Virginia

Southampton

17,996
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Southampton

Southampton, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 12,864. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,996.

Its recorded population peaked at 27,555 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Nat Turner's Rebellion (Virginia 1831), and 52 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,996
201018,570
200017,482
199025,414
198026,039
197025,462
196027,195
195026,522
194026,442
193026,870
192027,555
191026,302
190022,848
189020,078
188018,012
187012,285
186012,915
185013,521
184014,525
183016,074
182014,170
181013,497
180013,925
179012,864
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Southampton

Military engagements that took place in Southampton, Virginia.

Nat Turner's Rebellion (Virginia 1831)
1831

Historic places in Southampton

National Register of Historic Places listings in Southampton, Virginia.

Courtland School
Courtland
Beechwood
Beales
Simmons-Sebrell-Camp House
Courtland
Rochelle-Prince House
Courtland
Belmont
Capron
Sebrell Rural Historic District
Sebrell
Aspen Lawn
Drewryville
Vincent, William H., House
Capron
Brown's Ferry
Drakes Corner
Rose Hill
Capron
Elm Grove
Courtland
Mahone's Tavern
Courtland
Vaughan, Rebecca, House (Additional Documentation)
Courtland
Sunnyside
Newsoms
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Southampton County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Southampton 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 Southampton

When does Southampton first appear in the US census?
Southampton, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 12,864.
What is the population of Southampton?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Southampton had a recorded population of 17,996.
When did Southampton's population peak?
Southampton's recorded population peaked at 27,555 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Southampton?
1 documented military engagement took place in Southampton, including Nat Turner's Rebellion (Virginia 1831).
How many historic places are in Southampton?
52 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Southampton, Virginia.
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