Virginia

York

70,045
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About York

York, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,233. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 70,045.

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

On the ground today, 27 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Raid on Yorktown Approaches (British), Battle of Yorktown – First Parallel Oct 6-11 1781, Cornwallis Surrender — Yorktown, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202070,045
201065,464
200056,297
199053,427
198044,189
197033,203
196021,583
195011,750
19408,857
19307,615
19208,046
19107,757
19007,482
18907,596
18807,349
18707,198
18604,949
18504,460
18404,720
18305,354
18204,384
18105,187
18003,231
17905,233
Source

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

Battles & engagements in York

Military engagements that took place in York, Virginia.

Raid on Yorktown Approaches (British)
1781
Battle of Yorktown – First Parallel Oct 6-11 1781
1781
Cornwallis Surrender — Yorktown
1781
Assault on Redoubts 9 and 10 Oct 14 1781
1781
Siege of Yorktown — First Parallel
1781
Battle of Hood's Point Feb 1781
1781
Battle of Green Spring Jul 6 1781
1781
Siege of Yorktown
1781
Assault on Redoubt 9 and 10 (Yorktown)
1781
Siege of Yorktown — Redoubt 9 and 10
1781
Siege of Yorktown Oct 1781 – Second Parallel
1781
Cornwallis's Attempted Escape at Yorktown
1781
British Sortie at Yorktown
1781
Siege of Yorktown — Opening Moves
1781
Battle of Yorktown
1781
Battle of Spencer's Ordinary Jun 26 1781
1781
Yorktown Siege – Artillery Duels
1862
Battle of Lee's Mill
1862
Battle of Yorktown 1862 — Siege Operations
1862
Confederate Evacuation of Yorktown
1862
Battle of Yorktown (Siege 1862)
1862
Battle of Dam No. 1
1862
Lee's Mill Fight (April 16, 1862)
1862
Yorktown Siege — First Artillery Exchange (April 1862)
1862
Siege of Yorktown
1862
Yorktown — McClellan's Siege Preparations (April 1862)
1862
Engagement at Yorktown (1864 raid)
1864

Historic places in York

National Register of Historic Places listings in York, Virginia.

Yorktown Wrecks
Yorktown
Bruton Parish Poorhouse Archeological Site
Williamsburg
Old Custom House
Yorktown
Gooch, William, Tomb and York Village Archeological Site (Boundary Decrease)
Yorktown
Kiskiack
Lackay
Porto Bello
Williamsburg
Gooch, William, Tomb and York Village Archeological Site
Yorktown
Bryan Manor
Williamsburg
Sessions-Pope-Sheild House
Yorktown
Whitaker's Mill Archeological Complex
Williamsburg
SAVANNAH (nuclear ship)
Newport News
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

Salem cityScottShenandoahSmythSouth BostonSouth NorfolkSouthamptonSpotsylvaniaStaffordStauntonStaunton citySuffolkSuffolk citySurrySussexTazewellVirginia BeachVirginia Beach cityWarrenWarwick
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Everything a full report reveals about York County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of York 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 York

When does York first appear in the US census?
York, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,233.
What is the population of York?
At the most recent federal census (2020), York had a recorded population of 70,045.
Were any battles fought in York?
27 documented military engagements took place in York, including Raid on Yorktown Approaches (British), Battle of Yorktown – First Parallel Oct 6-11 1781, Cornwallis Surrender — Yorktown.
How many historic places are in York?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in York, Virginia.
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