[2] Dunbar was incorporated on April 19, 1921, by an Act of the West Virginia Legislature.

Dunbar is on land that was originally occupied by Native Americans with 11 mounds identified in the residential areas.

The land was granted to George Washington for his military service and was named for Mary Dunbar after she inherited the land from Washington, although other sources say it was named for Dunbar Baines, a prominent area banker.

[5] Dunbar was a farming community until industries began to evolve in the city with the opening of glass and bottling plants in 1912.

[6] Located at Dunbar is the Dutch Hollow Wine Cellars, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

After the Civil War, wine making was no longer profitable and the vineyards were abandoned.

The wine cellars are preserved and protected for future generations due to the foresight of Dunbar to develop the area into a City park.

40.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.