Virginia

Spotsylvania

140,032
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Spotsylvania

Spotsylvania, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 11,252. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 140,032.

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 Engagement at Richard's Ford, Battle of Fredericksburg — Franklin's Crossing (Left Grand Division), Skinker's Neck Demonstration, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020140,032
2010122,397
200090,395
199076,430
198049,757
197030,874
196027,458
195024,078
194019,971
193016,875
192016,453
191015,809
190014,307
189014,233
188014,828
187011,728
186016,076
185014,911
184015,161
183015,134
182014,254
181013,296
180013,002
179011,252
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Spotsylvania

Military engagements that took place in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Engagement at Richard's Ford
1862
Battle of Fredericksburg — Franklin's Crossing (Left Grand Division)
1862
Skinker's Neck Demonstration
1862
Fredericksburg – Prospect Hill Assault
1862
Fredericksburg — Skinker's Neck Demonstration (December 1862)
1862
First Battle of Deep Run
1862
Verdiersville Ambush of Stuart (August 17-18, 1862)
1862
Battle of Deep Run (Fredericksburg crossing)
1862
Fredericksburg — Pelham's Artillery Stand (December 13, 1862)
1862
Chancellorsville – Catherine Furnace
1863
Battle of Salem Church
1863
Battle of Banks' Ford
1863
Payne's Farm Engagement (November 27, 1863)
1863
Pollock's Mill Creek Skirmish (April 1863)
1863
Locust Grove / Payne's Farm Approach (November 26, 1863)
1863
United States Ford Crossing
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville — Hazel Grove
1863
Chancellorsville – Wilderness Church
1863
Chancellorsville – Jackson's Flank Attack
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville — Jackson's Flank Attack
1863
United States Ford Crossing (April 30, 1863)
1863
Battle of Salem Church (Fredericksburg)
1863
Chancellorsville — Hooker Concussed at Chancellorsville House (May 3, 1863)
1863
Chancellorsville – Howard's XI Corps Rout
1863
Mine Run Campaign
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville
1863
Engagement at New Hope Church
1863
Banks' Ford Fight (May 4, 1863)
1863
Engagement at Payne's Farm
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville – Stonewall Jackson Wounding
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville – Salem Church May 3-4 1863
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville – Hazel Grove May 3 1863
1863
Banks' Ford Crossing
1863
Chancellorsville – Bullock Road
1863
Mine Run Campaign – Payne's Farm
1863
Wilderness Church Fight (May 2, 1863)
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville – Slocum's Advance Apr 30-May 1 1863
1863
Chancellorsville – Hazel Grove
1863
Mine Run Campaign (Virginia)
1863
Hazel Grove (Chancellorsville)
1863

Historic places in Spotsylvania

National Register of Historic Places listings in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Stirling
Massaponax
Andrews Tavern
Glenora
Kenmore
Spotsylvania
Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation
Fredericksburg
Lansdowne
Fredericksburg
Tubal Furnace Archeological Site
Chancellor
Oakley
Spotsylvania
Fall Hill
Fredericksburg
Walnut Grove
Spotsylvania
Prospect Hill
Mineral
Spotsylvania Court House Historic District
Spotsylvania
Massaponax Baptist Church
Massaponax
Fairview
Fredericksburg
St. Julien
Fredericksburg
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

Danville cityDickensonDinwiddieElizabeth CityEmporiaEmporia cityEssexFairfaxFairfax cityFalls ChurchFalls Church cityFauquierFloydFluvannaFranklinFranklin cityFrederickFredericksburgFredericksburg cityGalax
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Everything a full report reveals about Spotsylvania County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Spotsylvania 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 Spotsylvania

When does Spotsylvania first appear in the US census?
Spotsylvania, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 11,252.
What is the population of Spotsylvania?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Spotsylvania had a recorded population of 140,032.
Were any battles fought in Spotsylvania?
40 documented military engagements took place in Spotsylvania, including Engagement at Richard's Ford, Battle of Fredericksburg — Franklin's Crossing (Left Grand Division), Skinker's Neck Demonstration.
How many historic places are in Spotsylvania?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
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