Virginia

Portsmouth

103,907
1990 population
1900
first census record
10
census records

About Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 17,427. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 103,907.

Its recorded population peaked at 114,773 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 9 percent.

On the ground today, 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
1990103,907
1980104,577
1970110,963
1960114,773
195080,039
194050,745
193045,704
192054,387
191033,190
190017,427
Source

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

Historic places in Portsmouth

National Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Portsmouth Olde Towne Historic District
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Portsmouth Courthouse
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Craddock Historic District
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Confederate Monument
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Trinity Episcopal Church
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Portsmouth Olde Towne Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Pythian Castle
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Fort Nelson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter House
Portsmouth (Independent City)
LIGHTSHIP No. 101, PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth (Independent City)
St. Paul's Catholic Church
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Portsmouth Community Library
Portsmouth
Cedar Grove Cemetery
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Truxtun Historic District
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Shea Terrace Elementary School
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Quarters A, B, and C, Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Seaboard Coastline Building
Portsmouth (Independent city)
Drydock No. 1
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Monumental Methodist Church
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Downtown Portsmouth Historic District
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Commodore Theatre
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Portsmouth (Independent City)
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

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Everything a full report reveals about Portsmouth County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth

When does Portsmouth first appear in the US census?
Portsmouth, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 17,427.
What is the population of Portsmouth?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Portsmouth had a recorded population of 103,907.
When did Portsmouth's population peak?
Portsmouth's recorded population peaked at 114,773 in 1960.
How many historic places are in Portsmouth?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Portsmouth, Virginia.
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