War is a city in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 690 at the 2020 census. War was incorporated in 1920 by the Circuit Court of McDowell County. Its name is derived from War Creek, whose confluence with Dry Fork is located within the city. War is the only place in the United States with this name. War was formerly known as Miner's City.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code24892

Area code304

Living in War

Housing in War

$40K▼ 14.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical War home is worth about $40,000, down 14.9% in a year, 78% below the West Virginia typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in War

Full picture →

Most working residents leave War for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Welch (9%), Tazewell (7%) and Charleston (4%). Half commute less than 26 miles.

Welch

Tazewell, VA

Charleston

Marion, VA

0%Work in townlive and work in War 26 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 34Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in War →

Health in War

Compared with West Virginia

1better than WV·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 2▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

82.4%More adults treating high blood pressureWV 79.5% · better 17.6%More adults with COPDWV 10.6% · worse

Care nearby

Welch Community HospitalWelch · 10.1 mi · ER

Tug River Health CenterGary · 7.8 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 War · CMS · HRSAHealth in War →

Natural hazards in War

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 88% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

14Does War flood?paid flood claims since 1978 11Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to War

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

Climate in War

Full climate →

War has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 18 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

46° / 26°Winter

67° / 41°Spring

84° / 61°Summer

68° / 43°Fall

How much snow does War get?About 18 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 18, with the last in spring around Apr 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in War

All War schools →

D⁻

School Grade D-

The public schools War’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 96% of West Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictMcDowell County SchoolsSchools1

Southside K-8 DElementary · Grades PK–8 · 266 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.