2013), St Formal NOV issued (APR-30-2013), St Compliance achieved (JUN-18-2013)
Past monitoring violations:
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JAN-2014 and MAR-2014, Contaminant: CARBON, TOTAL. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (MAY-06-2014), St Formal NOV issued (MAY-06-2014), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUN-30-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between DEC-2013 and FEB-2014, Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (MAY-06-2014), St Formal NOV issued (MAY-06-2014), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUN-30-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between DEC-2013 and FEB-2014, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (MAY-06-2014), St Formal NOV issued (MAY-06-2014), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUN-30-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2013 and DEC-2013, Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-13-2014), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-13-2014), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUN-30-2014)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2013 and DEC-2013, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-13-2014), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-13-2014), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUN-30-2014)
69 regular monitoring violations
31 other older monitoring violations
MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD PAGETON (Population served: 638, Purch groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
Lead Consumer Notice - In DEC-30-2013, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-14-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-14-2014)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2012, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-07-2013), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-07-2013), St Compliance achieved (SEP-24-2013)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2009, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-03-2010), St Compliance achieved (MAR-01-2010)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2007, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-06-2008), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-06-2008), St Compliance achieved (SEP-01-2009)
One routine major monitoring violation
MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD KIMBALL (Population served: 605, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
47 regular monitoring violations
SANDY RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL (Address: 30 CENTRAL AVENUE , Population served: 450, Groundwater):
Past health violations:
MCL, Average - Between APR-2008 and JUN-2008, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (MAR-09-2009), St Public Notif requested (APR-28-2009), St Formal NOV issued (APR-28-2009)
Past monitoring violations:
Lead Consumer Notice - In DEC-30-2013, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-14-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-14-2014)
Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) - In DEC-2013, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JAN-01-2014), St Public Notif requested (JAN-30-2014), St Formal NOV issued (JAN-30-2014)
Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) - In AUG-2013, Contaminant: GROUNDWATER RULE. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (SEP-01-2013), St Public Notif requested (OCT-03-2013), St Formal NOV issued (OCT-03-2013)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2011 and DEC-2011, Contaminant: TTHM. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JAN-30-2012), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-09-2012)
Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2011 and DEC-2011, Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JAN-30-2012), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-09-2012)
2 routine major monitoring violations
One minor monitoring violation
70 regular monitoring violations
6 other older monitoring violations
MCDOWELL COUNTY PSD HAVACO (Population served: 370, Purch groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
Lead Consumer Notice - In DEC-30-2013, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-14-2014), St Public Notif requested (FEB-14-2014)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2012, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-07-2013), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-07-2013), St Compliance achieved (SEP-24-2013)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2009, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (FEB-03-2010), St Compliance achieved (MAR-01-2010)
Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R - In OCT-01-2007, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-06-2008), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-06-2008), St Compliance achieved (SEP-01-2009)
Average household size:
This city:
2.1 people
West Virginia:
2.4 people
Percentage of family households:
This city:
56.3%
Whole state:
65.8%
Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This city:
6.3%
Whole state:
6.6%
Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)
Lesbian couples: 0.0% of all households
Gay men: 0.5% of all households
332 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities in 2010
95 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) in 2000
52 people in nursing homes in 2000
Banks with branches in Welch (2011 data):
MCNB Bank and Trust Co.: Drive-In Facility at 94 Howard Street, branch established on 1975/03/10; Mcnb Bank And Trust Co. at 75 Wyoming Street, branch established on 1900/07/01. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $320.0 mil, Deposits: $284.1 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 7 total offices, Holding Company: Mcnb Banks, Inc.
Pioneer Community Bank, Inc.: Welch Branch at 681 Riverside Drive, branch established on 1983/08/01. Info updated 2008/09/30: Bank assets: $120.8 mil, Deposits: $107.4 mil, headquarters in Iaeger, WV, positive income, Mortgage Lending Specialization, 6 total offices, Holding Company: Pioneer Community Group, Inc.
Religion statistics for Welch, WV (based on McDowell County data)
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
2,604
53
Mainline Protestant
914
27
Black Protestant
531
11
Other
471
2
Catholic
313
4
None
17,280
-
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data
2003 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents
According to the data from the years 2003 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 26. The highest number of fire incidents - 46 took place in 2006, and the least - 12 in 2009. The data has an increasing trend.
When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (73.5%), and Outside Fires (12.8%).
Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Welch, WV
(74.1%)
(25.9%)
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(63.2 miles 
According to the data from the years 2003 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 26. The highest number of fire incidents - 46 took place in 2006, and the least - 12 in 2009. The data has an increasing trend.
When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (73.5%), and Outside Fires (12.8%).
