| Metropolitan Area Residents |
| 1980: | 270,000 |
| 1990: | 250,454 |
| 2000: | 251,662 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | .5% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 118th (MSA) |
| U.S. rank in 1990: | 134th (MSA) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 141st |
| City Residents |
| 1980: | 63,968 |
| 1990: | 57,287 |
| 2000: | 53,421 |
| 2003 estimate: | 51,394 |
| Percent change, 1990–2000: | -7.4% |
| U.S. rank in 1980: | 310th U.S. rank in 1990: 415th (State rank: 1st) |
| U.S. rank in 2000: | 662nd |
| Density: | 1,690.4 people per square mile (2000) |
| Racial and ethnic characteristics | (2000) |
| White | 43,072 |
| Black or African American | 8,048 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 127 |
| Asian | 979 |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | 16 |
| Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race) | 432 |
| Other | 158 |
| Percent of residents born in state: | 74.8% (2000) |
| Age characteristics | (2000) |
| Population under 5 years old | 2,961 |
| Population 5 to 9 years old | 3,087 |
| Population 10 to 14 years old | 3,145 |
| Population 15 to 19 years old | 3,096 |
| Population 25 to 34 years old | 6,707 |
| Population 35 to 44 years old | 8220 |
| Population 45 to 54 years old | 8,345 |
| Population 55 to 59 years old | 2,791 |
| Population 60 to 64 years old | 2,381 |
| Population 65 to 74 years old | 4,564 |
| Population 75 to 84 years old | 3,545 |
| Population 85 years and older | 1,314 |
| Median age | 40.8 years |
| Births | (2002, Kanawha County) Total number: 2,423 |
| Deaths | (2002, Kanawha County) |
| Total number | 2,510 (of which, 20 were infants under the age of 1 year) |
| Money income | (1999) |
| Per capita income | $26,017 |
| Median household income | $34,009 |
| Total households | 24,522 |
| Number of households with income of . . . | |
| less than $10,000 | 3,956 |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,883 |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 3,658 |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 3,015 |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 3,457 |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,448 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,898 |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,720 |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 537 |
| $200,000 or more | 950 |
| Percent of families below poverty level: | 12.7% (64% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years) |
| 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: | 4,463 |
