Link to population growth?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Huntington's population has grown from 49,138 to 49,177 between 2010 and 2013 and Morgantown has experienced a much larger growth, adding nearly 1,000 residents over the same three years, to 30,666 residents.
The census estimates released Wednesday show that Charleston's population has dropped from 51,400 to 50,821; Wheeling has dropped from 28,486 to 28,009; Parkersburg has dropped from 31,492 to 31,186; and Beckley has dropped a mere seven residents from 17,614 to 17,607.
West Virginia's population, as a whole, has grown from 1,852,994 to 1,854,304 residents from 2010 to 2013.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x1495951360/No-significant-increases-decreases-in-West-Virginia-city-populations