Virginia

Nelson

14,775
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Nelson

Nelson, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 9,684. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,775.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,277 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 14 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Hunter's Raid: Rockfish Gap Approach (1864), Cavalry Fight at Rockfish Gap, and 26 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,775
201015,020
200014,445
199012,778
198012,204
197011,702
196012,752
195014,042
194016,241
193016,345
192017,277
191016,821
190016,075
189015,336
188016,536
187013,898
186013,015
185012,758
184012,287
183011,254
182010,137
18109,684
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Nelson

Military engagements that took place in Nelson, Virginia.

Hunter's Raid: Rockfish Gap Approach (1864)
1864
Cavalry Fight at Rockfish Gap
1865

Historic places in Nelson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Nelson, Virginia.

Schuyler Historic District
Schuyler
Nelson County Courthouse
Lovingston
Elk Hill
Nellysford
Rock Cliff
Wingina
Lovingston High School
Lovingston
Bon Aire
Shipman
Riverside Farm
Roseland
Oak Ridge Railroad Overpass
Shipman
Tyro Mill
Tyro
Mitchell's Brick House Tavern
Arrington
Edgewood
Wingina
Lovingston Historic District
Lovingston
Wintergreen County Store
Nellysford
Pharsalia
Tyro
Blue Ridge Tunnel
Afton
South Rockfish Valley Rural Historic District
Nellysford
Montezuma
Norwood
Soldier's Joy
Wingina
Woodson's Mill
Lowesville
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Nelson County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Nelson 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 Nelson

When does Nelson first appear in the US census?
Nelson, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 9,684.
What is the population of Nelson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Nelson had a recorded population of 14,775.
When did Nelson's population peak?
Nelson's recorded population peaked at 17,277 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Nelson?
2 documented military engagements took place in Nelson, including Hunter's Raid: Rockfish Gap Approach (1864), Cavalry Fight at Rockfish Gap.
How many historic places are in Nelson?
26 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Nelson, Virginia.
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