Virginia

Rockbridge

22,650
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Rockbridge

Rockbridge, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 6,548. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,650.

Its recorded population peaked at 31,920 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 29 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Engagement at Natural Bridge (1864), Lexington — Skirmish at North River Bridge (June 11 1864), and 55 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202022,650
201022,307
200020,808
199031,715
198031,920
197030,659
196030,339
195028,573
194026,719
193024,904
192024,537
191024,416
190024,187
189023,062
188020,003
187016,058
186017,248
185016,045
184014,284
183014,244
182011,945
181010,318
18008,945
17906,548
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Rockbridge

Military engagements that took place in Rockbridge, Virginia.

Engagement at Natural Bridge (1864)
1864
Lexington — Skirmish at North River Bridge (June 11 1864)
1864

Historic places in Rockbridge

National Register of Historic Places listings in Rockbridge, Virginia.

Fancy Hill
Glasgow
Kennedy-Lunsford Farm
Raphine
Kennedy-Lunsford Farm (Boundary Increase)
Raphine
Glasgow Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Glasgow
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge
New Providence Presbyterian Church
Brownsburg
Echols Farm
Glasgow
Tankersley Tavern
Lexington
Haines Chapel and Cemetery
Vesuvius
McCormick, Cyrus, Farm and Workshop
Steele's Tavern
Mountain View Farm
Lexington
Brownsburg Historic District
Brownsburg
Church Hill
Lexington
Boxerwood
Lexington
Hays Creek Mill
Brownsburg
Locust Hill
Mechanicsville
Level Loop
Brownsburg
Scott-Hutton Farm
Lexington
Maple Hall
Lexington
Rockbridge Inn
Natural Bridge
Virginia Manor
Natural Bridge
Hickory Hill
Glasgow
Thorn Hill
Lexington
Springdale
Lexington
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Rockbridge County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge

When does Rockbridge first appear in the US census?
Rockbridge, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 6,548.
What is the population of Rockbridge?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rockbridge had a recorded population of 22,650.
When did Rockbridge's population peak?
Rockbridge's recorded population peaked at 31,920 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Rockbridge?
2 documented military engagements took place in Rockbridge, including Engagement at Natural Bridge (1864), Lexington — Skirmish at North River Bridge (June 11 1864).
How many historic places are in Rockbridge?
55 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rockbridge, Virginia.
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