Virginia

Highland

2,232
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Highland

Highland, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 4,227. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 2,232.

Its recorded population peaked at 5,647 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 60 percent.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Hightown VA/WV — Allegheny Mountain Action (1862), Battle of McDowell (WV approach), Jackson's March to McDowell (May 7-8, 1862), and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20202,232
20102,321
20002,536
19902,635
19802,937
19702,529
19603,221
19504,069
19404,875
19304,525
19204,931
19105,317
19005,647
18905,352
18805,164
18704,151
18604,319
18504,227
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Highland

Military engagements that took place in Highland, Virginia.

Hightown VA/WV — Allegheny Mountain Action (1862)
1862
Battle of McDowell (WV approach)
1862
Jackson's March to McDowell (May 7-8, 1862)
1862
Skirmish at Monterey (Highland County)
1862
Battle of McDowell
1862
Skirmish at McDowell (Highland County)
1862
Sitlington's Hill Fight at McDowell (May 8, 1862)
1862
Battle of McDowell – Sitlington's Hill
1862

Historic places in Highland

National Register of Historic Places listings in Highland, Virginia.

Monterey High School
Monterey
Mansion House
McDowell
Jones, C.P., House and Law Office
Monterey
McClung Farm Historic District
McDowell
Crab Run Lane Truss Bridge
McDowell
Monterey Hotel
Monterey
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 Highland County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Highland 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 Highland

When does Highland first appear in the US census?
Highland, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 4,227.
What is the population of Highland?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Highland had a recorded population of 2,232.
When did Highland's population peak?
Highland's recorded population peaked at 5,647 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Highland?
8 documented military engagements took place in Highland, including Hightown VA/WV — Allegheny Mountain Action (1862), Battle of McDowell (WV approach), Jackson's March to McDowell (May 7-8, 1862).
How many historic places are in Highland?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Highland, Virginia.
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