Biggest Cities in Virginia by Year

For each given year, name the 5 most populous incorporated settlements in Virginia.
Some of these cities no longer exist or have since merged into other settlements
Excluding plantations
Scaled by city proper population
Check the sticky comment for sources
Quiz by
MeowILoveCats123
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Last updated: October 3, 2025
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First submittedOctober 3, 2025
Times taken28
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1625
475
James City
443
Elizabeth City
236
Charles City
22
Henrico
 
 
1790
3,761
Richmond
2,959
Norfolk
2,828
Petersburg
2,748
Alexandria
1,702
Portsmouth
 
 
1800
6,926
Norfolk
5,727
Richmond
4,971
Alexandria
3,523
Petersburg
2,808
Fredericksburg
 
 
1810
9,735
Richmond
9,193
Norfolk
5,668
Petersburg
2,509
Fredericksburg
2,324
Winchester
 
 
1820
12,067
Richmond
8,478
Norfolk
6,690
Petersburg
3,498
Fredericksburg
3,181
Winchester
 
 
1830
16,060
Richmond
9,814
Norfolk
8,322
Petersburg
4,630
Lynchburg
3,308
Fredericksburg
 
 
1840
20,153
Richmond
11,136
Petersburg
10,920
Norfolk
6,477
Portsmouth
6,395
Lynchburg
 
 
1850
27,570
Richmond
14,326
Norfolk
14,010
Petersburg
8,734
Alexandria
8,626
Portsmouth
 
 
1860
37,910
Richmond
18,266
Petersburg
14,620
Norfolk
12,652
Alexandria
9,496
Portsmouth
1870
51,038
Richmond
19,229
Norfolk
18,950
Petersburg
13,570
Alexandria
10,492
Portsmouth
 
 
1880
63,600
Richmond
21,966
Norfolk
21,656
Petersburg
18,659
Alexandria
15,959
Lynchburg
 
 
1890
81,388
Richmond
34,871
Norfolk
22,680
Petersburg
19,709
Lynchburg
16,159
Roanoke
 
 
1900
85,050
Richmond
46,621
Norfolk
21,810
Petersburg
21,495
Roanoke
19,685
Newport News
 
 
1910
127,628
Richmond
67,452
Norfolk
34,874
Roanoke
33,190
Portsmouth
29,494
Lynchburg
 
 
1920
171,677
Richmond
115,777
Norfolk
54,387
Portsmouth
50,842
Roanoke
35,598
Newport News
 
 
1930
182,929
Richmond
129,710
Norfolk
69,206
Roanoke
45,704
Portsmouth
40,661
Lynchburg
 
 
1940
193,042
Richmond
144,335
Norfolk
69,287
Roanoke
50,745
Portsmouth
44,541
Lynchburg
 
 
1950
230,310
Richmond
213,513
Norfolk
91,921
Roanoke
80,039
Portsmouth
61,787
Alexandria
1960
305,872
Norfolk
219,958
Richmond
114,773
Portsmouth
113,662
Newport News
97,110
Roanoke
 
 
1970
307,951
Norfolk
249,621
Richmond
172,106
Virginia Beach
138,177
Newport News
120,779
Hampton
 
 
1980
266,979
Norfolk
262,199
Virginia Beach
219,214
Richmond
144,903
Newport News
122,617
Hampton
 
 
1990
393,089
Virginia Beach
261,250
Norfolk
202,713
Richmond
171,477
Newport News
151,982
Chesapeake
 
 
2000
425,236
Virginia Beach
234,463
Norfolk
199,153
Chesapeake
196,991
Richmond
180,272
Newport News
 
 
2010
437,885
Virginia Beach
242,840
Norfolk
222,268
Chesapeake
204,440
Richmond
180,956
Newport News
 
 
2020
459,444
Virginia Beach
249,302
Chesapeake
238,029
Norfolk
226,525
Richmond
186,239
Newport News
 
 
2024
454,808
Virginia Beach
254,997
Chesapeake
233,655
Richmond
231,105
Norfolk
183,056
Newport News
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5 Comments
+2
Level 67
Oct 3, 2025
Most estimates are based off of the U.S. decennial censuses.

For the population figures not according to the censuses, you can find the sources in this Google Doc.

Important caveats:

Not counting Arlington as it is an unincorporated community.

Not counting plantations.

As far as I know, when following the second caveat, there were only 4 incorporated settlements of Virginia in 1625.

Jamestown is part of James City.

Only counting cities in present-day Virginia!

+1
Level 62
Oct 3, 2025
Can I do this with West Virginia please?🙏🙏
+2
Level 67
Oct 3, 2025
Yes, of course!
+1
Level 62
Oct 3, 2025
Also can you organize this from left to right? I was a bit confused at first
+1
Level 67
Oct 3, 2025
Unfortunately there isn't any way to change the layout like that. Wish there was