| Official Name: | Sylvester, West Virginia |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | West Virginia |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Boone |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 0.67 |
| Area Land Km2: | 0.65 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.26 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.25 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.01 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Est: | 162 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 166 |
| Population Density Km2: | 208.27 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 539.68 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 263 |
| Elevation Ft: | 863 |
| Coordinates: | 38.0103°N -81.5597°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 25193 |
| Area Code: | 304 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 54-78964[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1555775[4] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Sylvester is a town in Boone County, West Virginia, United States, along the Big Coal River. The population was 166 at the 2020 census.[2] Sylvester was incorporated on April 11, 1952, by the Boone County Circuit Court. Sylvester bears the name of a family of settlers.[5]
Sylvester is located at 38.0103°N -81.5597°W (38.010370, -81.559626).[6] The town's municipal boundaries extend to both sides of the river, though its business district and residential areas lie primarily on the river's eastern bank. The town of Whitesville lies just to the southeast, and the communities of Orgas and Seth lie just to the north. West Virginia Route 3 (Coal River Road) traverses Sylvester.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.26sqmi, of which 0.25sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water.[7]
At the 2010 census there were 160 people, 67 households, and 44 families living in the town. The population density was 640PD/sqmi. There were 78 housing units at an average density of 312/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White and 1.3% from two or more races.[8] Of the 67 households 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.3% were non-families. 32.8% of households were one person and 17.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.05.
The median age in the town was 42 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 23.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
At the 2000 census there were 195 people, 84 households, and 66 families living in the town. The population density was 761.4 inhabitants per square mile (289.6/km). There were 94 housing units at an average density of 367.0 per square mile (139.6/km). The racial makeup of the town was 98.46% White, 1.03% African American, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51%.
Of the 84 households 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 20.2% of households were one person and 15.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.65.
The age distribution was 18.5% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% 65 or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median household income was $35,625 and the median family income was $47,000. Males had a median income of $41,667 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,420. About 10.7% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 3.9% of those sixty five or over.