Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 51 min5:59 am – 8:50 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 29 min7:36 am – 5:05 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People723 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 59.2395 householdsMedian household income $37,165Median home value $84,300Median rent $825 a month79% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $371 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting10.3% unemployment rate44% of adults are in the labour force, 261 employedMain industries: hospitality, food and recreation 25%, education and health care 18%, wholesale trade 17%Average commute 32 minutes88% drive alone, 10% car-pool, 2% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher97% finished high school, 11% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 98%, other languages 2%2% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 87°F, lows 64°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 23°F52 in of rain a yearwettest month July17 in of snow a year, on about 13 days35 days above 90°F, 120 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Sutton Lake station, 13 mi away; snow from Gassaway
Nearby landmarksLittle Birch Mountainpeak · 4.9 miBarnette Hillpeak · 5.0 miGauley Eagle Number Four Impoundmentreservoir · 6.3 miGauley Eagle Slurry Impoundmentreservoir · 6.4 miLittle Birch Riverriver · 7.6 miRight Fork Little Birch Riverriver · 7.6 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsBig Ditch Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 7.9 mi · 355 acresElk River Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 9.6 miSutton Recreation Arearecreation area · 11.9 mi · 12,634 acresSummersville Recreation Arearecreation area · 15.4 mi · 9,810 acresGauley River National Recreation Areanational recreation area · 22.2 mi · 5,067 acresCarnifex Ferry Battlefield State Parkstate park · 21.5 mi · 292 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes5 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.5 on 22 Apr 199145 mi away, near Falling Spring, West VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 3.4 on 31 Mar 201314 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowNicholas County, WV, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsCold wave Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality77% of days had good air in 2025281 of 365 days measured84 moderate daysMedian index 39, worst day 69main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Kanawha County, WV, 46 mi away
Internet at home72% of households have a broadband subscription37% have cable, fibre or DSL8% rely on a mobile data plan alone28% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterBirch River PSDserves 1,369 people from surface water purchasedNo health-based violations since 20212 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation2,111 ft643 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalBraxton County Memorial Hospital13.6 miPost officeBirch River Post Office3.4 miPoliceCowen Police Department8.8 miFire stationBirch River Volunteer Fire Department3.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeNew River Community and Technical College-Nicholas County Campus12.7 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportGreenbrier Valley Airport LWB45 miMajor airportPittsburgh International Airport PIT142 miInterstateI-7911 miUS highwayUS 193.2 miAmtrakMontgomery, WV MNG39 miCoachSutton FlatwoodBarons Bus Lines17 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 26610 ZIP area.
