Virginia

Pittsylvania

60,501
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Pittsylvania

Pittsylvania, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 11,579. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 60,501.

Its recorded population peaked at 111,789 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 46 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Staunton River Bridge, Wilson's Raid – Staunton River Bridge, Engagement at Chatham (Pittsylvania County), and 26 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202060,501
201063,506
200061,745
1990108,711
1980111,789
1970105,180
1960104,873
1950101,162
194094,446
193083,671
192078,032
191069,729
190063,414
189059,941
188052,589
187031,343
186032,104
185028,796
184026,398
183026,034
182021,323
181017,172
180012,697
179011,579
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Pittsylvania

Military engagements that took place in Pittsylvania, Virginia.

Action at Staunton River Bridge
1864
Wilson's Raid – Staunton River Bridge
1864
Engagement at Chatham (Pittsylvania County)
1865

Historic places in Pittsylvania

National Register of Historic Places listings in Pittsylvania, Virginia.

Burnett's Diner
Chatham
Berry Hill
Berry Hill
Mountain View
Chatham
Yeatts, John and Nancy, House
Chatham
Little Cherrystone
Chatham
Windsor
Cascade
Yates Tavern
Gretna
Chatham Southern Railway Depot
Chatham
Clerk's Office
Chatham
Creasy, Thomas Claiborne, House
Gretna
Oak Ridge
Danville
North Danville Historic District
Danville
Chatham Historic District
Chatham
Locust Hill
Hurt
Hargrave Military Academy
Chatham
Gretna Commercial Historic District
Gretna
Leesville Dam Archeological Site (44PY30)
Altavista
Dan's Hill
Danville
Craft, Phillip, House
Chatham
Pittsylvania County Courthouse
Chatham
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Pittsylvania County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania

When does Pittsylvania first appear in the US census?
Pittsylvania, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 11,579.
What is the population of Pittsylvania?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Pittsylvania had a recorded population of 60,501.
When did Pittsylvania's population peak?
Pittsylvania's recorded population peaked at 111,789 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Pittsylvania?
3 documented military engagements took place in Pittsylvania, including Action at Staunton River Bridge, Wilson's Raid – Staunton River Bridge, Engagement at Chatham (Pittsylvania County).
How many historic places are in Pittsylvania?
26 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pittsylvania, Virginia.
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