Virginia

Prince William

482,204

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Prince William

Prince William, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 11,615. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 482,204.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 40 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Susquehannock War / Doeg Raids Virginia 1675, Battle of First Bull Run – Chinn Ridge, Wolf Run Shoals Skirmish, and 50 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	482,204
2010	402,002
2000	280,813
1990	250,377
1980	166,665
1970	111,102
1960	50,164
1950	22,612
1940	17,738
1930	13,951
1920	13,660
1910	12,026
1900	11,112
1890	9,805
1880	9,180
1870	7,504
1860	8,565
1850	8,129
1840	8,144
1830	9,330
1820	9,419
1810	11,311
1800	12,733
1790	11,615

Source

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

Battles & engagements in Prince William

Military engagements that took place in Prince William, Virginia.

Susquehannock War / Doeg Raids Virginia 1675

1675

Battle of First Bull Run – Chinn Ridge

1861

Wolf Run Shoals Skirmish

1861

First Bull Run — Cavalry at Matthew's Hill

1861

First Battle of Bull Run

1861

Matthews Hill (First Bull Run)

1861

First Bull Run – Matthews Hill

1861

First Bull Run – Buck Hill

1861

Lewis Ford (First Bull Run)

1861

Battle of First Bull Run – Matthews Hill

1861

Sudley Ford Skirmish

1861

Blackburn's Ford (First Bull Run Prelude)

1861

Blackburn's Ford Fight (July 18, 1861)

1861

Chinn Ridge (First Bull Run)

1861

Blackburn's Ford Skirmish

1861

Battle of Blackburn's Ford

1861

First Bull Run – Stone Bridge Crossing

1861

First Battle of Bull Run — Stone Bridge

1861

First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

1861

Battle of First Bull Run – Henry House Hill

1861

First Bull Run – Young's Branch

1861

Battle of Blackburn's Ford Jul 18 1861

1861

Sudley Springs Ford (First Bull Run)

1861

Ball's Ford (First Bull Run)

1861

Mitchell's Ford Skirmish

1861

Engagement at Blackburn's Ford

1861

Henry House Hill (First Bull Run)

1861

Second Bull Run – Longstreet's Assault (Aug 30)

1862

Action at Catlett's Station

1862

Bacon Race Church Skirmish

1862

Dumfries and Occoquan Raid

1862

Action at Thoroughfare Gap

1862

Gainesville Skirmish

1862

Second Bull Run – Chinn Ridge

1862

Lewis Ford Fight (Second Bull Run)

1862

Second Bull Run – Stony Ridge

1862

Second Bull Run – Bald Hill

1862

Engagement at Haymarket

1862

Sudley Springs Hospital Fight

1862

Second Bull Run – Deep Cut Attack

1862

Historic places in Prince William

National Register of Historic Places listings in Prince William, Virginia.

Quantico Marine Corps Base Historic District

Quantico

Camp French

Marine Corps Base, Quantico

Thoroughfare Gap Battlefield

Broad Run

Brentsville Courthouse and Jail

Brentsville

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Haymarket

Weems-Botts House

Dumfries

Goodwill Historic District, Chopawamsic RDA Camp 1

Triangle

Orange and Alexandria Railroad Bridge Piers

Manassas Park

Buckland Historic District

Buckland

Rising Hill Camp

Marine Corps Base, Quantico

Bel Air

Minnieville

Mayfield Fortification (44PW226)

Manassas

Mitchell's Ford Entrenchments

Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

Galax Galax city Giles Gloucester Goochland Grayson Greene Greensville Halifax Hampton Hampton city Hanover Harrisonburg Harrisonburg city Henrico Henry Highland Hopewell Hopewell city Independent City

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Prince William County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Prince William 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.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Prince William County, Virginia report

Or see a real report first

Explore Virginia records

Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Prince William

When does Prince William first appear in the US census?

Prince William, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 11,615.

What is the population of Prince William?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Prince William had a recorded population of 482,204.

Were any battles fought in Prince William?

40 documented military engagements took place in Prince William, including Susquehannock War / Doeg Raids Virginia 1675, Battle of First Bull Run – Chinn Ridge, Wolf Run Shoals Skirmish.

How many historic places are in Prince William?

50 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Prince William, Virginia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report