COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Nicholas County, West Virginia
Road fatality data for Nicholas County (WV). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 56
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 7
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 29.0
- Per 100k Residents
- Above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Rising fatality trend
Nicholas County's FARS series is labeled Increasing with 7 deaths in the latest year.
Nicholas County on a rising FARS trend
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Nicholas County ranks #430 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #7 of 40 rated counties in WV. Nicholas County's fatality rate of 29.0 per 100,000 residents leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- #430 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,260 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #7 of 40
- in WV by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
FARS county milepost
Milepost NICHOLAS-67 · Nicholas 29.0/100k · #430 of 2,328
Nicholas County · 29.0/100k · increasing
- CRASH 29.0/100k
- FARS #430 of 2,328
- NHTSA 56 book
- MILE Increasing
- POST 52 crash
- BAND +58.0% 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 Nicholas County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Nicholas County is 58% deadlier 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, Nicholas County ranks 7 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 18.4 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Nicholas County's rate and the state average is 10.6 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Grant County, at 27.5 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.5). 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), 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), Brooke County (18.7).
Nicholas County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
29 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 18% 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 Nicholas County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Nicholas 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 NLetter index including WV counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Nicholas County, West Virginia?
Nicholas County recorded 56 total traffic fatalities across 52 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 7 fatalities. The county averages approximately 6.2 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Nicholas County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (52 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Nicholas County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for West Virginia may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Nicholas County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County?
Nicholas County has a fatality rate of 29.0 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Nicholas County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Nicholas County ranks #430 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #7 of 40 rated counties in WV, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Nicholas County compare to the rest of West Virginia?
Nicholas County's per-capita rate of 29.0 per 100,000 residents is above 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 Nicholas 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.