Virginia

Virginia Beach

393,069
1990 population
1790
first census record
21
census records

About Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 7,793. At the most recent census, in 1990, its population stood at 393,069.

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

On the ground today, 38 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
1990393,069
1980262,199
1970172,106
196084,215
195042,277
194019,984
193016,282
192013,626
191011,526
190011,192
18909,510
18809,394
18708,273
18607,714
18507,669
18407,285
18309,102
18208,768
18109,498
18008,859
17907,793
Source

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

Historic places in Virginia Beach

National Register of Historic Places listings in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Oceana Neighborhood Historic District
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Land, Francis, House (Additional Documentation)
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Thoroughgood House
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Hermitage, The
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Lynnhaven House (Additional Documentation)
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Shirley Hall
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Upper Wolfsnare
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Keeling House (Additional Documentation)
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Cavalier Hotel
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Old Donation Church
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Murray, Thomas, House
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Camp Pendleton-State Military Reservation Historic District
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Ferry Plantation House
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Seashore State Park Historic District
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Woodhouse House
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
de Witt Cottage
Virginia Beach (Independent City)
Miller-Masury, Dr. John, House
Virginia Beach (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 Virginia Beach County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Virginia Beach 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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Explore Virginia records

Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Virginia Beach

When does Virginia Beach first appear in the US census?
Virginia Beach, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 7,793.
What is the population of Virginia Beach?
At the most recent federal census (1990), Virginia Beach had a recorded population of 393,069.
How many historic places are in Virginia Beach?
38 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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