Virginia

Giles

16,787
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Giles

Giles, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 3,745. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,787.

Its recorded population peaked at 18,956 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 11 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Buffalo Mountain, Skirmish at Giles Court House, Skirmish at Giles Court House Border Area, and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,787
201017,286
200016,657
199016,366
198017,810
197016,741
196017,219
195018,956
194014,635
193012,804
192011,901
191011,623
190010,793
18909,090
18808,794
18705,875
18606,883
18506,570
18405,307
18305,274
18204,521
18103,745
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Giles

Military engagements that took place in Giles, Virginia.

Battle of Buffalo Mountain
1861
Skirmish at Giles Court House
1862
Skirmish at Giles Court House Border Area
1862
Battle of Newbern (Virginia)
1864
Battle of Cloyd's Mountain
1864

Historic places in Giles

National Register of Historic Places listings in Giles, Virginia.

Pyne, Q.M., Store
Eggleston
People's Bank of Eggleston, The
Eggleston
Walker's Creek Presbyterian Church
Pearisburg
Greater Newport Rural Historic District
Newport
Shannon Cemetery
Pearisburg
Narrows Commercial Historic District
Narrows
Doe Creek Farm
Pearisburg
Giles County Courthouse
Pearisburg
Pearisburg Historic District
Pearisburg
Johnston, Andrew, House
Pearisburg
Newport Historic District
Newport
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 Giles County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Giles 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 Giles

When does Giles first appear in the US census?
Giles, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 3,745.
What is the population of Giles?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Giles had a recorded population of 16,787.
When did Giles's population peak?
Giles's recorded population peaked at 18,956 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Giles?
5 documented military engagements took place in Giles, including Battle of Buffalo Mountain, Skirmish at Giles Court House, Skirmish at Giles Court House Border Area.
How many historic places are in Giles?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Giles, Virginia.
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