Virginia

Washington

53,935
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Washington

Washington, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,625. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 53,935.

Its recorded population peaked at 65,529 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 18 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Engagement at Abingdon, Skirmish at Abingdon (Washington County), Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia, and 18 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202053,935
201054,876
200051,103
199064,313
198065,529
197055,692
196055,220
195053,490
194047,965
193042,690
192039,105
191039,077
190033,574
189029,020
188025,203
187016,816
186016,892
185014,612
184013,001
183015,614
182012,444
181012,156
18009,536
17905,625
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Washington

Military engagements that took place in Washington, Virginia.

Engagement at Abingdon
1864
Skirmish at Abingdon (Washington County)
1864
Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia
1865

Historic places in Washington

National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, Virginia.

Abingdon Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Abingdon
Mont Calm
Abingdon
Edmondson Hall
Meadowview
Abingdon Historic District
Abingdon
Emory and Henry College
Emory
Grove, The
Bristol
White's Mill
Abingdon
Brook Hall
Abingdon
Moonlite Theatre
Abingdon
Solar Hill Historic District
Bristol
Pitts, Dr. William H., House
Abingdon
Glade Spring Commercial Historic District
Glade Spring
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

PittsylvaniaPoquosonPoquoson cityPortsmouthPortsmouth cityPowhatanPrince EdwardPrince GeorgePrince WilliamPrincess AnnePulaskiRadfordRadford cityRappahannockRichmondRichmond cityRoanokeRoanoke cityRockbridgeRockingham
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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Washington 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 Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,625.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 53,935.
When did Washington's population peak?
Washington's recorded population peaked at 65,529 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Washington?
3 documented military engagements took place in Washington, including Engagement at Abingdon, Skirmish at Abingdon (Washington County), Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia.
How many historic places are in Washington?
18 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, Virginia.
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