The Census Bureau's 2016 Population and Steets report shows that the number of people living in Saint Helen has been steadily decreasing over the past five years. This trend could be caused by one critical event or a combination of reasons. Short-term changes in economic conditions and declining birth rates are some of the reasons why residents are moving out of the city. The following is a brief analysis of the statistics for Saint Helen City.
During the Civil War, the area was a major mining region and then fell into anarchy. After the war, the area was discovered as an excellent forestry center. Helen is named for the daughter of a railroad surveyor, and the town operated as a dedicated logging town for several decades. The Matthews Lumber Company sawmill led the logging boom. The town's development was spurred by its proximity to the Appalachian Trail.
The area surrounding Saint Helen City is very diverse. The population was spread out with 20.3% of residents being under the age of 18 years. Another 4.3% were 18-24 years of age. Forty-two percent were married couples; the rest were non-families. Forty-seven percent of households consisted of single people. The percentage of seniors living alone was 17.0%. The average household size was 2.17 people.