Gauley Bridge at a glance
- Population: 530 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 144th-largest of 230 places in West Virginia.
- 2020 Census base: 553 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 4.2% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 144th in population of 230 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 37% of places in West Virginia rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.1668, -81.2096 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Smithers, WV (5 mi); Montgomery, WV (6 mi); Ansted, WV (6 mi); Fayetteville, WV (9 mi); Glasgow, WV (12 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Handley, WV (9 mi); Pratt, WV (10 mi); Thurmond, WV (16 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Gauley Bridge
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Gauley Bridge
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gauley Bridge
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Gauley Bridge:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.