Smithers is a city in Fayette and Kanawha counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located along the Kanawha River, it lies almost entirely in Fayette County. The population was 751 at the 2020 census. The city most likely takes its name from Smithers Creek.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code25186

Area code304

Living in Smithers

Work & commute in Smithers

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Most working residents leave Smithers for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Charleston (15%), Beckley (7%) and Montgomery (6%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Charleston

15%

Beckley

Montgomery

Falls View

2%Work in townlive and work in Smithers 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 179Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Smithers →

Health in Smithers

Compared with West Virginia

1worse than WV

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

12.7%More adults with COPDWV 10.6% · worse

Care nearby

Montgomery General HospitalMontgomery · 1.9 mi · ER · rural critical access

New River Health - SmithersSmithers · 1.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Smithers · CMS · HRSAHealth in Smithers →

Natural hazards in Smithers

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 97% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding

7Does Smithers flood?paid flood claims since 1991 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Smithers MapSmithers vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Smithers →

Climate in Smithers

Full climate →

Smithers has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

45° / 27°Winter

67° / 42°Spring

83° / 62°Summer

68° / 45°Fall

How much snow does Smithers get?About 32 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 4, with the last in spring around Apr 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Smithers →

Schools in Smithers

All Smithers schools →

School Grade D

The public schools Smithers’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 89% of West Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictFayette County SchoolsSchools1

Valley PK-8 D-Elementary · Grades PK–8 · 545 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within WV. Ratings are from neighbors.