Nicholas County, West Virginia

Founding: 1818
Parent counties: Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Randolph

Namesake: Wilson Nicholas, Virginia politician
Seat: Summersville (1820–)

Land area: 647 square miles

Population (2020): 24,604

Population (historic): 1,853 (1820); 3,963 (1850); 4,458 (1870); 11,403 (1900); 20,686 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1820–1830; 1840–1860; 1870–1920; 1930–1950; 1970s

Subdivisions: Two cities; seven CDPs

National Register listings: 13

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,636 (12.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 30.4%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 4.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 18%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 14%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $835
Average outbuilding value (1930): $287
Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,670
Average farm size (1920): 50.2 acres
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Summersville

Namesake: Lewis Summers, local politician

Founding: 1820 (platting); 1820 (post office); 1860 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 3,459

Population (historic): 165 (1880); 223 (1900); 536 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880; 1910–1980; 1990–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 214 (12.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *Craig House (1873). 1900 Dunlap Road. Italianate.
2. *Powell–Drennen House (c. 1818/1835/1910). 65 Misty Road.
3. *Jordan Log House. 3091 Old Nicholas Road.