Virginia

King William

17,810
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About King William

King William, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 8,128. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,810.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 35 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle at Mattaponi River 1624, Anglo-Powhatan War III — Battle at Pamunkey (1644-1646), Bacon's Rebellion – Skirmish at West Point VA 1676, and 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,810
201015,935
200013,146
199010,913
19809,334
19707,497
19607,563
19507,589
19407,855
19307,929
19208,739
19108,547
19008,380
18909,605
18808,751
18707,515
18608,530
18508,779
18409,258
18309,812
18209,697
18109,285
18009,055
17908,128
Source

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

Battles & engagements in King William

Military engagements that took place in King William, Virginia.

Battle at Mattaponi River 1624
1624
Anglo-Powhatan War III — Battle at Pamunkey (1644-1646)
1645
Bacon's Rebellion – Skirmish at West Point VA 1676
1676
Bacon's Rebellion – Battle at West Point VA
1676
Battle of Fort Royal Ferry (Virginia, 1781)
1781
Skirmish at West Point Landing (King William County)
1862
Battle of Slash Church (Hanover Court House)
1862
West Point Landing Fight
1862
White House Landing Evacuation
1862
Engagement at Eltham's Landing
1862
Matadequin Creek Cavalry Fight (May 30, 1864)
1864
Pamunkey River Crossing (May 28, 1864)
1864
Engagement at Totopotomoy Creek
1864
Battle of Haw's Shop (Hanover County)
1864
Skirmish at Walkerton (King and Queen Court House)
1864
Cavalry Fight at Matadequin Creek
1864
Engagement at Hanovertown (Hanover County, 1864)
1864
Engagement at King William Court House
1864
Fight at Old Church
1864
Cavalry Fight at Hanovertown
1864
Enon Church cavalry fight
1864
Engagement at Old Church (Hanover County, 1864)
1864
Crump's Creek cavalry skirmish
1864
Engagement at White House Landing
1864
Battle of Haw's Shop
1864
Engagement at Hawes' Shop
1864
Hanovertown Cavalry Fight (May 27, 1864)
1864
Pamunkey River crossing at Hanovertown
1864
Skirmish at Aylett's (King William County)
1864
Skirmish at Hanovertown (Hanover County)
1864
Cavalry Fight at White House Landing
1864
Battle of Spencer's Tavern (June 5, 1864)
1864
Wickham's cavalry skirmish near Pamunkey
1864
Battle of Matadequin Creek
1864
Haw's Shop cavalry engagement
1864

Historic places in King William

National Register of Historic Places listings in King William, Virginia.

King William County Courthouse
King William
Elsing Green
Tunstall
West Point Historic District
West Point
Mangohick Church
Mangohick
St. John's Church
Sweet Hall
Burlington
Aylett
Chericoke
Falls
Chelsea
West Point
Sweet Hall
King William
Seven Springs
Enfield
King William Training School
King William
Zoar
Aylett
Roseville Plantation
Aylett
Sharon Indian School
King William
Mount Columbia
Manquin
Windsor Shades
Sweet Hall
Pamunkey Indian Reservation Archaeological District
Lanesville
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 King William County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of King William 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 King William

When does King William first appear in the US census?
King William, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 8,128.
What is the population of King William?
At the most recent federal census (2020), King William had a recorded population of 17,810.
Were any battles fought in King William?
35 documented military engagements took place in King William, including Battle at Mattaponi River 1624, Anglo-Powhatan War III — Battle at Pamunkey (1644-1646), Bacon's Rebellion – Skirmish at West Point VA 1676.
How many historic places are in King William?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in King William, Virginia.
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