Virginia

Suffolk

52,141
1990 population
1790
first census record
21
census records

About Suffolk

Suffolk, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 9,010. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 52,141.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 1990.

On the ground today, 29 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
199052,141
198047,621
197045,024
196043,975
195037,577
194034,114
193032,801
192029,322
191026,886
190023,078
189019,692
188015,903
187011,576
186013,693
185012,283
184010,795
183011,784
182010,494
181010,324
180011,127
17909,010
Source

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

Historic places in Suffolk

National Register of Historic Places listings in Suffolk, Virginia.

Harrell, Joel E., Son
Suffolk (Independent City)
Phillips Farm
Suffolk (Independent City)
St. John's Church
Chuckatuck (Independent City)
West End Historic District
Suffolk (Independent City)
Dumpling Island Archeological Site
Suffolk (Independent City)
Chuckatuck Historic District
Suffolk (Independent City)
Suffolk Peanut Company, The
Suffolk
Riddick House
Suffolk (Independent City)
Suffolk Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Suffolk (Independent City)
Bay Point Farm
SUffolk
West End Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Suffolk
Suffolk Historic District (Boundary Increase III)
Suffolk (Independent City)
Mount Sinai Baptist Church
Suffolk (Independent City)
Suffolk Historic District
Suffolk (Independent City)
Suffolk Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Suffolk (Independent City)
Cedar Hill Cemetery
Suffolk (Independent City)
Knotts Creek-Belleville Archeological Site
Suffolk (Independent City)
Somerton Historic District
Suffolk
Building at 216 Bank Street
Suffolk (Independent City)
Godwin-Knight House
Chuckatuck (Independent City)
Whaleyville Historic District
Suffolk (Independent City)
Holland Historic District
Suffolk (Independent City)
Driver Historic District
Suffolk (Independent City)
East Suffolk Complex
Suffolk (Independent City)
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 Suffolk County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Suffolk 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 Suffolk

When does Suffolk first appear in the US census?
Suffolk, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 9,010.
What is the population of Suffolk?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Suffolk had a recorded population of 52,141.
How many historic places are in Suffolk?
29 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Suffolk, Virginia.
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