Pinch is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,914 at the 2020 census. It is located about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Charleston, adjacent to Elkview and roughly 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Big Chimney. The community lies along the Elk River and is surrounded by rolling hills.
The community was named after nearby Pinch Creek.
Geography
Pinch is located at (38.406348, -81.484682).
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 2,914 people, 1,120 households, and 840 families living in the community. The population density was 760.0 people per square mile (293.5/km2). There were 1,345 housing units at an average density of 335.0/sq mi (129.5/km2). The racial makeup of the community was 98.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
Education
The following public schools serve the Pinch area, along with one private preschool:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Schools serving Pinch, West Virginia
! School !! Grades !! Enrollment !! State ranking
|-
| Herbert Hoover High School || 9–12 || 783 || #17 of 114
|-
| Elkview Middle School || 6–8 || 613 || #68 of 284
|-
| Pinch Elementary School || K–5 || 321 || #96 of 540
|-
| Saint Andrew Nursery School (private) || Pre-K || 60 || N/A
|}
Public Transportation
Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority or KRT provides bus services north through Pinch to Elkview and Clendenin or South through Pinch to Charleston, and from there to several other places throughout the Kanawha Valley.
Places of interest
Pinch is home of Indian Lake, a man-made lake specifically created for fishing. It is stocked with rainbow trout and channel catfish It is also home to what is locally known as the Gazebo, a public theater where performances, pageants, and other community events are held. It has also been holding a town reunion for nearly 70 years. Most recently, in 2016, a public fair was held in the town. Every year, on Christmas Eve, a Christmas parade is held where community members will drive along the Main Street of town at dusk, most notably, the Volunteer Fire Department. A historical resale building on the Main Street of town has a cannon in front of the building. .