Virginia

Petersburg

38,386
1990 population
1890
first census record
11
census records

About Petersburg

Petersburg, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 22,680. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 38,386.

Its recorded population peaked at 41,055 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 50 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
199038,386
198041,055
197036,103
196036,750
195035,054
194030,631
193028,564
192031,012
191024,127
190021,810
189022,680
Source

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

Historic places in Petersburg

National Register of Historic Places listings in Petersburg, Virginia.

Friend, Nathaniel, House
Petersburg (Independent City)
Strawberry Hill
Petersburg (Independent City)
Folly Castle Historic District
Petersburg (Independent City)
Folly Castle Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Petersburg (Independent City)
Wallace, Thomas, House
Petersburg (Independent City)
Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Petersburg (Independent City)
Petersburg Trailways Bus Station
Petersburg (Independent City)
Second Presbyterian Church
Petersburg (Independent City)
Centre Hill
Petersburg (Independent City)
South Market Street Historic District
Petersburg (Independent City)
Folly Castle Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Petersburg (Independent City)
Battersea
Petersburg (Independent City)
People's Memorial Cemetery
Petersburg (Independent City)
Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Petersburg (Independent City)
Saint Paul's Church
Petersburg (Independent City)
Bolling, Anna P., Junior High School
Petersburg (Independent City)
Appomattox Iron Works
Petersburg (Independent City)
Petersburg Courthouse
Petersburg (Independent City)
Petersburg City Hall
Petersburg (Independent City)
Peabody Building of the Peabody-Williams School
Petersburg (Independent City)
Tabb Street Prebyterian Church
Petersburg (Independent City)
Sutherland House
Petersburg (Independent City)
Virginia Trunk & Bag Company
Petersburg
Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Petersburg (Independent City)
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Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Petersburg County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Petersburg 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 Petersburg

When does Petersburg first appear in the US census?
Petersburg, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 22,680.
What is the population of Petersburg?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Petersburg had a recorded population of 38,386.
When did Petersburg's population peak?
Petersburg's recorded population peaked at 41,055 in 1980.
How many historic places are in Petersburg?
50 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Petersburg, Virginia.
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