Virginia

Norfolk city

238,005
2020 population
2000
first census record
3
census records

About Norfolk city

Norfolk city, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 2000, when it recorded a population of 234,403. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 238,005.

Its recorded population peaked at 242,803 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Norfolk / Burning of Norfolk, Burning of Norfolk (VA), Bombardment of Norfolk, and 69 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020238,005
2010242,803
2000234,403
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Norfolk city

Military engagements that took place in Norfolk city, Virginia.

Battle of Norfolk / Burning of Norfolk
1776
Burning of Norfolk (VA)
1776
Bombardment of Norfolk
1776
Pig Point (Sewall's Point) Naval Action (May 1861)
1861
Gosport Navy Yard Burning 1861
1861
CSS Virginia — Destruction to Prevent Capture
1862
Occupation of Norfolk Navy Yard
1862
Scuttling of CSS Virginia
1862
CSS Squib — Torpedo Attack on USS Minnesota
1864

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Norfolk city County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Norfolk city 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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Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Norfolk city

When does Norfolk city first appear in the US census?
Norfolk city, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 2000, with a recorded population of 234,403.
What is the population of Norfolk city?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Norfolk city had a recorded population of 238,005.
When did Norfolk city's population peak?
Norfolk city's recorded population peaked at 242,803 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Norfolk city?
9 documented military engagements took place in Norfolk city, including Battle of Norfolk / Burning of Norfolk, Burning of Norfolk (VA), Bombardment of Norfolk.
How many historic places are in Norfolk city?
69 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Norfolk city, Virginia.
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