Virginia

Lee

22,173
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Lee

Lee, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 3,538. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,173.

Its recorded population peaked at 39,296 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 44 percent.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cumberland Gap Operations (1861 approach), First Occupation of Cumberland Gap, Confederate Recapture of Cumberland Gap (September 1862), and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202022,173
201025,587
200023,589
199024,496
198025,956
197020,321
196025,824
195036,106
194039,296
193030,419
192025,293
191023,840
190019,856
189018,216
188015,116
187013,268
186011,032
185010,267
18408,441
18306,461
18204,256
18104,694
18003,538
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Lee

Military engagements that took place in Lee, Virginia.

Cumberland Gap Operations (1861 approach)
1861
First Occupation of Cumberland Gap
1862
Confederate Recapture of Cumberland Gap (September 1862)
1862
Union Seizure of Cumberland Gap (June 1862)
1862
Evacuation of Cumberland Gap 1862
1862
Cumberland Gap Operations 1862
1862
Final Union Recapture of Cumberland Gap (September 1863)
1863
Second Capture of Cumberland Gap 1863
1863

Historic places in Lee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee, Virginia.

Keokee Store No. 1
Keokee
Sayers, William, Homestead
Ewing
Ely Mound
Rose Hill
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Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Lee County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Lee 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 Lee

When does Lee first appear in the US census?
Lee, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 3,538.
What is the population of Lee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lee had a recorded population of 22,173.
When did Lee's population peak?
Lee's recorded population peaked at 39,296 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Lee?
8 documented military engagements took place in Lee, including Cumberland Gap Operations (1861 approach), First Occupation of Cumberland Gap, Confederate Recapture of Cumberland Gap (September 1862).
How many historic places are in Lee?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lee, Virginia.
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