Virginia

Stafford

156,927
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Stafford

Stafford, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 9,588. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 156,927.

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

On the ground today, 24 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Potomac Creek Site Conflict, Potomac Flotilla — Aquia Creek Operations, Skirmish at Aquia Creek Landing, and 19 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020156,927
2010128,961
200092,446
199061,236
198040,470
197024,587
196016,876
195011,902
19409,548
19308,050
19208,104
19108,070
19008,097
18907,362
18807,211
18706,420
18608,555
18508,044
18408,454
18309,362
18209,517
18109,830
18009,971
17909,588
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Stafford

Military engagements that took place in Stafford, Virginia.

Potomac Creek Site Conflict
1400
Potomac Flotilla — Aquia Creek Operations
1861
Skirmish at Aquia Creek Landing
1861
Engagement at Aqua Creek — first naval shots
1861
Aquia Creek Bombardment
1861
Aquia Creek Landing Operations (June 1861)
1861
Battle of Fredericksburg — Franklin's Crossing
1862
Rappahannock Outpost Line (Winter 1862-63)
1862
Fredericksburg — Meade's Breakthrough at Hamilton's Crossing
1862
Brooke's Station Skirmish
1862
Potomac Creek Bridge Skirmish
1862
Fredericksburg – Crossing Under Fire
1862
Falmouth Skirmish (Apr 1862)
1862
Battle of Fredericksburg — Prospect Hill
1862
White Oak Church Skirmish
1862
Cavalry Engagement at Hartwood Church
1863
Battle of Hartwood Church — First Fight
1863
Skirmish at Hartwood Church (Stafford County)
1863
Mud March Advance and Retreat (January 1863)
1863
Engagement at Banks's Ford
1863
Banks Ford Fight (May 1863)
1863
Skirmish at Morrisville (Stafford County)
1863
Hartwood Church Fight (February 25, 1863)
1863
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid — Ely's Ford Crossing
1864

Historic places in Stafford

National Register of Historic Places listings in Stafford, Virginia.

Potomac Creek Site
Brooke
Ferry Farm Site
Fredericksburg
Hartwood Presbyterian Church
Hartwood
Belmont
Falmouth
Falmouth Historic District
Falmouth
Clearview
Falmouth
Union Church and Cemetery
Falmouth
Carlton
Falmouth
Conway House
Falmouth
Hartwood Manor
Harwood
Advanced Courthouse Road Redoubt
Stafford
Tennessee Camp
Marine Corps Base, Quantico
Accokeek Furnace Archeological Site (44ST53)
Stafford
White Oak Church
Falmouth
Aquia Church
Garrisonville
Public Quarry at Government Island
Stafford
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

FauquierFloydFluvannaFranklinFranklin cityFrederickFredericksburgFredericksburg cityGalaxGalax cityGilesGloucesterGoochlandGraysonGreeneGreensvilleHalifaxHamptonHampton cityHanover
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Everything a full report reveals about Stafford County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Stafford 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 Stafford

When does Stafford first appear in the US census?
Stafford, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 9,588.
What is the population of Stafford?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Stafford had a recorded population of 156,927.
Were any battles fought in Stafford?
24 documented military engagements took place in Stafford, including Potomac Creek Site Conflict, Potomac Flotilla — Aquia Creek Operations, Skirmish at Aquia Creek Landing.
How many historic places are in Stafford?
19 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Stafford, Virginia.
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