Population of Virginia - 1980

This table shows population by political unit from largest to smallest ("in descending order"), based on the historical census records. Census data is accessible through the Geospatial and Statistical Data Center of the University of Virginia library. CAUTION: County boundaries have changed over time; if you are creating statistics on population density, don't mix apples and oranges. New counties were carved out of the acreage of existing counties until Dickenson County was finally created in 1880. Since then, annexations and mergers of cities and counties have also changed the political boundaries. 
 Fairfax                                 595754
 Norfolk                                 266979
 Virginia Beach                          262199
 Richmond                                219214
 Henrico                                 180735
 Arlington                               152599
 Newport News                            144903
 Prince William                          144636
 Chesterfield                            141372
 Hampton                                 122617
 Chesapeake                              114486
 Portsmouth                              104577
 Alexandria                              103217
 Roanoke                                 100220
 Roanoke                                  72945
 Lynchburg                                66743
 Montgomery                               63285
 Henry                                    57654
 Loudoun                                  57427
 Danville                                 56649
 Albemarle                                55783
 Pittsylvania                             55140
 Rockingham                               52054
 Tazewell                                 50511
 Hanover                                  50398
 Suffolk                                  47621
 Augusta                                  47578
 Washington                               46487
 Campbell                                 45424
 Wise                                     43863
 Petersburg                               41055
 Stafford                                 40470
 Charlottesville                          39916
 Buchanan                                 37989
 Fauquier                                 35889
 Franklin                                 35740
 York                                     35463
 Pulaski                                  35229
 Bedford                                  34927
 Frederick                                34150
 Smyth                                    33345
 Spotsylvania                             31995
 Russell                                  31761
 Accomack                                 31268
 Halifax                                  30599
 Mecklenburg                              29444
 Amherst                                  29122
 Shenandoah                               27559
 Carroll                                  27270
 Lee                                      25956
 Prince George                            25733
 Wythe                                    25522
 Scott                                    25068
 Staunton                                 24777
 Harrisonburg                             24655
 Salem                                    23958
 Hopewell                                 23397
 Botetourt                                23270
 Culpeper                                 22620
 Dinwiddie                                22602
 James City                               22339
 Isle of Wight                            21603
 Warren                                   21200
 Fairfax                                  20537
 Winchester                               20217
 Gloucester                               20107
 Dickenson                                19806
 Page                                     19401
 Bristol                                  19042
 Waynesboro                               18563
 Southampton                              18316
 Martinsville                             18149
 Orange                                   18063
 Caroline                                 17904
 Louisa                                   17825
 Giles                                    17810
 Fredericksburg                           17762
 Rockbridge                               17724
 Patrick                                  17647
 Grayson                                  16579
 Colonial Heights                         16509
 Prince Edward                            16456
 Brunswick                                15632
 Manassas                                 15505
 Nottoway                                 14666
 Northampton                              14625
 Alleghany                                14333
 Westmoreland                             14041
 Radford                                  13456
 Powhatan                                 13062
 Charlotte                                12266
 Nelson                                   12204
 Lunenburg                                12124
 Appomattox                               11971
 Goochland                                11761
 Buckingham                               11751
 Floyd                                    11563
 Sussex                                   10874
 King George                              10543
 Williamsburg                             10294
 Fluvanna                                 10244
 Madison                                  10232
 Lancaster                                10129
 Clarke                                    9965
 Northumberland                            9828
 Greensville                               9669
 Falls Church                              9515
 King William                              9334
 Covington                                 9063
 Essex                                     8864
 New Kent                                  8781
 Poquoson                                  8726
 Amelia                                    8405
 Mathews                                   7995
 Cumberland                                7881
 Franklin                                  7723
 Middlesex                                 7719
 Greene                                    7625
 Lexington                                 7292
 South Boston                              7093
 Richmond                                  6952
 Buena Vista                               6904
 Charles City                              6692
 Manassas Park                             6524
 Galax                                     6524
 Bland                                     6349
 Rappahannock                              6093
 Emporia                                   6074
 Surry                                     6046
 Bedford                                   5991
 King and Queen                            5968
 Bath                                      5860
 Clifton Forge                             5046
 Norton                                    4757
 Craig                                     3948
 Highland                                  2937
 VIRGINIA                               5346797

Citation: Geospatial and Statistical Data Center of the University of Virginia library.

Patterns of People and Places of Virginia
Virginia Places