Virginia

Amherst

31,307
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Amherst

Amherst, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 13,703. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 31,307.

Its recorded population peaked at 32,353 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Hunter's Raid: Lexington to Lynchburg (Amherst County, 1864), and 37 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202031,307
201032,353
200031,894
199028,578
198029,122
197026,072
196022,953
195020,332
194020,273
193019,020
192019,771
191018,932
190017,864
189017,551
188018,709
187014,900
186013,742
185012,699
184012,576
183012,071
182010,423
181010,548
180016,801
179013,703
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Amherst

Military engagements that took place in Amherst, Virginia.

Hunter's Raid: Lexington to Lynchburg (Amherst County, 1864)
1864

Historic places in Amherst

National Register of Historic Places listings in Amherst, Virginia.

Geddes
Clifford
Sweet Briar House
Sweet Briar
Bear Mountain Indian Mission School
Amherst
Edgewood
Amherst
Kenmore Farm
Amherst
Fort Riverview (44AH91 and 44AH195)
Madison Heights
Mountain View Farm
Clifford
Winton
Clifford
Red Hill Farm
Pedlar Mills
Elon Village Library
Elon
Sweet Briar College Historic District
Amherst
Edgewood
Amherst
Brick House
Clifford
Speed the Plough
Monroe
Glebe, The
Amherst
Tusculum
Amherst
Edge Hill
Gladstone
Forest Hill
Amherst
Galt's Mill Complex
Madison Heights
Fairview
Amherst
Hanshill
Madison Heights
Clifford-New Glasgow Historic District
Clifford
Dulwich Manor
Amherst
Brightwells Mill Complex
Madison Heights
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Amherst County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Amherst County, Virginia. 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.
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Frequently asked about Amherst

When does Amherst first appear in the US census?
Amherst, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 13,703.
What is the population of Amherst?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Amherst had a recorded population of 31,307.
When did Amherst's population peak?
Amherst's recorded population peaked at 32,353 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Amherst?
1 documented military engagement took place in Amherst, including Hunter's Raid: Lexington to Lynchburg (Amherst County, 1864).
How many historic places are in Amherst?
37 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Amherst, Virginia.
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