West Virginia

Jefferson

57,701

2020 population

1810

first census record

census records

About Jefferson

Jefferson, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 11,851. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 57,701.

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

On the ground today, 40 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Harpers Ferry (1861), Harpers Ferry — Skirmish at Bolivar Heights (October 1861), First Capture of Harpers Ferry (1861), and 96 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	57,701
2010	53,498
2000	42,190
1990	35,926
1980	30,302
1970	21,280
1960	18,665
1950	17,184
1940	16,762
1930	15,780
1920	15,729
1910	15,889
1900	15,935
1890	15,553
1880	15,005
1870	13,219
1860	14,535
1850	15,357
1840	14,082
1830	12,927
1820	13,087
1810	11,851

Source

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

Battles & engagements in Jefferson

Military engagements that took place in Jefferson, West Virginia.

Battle of Harpers Ferry (1861)

1861

Harpers Ferry — Skirmish at Bolivar Heights (October 1861)

1861

First Capture of Harpers Ferry (1861)

1861

Harpers Ferry — Bolivar Heights Skirmish (September 14, 1862)

1862

Raid on Harpers Ferry 1862

1862

Stuart's Chambersburg Raid (Virginia phase)

1862

Sharpsburg MD — Town Occupation and Aftermath (1862)

1862

Action at Bunker Hill, Berkeley County (1862)

1862

Battle of Duffield's Depot

1862

Harpers Ferry Cavalry Escape (September 14, 1862)

1862

Siege of Harpers Ferry

1862

Battle of Bolivar Heights

1862

Siege and Capture of Harpers Ferry (Sept 1862)

1862

Battle of Shepherdstown (1862)

1862

Harpers Ferry Siege

1862

Engagement at Bolivar Heights (Sept 1862)

1862

Antietam — Confederate River Crossing September 18-19

1862

Skirmish at Halltown (Sheridan prepares)

1864

Kearneysville Cavalry Fight (August 1864)

1864

Summit Point Engagement (August 1864)

1864

Action at Kabletown

1864

Skirmish at Kearneysville, Jefferson County (1864)

1864

Early's Raid to Washington – Harpers Ferry Area

1864

Rutherford's Farm Fight (July 20, 1864)

1864

Cavalry Fight at Kearneysville

1864

Cavalry Fight at Leetown

1864

Battle of Halltown (Aug 1864)

1864

Engagement at Charlestown WV (Aug 1864)

1864

Summit Point — Engagement (August 21 1864)

1864

Battle of Halltown

1864

Battle of Summit Point

1864

Battle of Cool Spring (Virginia 1864)

1864

Leetown Skirmish (Jefferson County, August 1864)

1864

Action at Charlestown (July 1864)

1864

Mosby's Blazer's Scouts Fight

1864

Action at Bunker Hill (July 1864)

1864

Engagement at Charlestown (Second)

1864

Halltown — Skirmish (August 26 1864)

1864

Harpers Ferry — Early's Demonstration (July 4-7, 1864)

1864

Battle of Cool Spring Virginia

1864

Historic places in Jefferson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson, West Virginia.

Downtown Charles Town Historic District

Shepherdstown Historic District (Boundary Increase)

Worthington, Robert, House

Charles Town

Claymont Court

Charles Town

Jefferson County Courthouse

Shepherdstown Historic District

Morgan-Bedinger-Dandridge House

Shepherdstown

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church

Harpers Ferry

Cedar Lawn

Charles Town

Browse all West Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in West Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more West Virginia counties.

Gilmer Grant Greenbrier Hampshire Hancock Hardy Harrison Jackson Kanawha Lewis Lincoln Logan Marion Marshall Mason McDowell Mercer Mineral Mingo Monongalia

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Everything a full report reveals about Jefferson County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Jefferson County, West 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 Jefferson

When does Jefferson first appear in the US census?

Jefferson, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 11,851.

What is the population of Jefferson?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Jefferson had a recorded population of 57,701.

Were any battles fought in Jefferson?

40 documented military engagements took place in Jefferson, including Battle of Harpers Ferry (1861), Harpers Ferry — Skirmish at Bolivar Heights (October 1861), First Capture of Harpers Ferry (1861).

How many historic places are in Jefferson?

96 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Jefferson, West Virginia.

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