COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Kanawha County: larger FARS fatality book
Kanawha County (WV) holds a larger FARS book (217, #285 of 3,137) with 26 latest-year deaths.
- 217
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 26
- Latest Year Deaths
- High count
- 14.9
- Per 100k Residents
- Below average
- Increasing
- Trend
Larger fatality book
Kanawha County ranks #285 of 3,137 by total FARS fatalities (217 across 2016-2023) - top-third book size.
Kanawha County in the larger-book third
According to NHTSA FARS, Kanawha County carries a top-third fatality book (217 across 2016-2023, #285 of 3,137) at 14.9/100k.
- #1,277 of 2,328
- among rated U.S. counties by rate
- #285 of 3,137
- larger-book third
- #24 of 40
- in WV by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost KANAWHA-39 · Kanawha 14.9/100k · #1,277 of 2,328
Kanawha County · 14.9/100k · increasing
- VS-ST 14.9/100k
- CRASH #1,277 of 2,328
- FARS 217 book
- NHTSA Increasing
- MILE 199 crash
- POST -18.8% vs WV
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · West Virginia state profile →
How does Kanawha County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Kanawha County is 19% safer than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in West Virginia, Kanawha County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 18.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Kanawha County's rate and the state average is 3.5 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Wyoming County, at 19.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 4.8). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Hampshire County (50.7), Taylor County (36.6), Hardy County (35.1), Summers County (34.5), Boone County (34.0), Monroe County (32.3), Nicholas County (29.0), Grant County (27.5), Logan County (26.0), Mason County (24.2), Wayne County (23.9), Mineral County (22.3), Greenbrier County (21.8), Wyoming County (19.7).
Kanawha County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
15 Lower than most a lower per-capita rate than 55% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Kanawha County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Kanawha County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- West Virginia statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for WV
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with KLetter index including WV counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Kanawha County, West Virginia?
Kanawha County recorded 217 total traffic fatalities across 199 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 26 fatalities. The county averages approximately 24.1 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Kanawha County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (199 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Kanawha County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for West Virginia may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Kanawha County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Kanawha County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Kanawha County?
Kanawha County has a fatality rate of 14.9 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Kanawha County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Kanawha County ranks #1,277 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #24 of 40 rated counties in WV, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Kanawha County compare to the rest of West Virginia?
Kanawha County's per-capita rate of 14.9 per 100,000 residents is below the West Virginia county average of 18.4. Visit the West Virginia state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Kanawha County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.