North Carolina

Guilford

541,299
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Guilford

Guilford, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 7,191. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 541,299.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 20 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of McFall's Mill, Action at Guilford Courthouse — Approach Skirmish (1781), Skirmish at New Garden, and 124 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020541,299
2010488,406
2000421,048
1990347,420
1980317,154
1970288,590
1960246,520
1950191,057
1940153,916
1930133,010
192079,272
191060,497
190039,074
189028,052
188023,585
187021,736
186020,056
185019,754
184019,175
183018,737
182014,511
181011,420
18009,442
17907,191
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Guilford

Military engagements that took place in Guilford, North Carolina.

Battle of McFall's Mill
1780
Action at Guilford Courthouse — Approach Skirmish (1781)
1781
Skirmish at New Garden
1781
Battle of Weitzel's Mill Mar 6 1781
1781
Battle of Hart's Mill (NC)
1781
Pyle's Defeat (Haw River)
1781
Battle of Guilford Court House Mar 15 1781
1781
Battle of Weitzel's Mill (NC)
1781
Battle of Shallow Ford (Deep River)
1781
Battle of Weitzel's Mill (Reedy Fork)
1781
Battle of Summerfield
1781
Skirmish at Weitzel's Mill
1781
Action at New Garden (Guilford approach)
1781
Battle of Weitzel's Mill
1781
Battle of Cox's Mill
1781
Battle of Guilford Court House
1781
Battle of Wetzell's Ford
1781
Battle of Lindley's Mill Sep 13 1781
1781
Stoneman's Raid — Greensboro NC
1865
Stoneman's Raid — High Point NC
1865

Historic places in Guilford

National Register of Historic Places listings in Guilford, North Carolina.

Smith, Francis Marion, House
Gibsonville
Kirkman, O. Arthur, House and Outbuildings
High Point
Richardson, L., Memorial Hospital, Former
Greensboro
Weir, Dr. David P., House
Greensboro
Mock, Judson, Voehringer Company Hosiery Mill
Greensboro
Mendenhall, Richard, Plantation Buildings
Jamestown
West Market Street Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Greensboro
Dixon-Leftwich-Murphy House
Greensboro
Minneola Manufacturing Company Cloth Warehouse
Gibsonville
Carter, Wilbur and Martha, House
Greensboro
Revolution Cotton Mills
Greensboro
Proximity Print Works
Greensboro
Palmer Memorial Institute Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Sedalia
Tabernacle Methodist Protestant Church and Cemetery
Greensboro
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Greensboro
Kellenberger Estate
Greensboro
East White Oak School, Former
Greensboro
Lyndon Street Townhouses
Greensboro
McIver, Charles D., School, Former
Greensboro
Pomona High School, Former
Greensboro
Grayson, Dr. C. S., House
High Point
Siceloff, J. C., House
High Point
Jamestown Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Jamestown
Hillside
Greensboro
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

MartinMcDowellMecklenburgMitchellMontgomeryMooreNashNew HanoverNorthamptonOnslowOrangePamlicoPasquotankPenderPerquimansPersonPittPolkRandolphRichmond
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Guilford County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Guilford County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Guilford County, North Carolina report
Or see a real report first

Explore North Carolina records

North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Guilford

When does Guilford first appear in the US census?
Guilford, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 7,191.
What is the population of Guilford?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Guilford had a recorded population of 541,299.
Were any battles fought in Guilford?
20 documented military engagements took place in Guilford, including Battle of McFall's Mill, Action at Guilford Courthouse — Approach Skirmish (1781), Skirmish at New Garden.
How many historic places are in Guilford?
124 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Guilford, North Carolina.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report