Virginia

Norfolk

517,112
1990 population
1790
first census record
21
census records

About Norfolk

Norfolk, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 14,524. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 517,112.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 1990.

On the ground today, 69 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
1990517,112
1980486,042
1970508,494
1960494,292
1950403,923
1940238,943
1930213,353
1920227,522
1910153,386
1900114,831
189077,038
188058,657
187046,702
186036,227
185033,036
184027,569
183024,806
182023,943
181022,872
180019,419
179014,524
Source

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

Historic places in Norfolk

National Register of Historic Places listings in Norfolk, Virginia.

St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church
Norfolk (Independent City)
Allmand-Archer House
Norfolk (Independent City)
Old Norfolk City Hall
Norfolk (Independent City)
Norfolk Azalea Garden
Norfolk (Independent City)
West Freemason Street Area Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Norfolk (Independent City)
Norfolk City Hall
Norfolk (Independent City)
Taylor-Whittle House
Norfolk (Independent City)
Willoughby-Baylor House
Norfolk (Independent City)
Lafayette Residence Park
Norfolk (Independent City)
St. Paul's Church
Norfolk (Independent City)
Virginia National Bank Headquarters Historic District
Norfolk (Independent City)
Norfolk Academy
Norfolk (Independent City)
Downtown Norfolk Historic District
Norfolk (Independent City)
Riverview
Norfolk (Independent City)
Poplar Hall
Norfolk (Independent City)
Boush-Tazewell House
Norfolk (Independent City)
Berkley North Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Norfolk (Independent City)
Ghent Historic District
Norfolk (Independent City)
First Calvary Baptist Church
Norfolk (Independent City)
Monticello Arcade
Norfolk (Independent City)
Lambert's Point Knitting Mill (122-0934)
Norfolk (Independent City)
Seaboard Air Line Railway Building
Norfolk (Independent City)
Zion Methodist Church
Norfolk (Independent City)
Talbot Hall
Norfolk (Independent City)
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

GalaxGalax cityGilesGloucesterGoochlandGraysonGreeneGreensvilleHalifaxHamptonHampton cityHanoverHarrisonburgHarrisonburg cityHenricoHenryHighlandHopewellHopewell cityIndependent City
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Everything a full report reveals about Norfolk County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Norfolk 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 Norfolk

When does Norfolk first appear in the US census?
Norfolk, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 14,524.
What is the population of Norfolk?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Norfolk had a recorded population of 517,112.
How many historic places are in Norfolk?
69 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Norfolk, Virginia.
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