Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city of 16,818 people in Raleigh County, West Virginia, founded in 1838.
Why visit Beckley
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 19 parks and trails, 49 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include The Raleigh Playhouse and Theatre, Mountain State University, Beckley Mill Site and Beckley Courthouse Square Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 79°F; January lows average 19°F, and about 38 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Beckley
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Beckley
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 17,286 at the 2020 census, making it the ninth-most populous city in the state. It is the principal city of the Beckley metropolitan area of Southern West Virginia, home to 115,079 residents in 2020. Beckley was founded on April 4, 1838, and was long known for its ties to the coal mining industry.
From the Wikipedia article Beckley, West Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Mountain State University
School · 1.2 mi
University in Beckley, West Virginia, USA
New River Community and Technical College
School · 1.5 mi
College in Beaver, West Virginia, U.S.
Museums and landmarks9
Beckley Mill Site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Archaeological site in Beckley, United States of America
Beckley Courthouse Square Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Beckley, WV, listed on the NRHP in West Virginia
Phillips-Sprague Mine
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Beckley, West Virginia, NRHP-listed
_at_U.S._Route_19_(Eisenhower_Drive)_in_Beckley,_Raleigh_County,_West_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
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Wildwood
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic home
Beckley Feed and Hardware Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds19
7 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes49
China Star
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.1 mi
205 S Beaver Lane, Beaver
Tu-Su 11:00-21:00; Mo closed
El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.2 mi
237 Airport Road, Beaver
Padrino's Italian Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian · 2.1 mi
167 N Beaver Lane, Beaver
Calacinos Pizzeria and Sports Bar
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.9 mi
3611 Robert C Byrd Drive, Beckley
37 more on the map.
History
The area surrounding Beckley was long home to many indigenous peoples. Early encounters describe the land as being an ancestral home of the Catawba-speaking Moneton people, who referred to the surrounding area as Okahok Amai, and were allies of the Monacan people. The Moneton's Catawba speaking neighbors to the south, the Tutelo (since absorbed into the Seneca-Cayuga Nation) may have absorbed surviving Moneton communities, and claim the area as ancestral lands. Cherokee and Shawnee and Yuchi peoples also claim the area as included in their traditional lands. Conflicts with European settlers resulted in various displaced Indian tribes settling in West Virginia, where they were known as Mingo, meaning "remote affiliates of the Iroquois Confederacy".
Beckley was named in honor of John James Beckley, who was the first Clerk of the House of Representatives and the first Librarian of Congress. It was founded by his son, Alfred Beckley (US Army lieutenant and brigadier general of Virginia militia), who was from the District of Columbia.
Although founded in 1838, Beckley existed only on paper at that time. Alfred Beckley said he "was frequently jeered and laughed at for his Paper Town..." Early in its history, the town was known as Beckley, Raleigh Court House, and, occasionally, Beckleyville.
From the History section of Beckley, West Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Beckley East
Motel and hotel · 0.4 mi
1001 South Eisenhower Drive, Beckley
Churches and places of worship53
Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.0 mi
614 South Oakwood Avenue, Beckley
Beckley Community United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.5 mi
217 South Heber Street, Beckley
Shopping16
Taya's and Abraham's International Groceries
Grocery · 1.6 mi
325 Neville Street, Beckley
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries31
Healthcare14
Map of Beckley
207 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 19°F | 3.1 in | 12.8 in |
| Feb | 43°F | 21°F | 2.9 in | 10.0 in |
| Mar | 51°F | 27°F | 3.8 in | 5.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 36°F | 3.8 in | 0.8 in |
| May | 71°F | 46°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 54°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 79°F | 58°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 50°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 39°F | 2.6 in | 0.5 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 29°F | 2.7 in | 1.2 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 23°F | 3.5 in | 7.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Beckley Va Hospital (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Raleigh County has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-02-26: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2015-03-31: Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2012-11-27: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Raleigh 1 mi south, about 2 min by car
- Sprague 2 mi northwest, about 3 min by car
- MacArthur 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Stanaford 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Mabscott 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Beaver 3 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Daniels 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Crab Orchard 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Charleston 47 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Blacksburg 55 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Beckley, West Virginia, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- 2017-07-21 14 53 24 View north along West Virginia State Route 210 (Kanawha Street) at U.S. Route 19 (Eisenhower Drive) in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Greetings from Beckley, West Virginia, "The Smokeless Coal Capitol" - Large Letter Postcard (5351829292), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Beckley McDonald's on RCB Drive, Nyttend, Public domain
- Wildwood Residence at Beckley, Coal town guy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Beckley Exhibition Mine, Coal town guy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Raleigh County Courthouse Beckley, Tim Kiser ( w:User:Malepheasant ), CC BY-SA 3.0 us
- Martinsburg Mall (7566367038), Mike Kalasnik from Oakville, CT, CC BY-SA 2.0
- West Virginia - 7934268054, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- West Virginia - 7934269426, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- West Virginia - 7934270316, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Barnavis LR, PumpkinSky, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Interstate 64 - West Virginia - 7928862282, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Interstate 64 - West Virginia - 7928862814, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- I-64 West - Exit 124 - US19 (33832264766), formulanone from Huntsville, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Interstate 64 - West Virginia - 7928863398, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Interstate 64 - West Virginia - 7928863996, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Down in the Cave Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8568 (7536178096), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8553 (7536138274), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8567 (7536173648), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8539 (7536079020), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Barber shop Wildflower Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8550 (7536128990), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Managers House Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8543 (7536103368), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Barber shop Wildflower Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8552 (7536133536), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Outhouse Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8572 (7536196942) (2), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Church Pews Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8576 (7536218802) (2), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Mine equipment Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8544 (7536112742), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Barber shop Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8570 (7536188150) (2), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8557 (7536152358), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8555 (7536142058), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Barber shop Wildflower Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8551 (7536131320), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Next door life goes on Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8546 (7536124408), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Mine equipment Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8545 (7536116838), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Barber shop Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8569 (7536183400) (2), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8558 (7536159096), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Down in the Cave Church Pews Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8575 (7536213936) (2), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Church Pump Organ Company Town Exhibition Coal Mine Beckly WV 8573 (7536203176) (2), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
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