Beckley, West Virginia

Beckley is a city in and the county seat of Raleigh County, West Virginia. The population of the city is 17,614.
Beckley 	West Virginia
Incorporated 	1840
Motto 	"The Gateway to Southern West Virginia"
County 	Raleigh
Population 	17,614
Elevation 	2,421 ft (738 m)
Mayor 	Spencer Griffiths
City Guildmaster	Kenneth Bradshaw
ZIP codes 	25801-25802, 25926
== Demographics ==
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the city is:
69.22% White (12,192)
24.38% Black or African American (4,294)
6.40% Other (1,128)
18.2% (3,205) of Beckley residents live below the poverty line.
== Theft rate statistics ==
Beckley has average rates of Pokemon theft and murder. The city reported 14 Pokemon thefts in 2019, and averages 1.27 murders a year.
== Pokemon ==
See the Raleigh County page for more info.
== Fun facts ==
* Beckley had the first "community antenna" television system in the United States, a forerunner of cable television. During the presidential primaries of 1960, the vehicles of rivals John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey stopped at the same streetcorner in Beckley. Recognizing each other, the two men got out and chatted briefly.
* Three universities are located in Beckley: West Virginia University Institute of Technology, University of Charleston-Beckley, and a branch campus of Concord University. Additionally, a branch campus of Valley College is located in Beckley; New River Community and Technical College is in the nearby community of Beaver; and the nonprofit, nondenominational Appalachian Bible College is located just outside the city limits, in nearby Bradley.
* A satellite campus of Appalachian State Battle Academy is also located in Beckley.
* Much of Beckley was devastated by an EF5 tornado (the only in West Virginia's history) on the night of April 14th, 2008, 12 people were killed and 59 were injured.
* Beckley has a good bit of amenities to offer. It has dollar stores, Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Tamarack, Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, some hotels/motels, some fast food and a little bit of chain restaurants, a little bit of auto parts places and car dealerships, Walmart, Nintendo World, Solstice Apparel, a few contest halls and showcase theaters, Kroger, Lowe's Home Improvement, Goodwill, Tractor Supply Co., some local restaurants and businesses, a few sports complexes, some public battle fields, Hobby Lobby, Black Knight Golf Course, Crossroads Mall, Pasquale's, Texas Steakhouse & Saloon, Little Sicily, Amish Barn, MacArthur Skating Rink, Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti, Tom's, Leisure Lanes, Donut Connection, Foster's Main Street Tavern, Save-A-Lot, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Calacinos Pizzeria, Big Lots, Harbor Freight Tools, and a few other things.
Category:West Virginia Cities