Virginia

Chesapeake

151,976
1990 population
1970
first census record
3
census records

About Chesapeake

Chesapeake, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1970, when it recorded a population of 89,580. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 151,976.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 1990.

On the ground today, 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
1990151,976
1980114,486
197089,580
Source

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

Historic places in Chesapeake

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Sunray Agricultural Historic District
Chesapeake
Cornland School
Chesapeake
Wallaceton
Chesapeake (Independent City)
Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal Historic District
Chesapeake (Independent city)
Oaklette Historic District
Chesapeake
Centreville-Fentress Historic District
Chesapeake
South Norfolk Historic District
Chesapeake (Independent City)
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

CampbellCarolineCarrollCharles CityCharlotteCharlottesvilleCharlottesville cityChesapeake cityChesterfieldClarkeClifton ForgeClifton Forge cityColonial HeightsColonial Heights cityCovingtonCovington cityCraigCulpeperCumberlandDanville
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Everything a full report reveals about Chesapeake County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Chesapeake 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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Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Chesapeake

When does Chesapeake first appear in the US census?
Chesapeake, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1970, with a recorded population of 89,580.
What is the population of Chesapeake?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Chesapeake had a recorded population of 151,976.
How many historic places are in Chesapeake?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chesapeake, Virginia.
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