Virginia

Bristol city

17,219
2020 population
2000
first census record
3
census records

About Bristol city

Bristol city, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 2000, when it recorded a population of 17,367. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,219.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,835 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Bristol Station (Washington County VA), Battle of Bristol Approach, and 11 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,219
201017,835
200017,367
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Bristol city

Military engagements that took place in Bristol city, Virginia.

Skirmish at Bristol Station (Washington County VA)
1864
Battle of Bristol Approach
1864

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Everything a full report reveals about Bristol city County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Bristol city 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 Bristol city

When does Bristol city first appear in the US census?
Bristol city, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 2000, with a recorded population of 17,367.
What is the population of Bristol city?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bristol city had a recorded population of 17,219.
When did Bristol city's population peak?
Bristol city's recorded population peaked at 17,835 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Bristol city?
2 documented military engagements took place in Bristol city, including Skirmish at Bristol Station (Washington County VA), Battle of Bristol Approach.
How many historic places are in Bristol city?
11 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bristol city, Virginia.
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