RICHMOND – The city of Richmond is growing in population faster than its suburban neighbors, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Richmond had an estimated population of 217,853 on July 1, 2014, the bureau said. That represented an increase of 6.7 percent since the 2010 census.
In contrast, from 2010 to 2014, Chesterfield County grew 5.1 percent; Henrico County, 4.9 percent; and Hanover County, 2.1 percent.
From 2013 to 2014, Richmond’s population jumped 1.5 percent – more than Chesterfield, Henrico or Hanover.
As a whole, the Richmond metropolitan statistical area has grown from 1.2 million in the April 2010 census to more than 1.26 million last year, the Census Bureau estimates. That’s an increase of 4.3 percent, including more than 1 percent from 2013 to 2014.
The Richmond metro area consists of 17 counties and cities. Percentage-wise, only New Kent County is growing faster than the city of Richmond this decade. (Since 2010, New Kent County grew about 8.6 percent, to 20,021.)
Four localities in the Richmond metro area have lost population this decade. They are Dinwiddie, Sussex and Charles City counties and the city of Hopewell, the Census Bureau said.
Since 2010, the fastest-growing locality in Virginia was the city of Fredericksburg. Its population grew 16.7 percent, to 28,350 last year.
The second fastest-growing locality from 2010 to 2014 was Loudoun County. Its population jumped 16.2 percent, to 363,050.
For the one-year period, from 2013 to 2014, Loudoun County grew 3.4 percent – more than any other locality in Virginia.
Virginia’s total population was estimated at 8,326,289 in 2014. That was an increase of 4.1 percent since 2010, including a 0.7 percent increase from 2013 to 2014.
New Population Estimates
The U.S. Census Bureau is releasing population estimates for 2014. Here are the numbers for every locality in Virginia.
| Locality | 2010 census |
2013 estimate | 2014 estimate | Change, 2010-14 | Change, 2013-14 |
| Accomack County | 33,164 | 33,021 | 33,021 | -0.4% | 0.0% |
| Albemarle County | 98,970 | 103,014 | 104,489 | 5.6% | 1.4% |
| Alleghany County | 16,250 | 16,121 | 15,820 | -2.6% | -1.9% |
| Amelia County | 12,690 | 12,727 | 12,855 | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Amherst County | 32,353 | 32,193 | 32,041 | -1.0% | -0.5% |
| Appomattox County | 14,973 | 15,230 | 15,279 | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Arlington County | 207,627 | 226,012 | 226,908 | 9.3% | 0.4% |
| Augusta County | 73,750 | 73,835 | 73,862 | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Bath County | 4,731 | 4,607 | 4,563 | -3.6% | -1.0% |
| Bedford County | 68,676 | 75,740 | 76,583 | 11.5% | 1.1% |
| Bland County | 6,824 | 6,695 | 6,625 | -2.9% | -1.0% |
| Botetourt County | 33,148 | 33,029 | 33,100 | -0.1% | 0.2% |
| Brunswick County | 17,434 | 16,659 | 16,498 | -5.4% | -1.0% |
| Buchanan County | 24,098 | 23,555 | 23,106 | -4.1% | -1.9% |
| Buckingham County | 17,146 | 17,127 | 16,913 | -1.4% | -1.2% |
| Campbell County | 54,842 | 54,851 | 54,885 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Caroline County | 28,545 | 29,285 | 29,778 | 4.3% | 1.7% |
| Carroll County | 30,042 | 29,837 | 29,621 | -1.4% | -0.7% |
| Charles City County | 7,256 | 7,106 | 7,023 | -3.2% | -1.2% |
| Charlotte County | 12,586 | 12,312 | 12,225 | -2.9% | -0.7% |
| Chesterfield County | 316,236 | 327,892 | 332,499 | 5.1% | 1.4% |
| Clarke County | 14,034 | 14,348 | 14,423 | 2.8% | 0.5% |
| Craig County | 5,190 | 5,196 | 5,234 | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| Culpeper County | 46,689 | 48,488 | 49,166 | 5.3% | 1.4% |
| Cumberland County | 10,052 | 9,838 | 9,827 | -2.2% | -0.1% |
| Dickenson County | 15,903 | 15,449 | 15,308 | -3.7% | -0.9% |
| Dinwiddie County | 28,001 | 27,926 | 27,859 | -0.5% | -0.2% |
| Essex County | 11,151 | 11,200 | 11,103 | -0.4% | -0.9% |
| Fairfax County | 1,081,726 | 1,134,423 | 1,137,538 | 5.2% | 0.3% |
| Fauquier County | 65,203 | 67,233 | 68,248 | 4.7% | 1.5% |
| Floyd County | 15,279 | 15,528 | 15,578 | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Fluvanna County | 25,691 | 25,916 | 26,092 | 1.6% | 0.7% |
| Franklin County | 56,159 | 56,388 | 56,358 | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Frederick County | 78,305 | 81,257 | 82,377 | 5.2% | 1.4% |
| Giles County | 17,286 | 16,939 | 16,815 | -2.7% | -0.7% |
| Gloucester County | 36,858 | 36,848 | 37,141 | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Goochland County | 21,717 | 21,639 | 21,936 | 1.0% | 1.4% |
| Grayson County | 15,533 | 15,176 | 15,093 | -2.8% | -0.5% |
| Greene County | 18,403 | 18,839 | 19,031 | 3.4% | 1.0% |
| Greensville County | 12,243 | 11,761 | 11,681 | -4.6% | -0.7% |
| Halifax County | 36,241 | 35,389 | 35,200 | -2.9% | -0.5% |
| Hanover County | 99,863 | 101,198 | 101,918 | 2.1% | 0.7% |
| Henrico County | 306,935 | 318,943 | 321,924 | 4.9% | 0.9% |
| Henry County | 54,151 | 52,527 | 52,081 | -3.8% | -0.8% |
| Highland County | 2,321 | 2,219 | 2,248 | -3.1% | 1.3% |
| Isle of Wight County | 35,270 | 35,643 | 36,007 | 2.1% | 1.0% |
| James City County | 67,009 | 70,964 | 72,583 | 8.3% | 2.3% |
| King and Queen County | 6,945 | 7,118 | 7,175 | 3.3% | 0.8% |
| King George County | 23,584 | 24,950 | 25,371 | 7.6% | 1.7% |
| King William County | 15,935 | 16,103 | 16,186 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Lancaster County | 11,391 | 11,128 | 11,044 | -3.0% | -0.8% |
| Lee County | 25,587 | 25,202 | 24,951 | -2.5% | -1.0% |
| Loudoun County | 312,311 | 350,959 | 363,050 | 16.2% | 3.4% |
| Louisa County | 33,153 | 34,004 | 34,348 | 3.6% | 1.0% |
| Lunenburg County | 12,914 | 12,498 | 12,466 | -3.5% | -0.3% |
| Madison County | 13,308 | 13,187 | 13,157 | -1.1% | -0.2% |
| Mathews County | 8,978 | 8,922 | 8,836 | -1.6% | -1.0% |
| Mecklenburg County | 32,727 | 31,336 | 31,192 | -4.7% | -0.5% |
| Middlesex County | 10,959 | 10,758 | 10,696 | -2.4% | -0.6% |
| Montgomery County | 94,392 | 96,696 | 97,244 | 3.0% | 0.6% |
| Nelson County | 15,020 | 14,789 | 14,850 | -1.1% | 0.4% |
| New Kent County | 18,429 | 19,482 | 20,021 | 8.6% | 2.8% |
| Northampton County | 12,389 | 12,082 | 12,121 | -2.2% | 0.3% |
| Northumberland County | 12,330 | 12,231 | 12,251 | -0.6% | 0.2% |
| Nottoway County | 15,853 | 15,701 | 15,579 | -1.7% | -0.8% |
| Orange County | 33,481 | 34,623 | 35,026 | 4.6% | 1.2% |
| Page County | 24,042 | 23,769 | 23,848 | -0.8% | 0.3% |
| Patrick County | 18,490 | 18,316 | 18,264 | -1.2% | -0.3% |
| Pittsylvania County | 63,506 | 62,547 | 62,383 | -1.8% | -0.3% |
| Powhatan County | 28,046 | 28,241 | 28,449 | 1.4% | 0.7% |
| Prince Edward County | 23,368 | 22,820 | 23,074 | -1.3% | 1.1% |
| Prince George County | 35,725 | 37,303 | 37,333 | 4.5% | 0.1% |
| Prince William County | 402,002 | 440,166 | 446,094 | 11.0% | 1.3% |
| Pulaski County | 34,872 | 34,512 | 34,322 | -1.6% | -0.6% |
| Rappahannock County | 7,373 | 7,453 | 7,361 | -0.2% | -1.2% |
| Richmond County | 9,254 | 8,951 | 8,902 | -3.8% | -0.5% |
| Roanoke County | 92,376 | 93,694 | 93,785 | 1.5% | 0.1% |
| Rockbridge County | 22,307 | 22,334 | 22,327 | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Rockingham County | 76,314 | 77,715 | 78,171 | 2.4% | 0.6% |
| Russell County | 28,897 | 28,274 | 28,023 | -3.0% | -0.9% |
| Scott County | 23,177 | 22,632 | 22,384 | -3.4% | -1.1% |
| Shenandoah County | 41,993 | 42,729 | 43,021 | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| Smyth County | 32,208 | 31,741 | 31,555 | -2.0% | -0.6% |
| Southampton County | 18,570 | 18,186 | 18,059 | -2.8% | -0.7% |
| Spotsylvania County | 122,397 | 127,696 | 129,188 | 5.5% | 1.2% |
| Stafford County | 128,961 | 136,988 | 139,992 | 8.6% | 2.2% |
| Surry County | 7,058 | 6,794 | 6,790 | -3.8% | -0.1% |
| Sussex County | 12,087 | 11,808 | 11,767 | -2.6% | -0.3% |
| Tazewell County | 45,078 | 44,107 | 43,452 | -3.6% | -1.5% |
| Warren County | 37,575 | 38,607 | 38,987 | 3.8% | 1.0% |
| Washington County | 54,876 | 54,763 | 54,729 | -0.3% | -0.1% |
| Westmoreland County | 17,454 | 17,562 | 17,477 | 0.1% | -0.5% |
| Wise County | 41,452 | 40,620 | 39,935 | -3.7% | -1.7% |
| Wythe County | 29,235 | 29,339 | 29,121 | -0.4% | -0.7% |
| York County | 65,464 | 65,944 | 66,342 | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Alexandria city | 139,966 | 149,312 | 150,575 | 7.6% | 0.8% |
| Bristol city | 17,835 | 17,436 | 17,184 | -3.7% | -1.4% |
| Buena Vista city | 6,650 | 6,675 | 6,603 | -0.7% | -1.1% |
| Charlottesville city | 43,475 | 45,093 | 45,593 | 4.9% | 1.1% |
| Chesapeake city | 222,209 | 230,431 | 233,371 | 5.0% | 1.3% |
| Colonial Heights city | 17,411 | 17,708 | 17,731 | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| Covington city | 5,961 | 5,833 | 5,802 | -2.7% | -0.5% |
| Danville city | 43,055 | 42,770 | 42,444 | -1.4% | -0.8% |
| Emporia city | 5,927 | 5,565 | 5,462 | -7.8% | -1.9% |
| Fairfax city | 22,565 | 24,194 | 24,483 | 8.5% | 1.2% |
| Falls Church city | 12,332 | 13,469 | 13,601 | 10.3% | 1.0% |
| Franklin city | 8,582 | 8,632 | 8,526 | -0.7% | -1.2% |
| Fredericksburg city | 24,286 | 27,862 | 28,350 | 16.7% | 1.8% |
| Galax city | 7,042 | 7,014 | 7,014 | -0.4% | 0.0% |
| Hampton city | 137,436 | 136,948 | 136,879 | -0.4% | -0.1% |
| Harrisonburg city | 48,914 | 51,518 | 52,478 | 7.3% | 1.9% |
| Hopewell city | 22,591 | 22,209 | 22,196 | -1.7% | -0.1% |
| Lexington city | 7,042 | 7,232 | 7,311 | 3.8% | 1.1% |
| Lynchburg city | 75,568 | 78,710 | 79,047 | 4.6% | 0.4% |
| Manassas city | 37,821 | 41,725 | 42,081 | 11.3% | 0.9% |
| Manassas Park city | 14,273 | 15,409 | 15,174 | 6.3% | -1.5% |
| Martinsville city | 13,821 | 13,748 | 13,711 | -0.8% | -0.3% |
| Newport News city | 180,719 | 182,015 | 182,965 | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Norfolk city | 242,803 | 245,480 | 245,428 | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| Norton city | 3,958 | 4,017 | 4,031 | 1.8% | 0.3% |
| Petersburg city | 32,420 | 32,593 | 32,701 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Poquoson city | 12,150 | 12,125 | 12,048 | -0.8% | -0.6% |
| Portsmouth city | 95,535 | 96,174 | 96,004 | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Radford city | 16,408 | 17,277 | 17,646 | 7.5% | 2.1% |
| Richmond city | 204,214 | 214,704 | 217,853 | 6.7% | 1.5% |
| Roanoke city | 97,032 | 98,815 | 99,428 | 2.5% | 0.6% |
| Salem city | 24,802 | 25,282 | 25,483 | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Staunton city | 23,746 | 24,318 | 24,538 | 3.3% | 0.9% |
| Suffolk city | 84,585 | 85,749 | 86,806 | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Virginia Beach city | 437,994 | 449,308 | 450,980 | 3.0% | 0.4% |
| Waynesboro city | 21,006 | 21,250 | 21,366 | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Williamsburg city | 14,068 | 14,745 | 14,691 | 4.4% | -0.4% |
| Winchester city | 26,203 | 27,497 | 27,543 | 5.1% | 0.2% |
Richmond metro area
| Area | 2010 census | 2013 estimate | 2014 estimate | Change, 2010-14 | Change, 2013-14 |
| Richmond metro area | 1,208,101 | 1,246,867 | 1,260,029 | 4.3% | 1.1% |
| New Kent County | 18,429 | 19,482 | 20,021 | 8.6% | 2.8% |
| Richmond city | 204,214 | 214,704 | 217,853 | 6.7% | 1.5% |
| Chesterfield County | 316,236 | 327,892 | 332,499 | 5.1% | 1.4% |
| Henrico County | 306,935 | 318,943 | 321,924 | 4.9% | 0.9% |
| Prince George County | 35,725 | 37,303 | 37,333 | 4.5% | 0.1% |
| Caroline County | 28,545 | 29,285 | 29,778 | 4.3% | 1.7% |
| Hanover County | 99,863 | 101,198 | 101,918 | 2.1% | 0.7% |
| Colonial Heights city | 17,411 | 17,708 | 17,731 | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| King William County | 15,935 | 16,103 | 16,186 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Powhatan County | 28,046 | 28,241 | 28,449 | 1.4% | 0.7% |
| Amelia County | 12,690 | 12,727 | 12,855 | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Goochland County | 21,717 | 21,639 | 21,936 | 1.0% | 1.4% |
| Petersburg city | 32,420 | 32,593 | 32,701 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Dinwiddie County | 28,001 | 27,926 | 27,859 | -0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hopewell city | 22,591 | 22,209 | 22,196 | -1.7% | -0.1% |
| Sussex County | 12,087 | 11,808 | 11,767 | -2.6% | -0.3% |
| Charles City County | 7,256 | 7,106 | 7,023 | -3.2% | -1.2% |
Washington, D.C., metro area
| Area | 2010 census | 2013 estimate | 2014 estimate | Change, 2010-14 | Change, 2013-14 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, metro area | 4,431,070 | 4,705,995 | 4,759,615 | 7.4% | 1.1% |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 24,286 | 27,862 | 28,350 | 16.7% | 1.8% |
| Loudoun County, VA | 312,311 | 350,959 | 363,050 | 16.2% | 3.4% |
| Manassas city, VA | 37,821 | 41,725 | 42,081 | 11.3% | 0.9% |
| Prince William County, VA | 402,002 | 440,166 | 446,094 | 11.0% | 1.3% |
| Falls Church city, VA | 12,332 | 13,469 | 13,601 | 10.3% | 1.0% |
| District of Columbia, DC | 601,723 | 649,111 | 658,893 | 9.5% | 1.5% |
| Arlington County, VA | 207,627 | 226,012 | 226,908 | 9.3% | 0.4% |
| Stafford County, VA | 128,961 | 136,988 | 139,992 | 8.6% | 2.2% |
| Fairfax city, VA | 22,565 | 24,194 | 24,483 | 8.5% | 1.2% |
| Alexandria city, VA | 139,966 | 149,312 | 150,575 | 7.6% | 0.8% |
| Manassas Park city, VA | 14,273 | 15,409 | 15,174 | 6.3% | -1.5% |
| Charles County, MD | 146,551 | 152,900 | 154,747 | 5.6% | 1.2% |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 122,397 | 127,696 | 129,188 | 5.5% | 1.2% |
| Culpeper County, VA | 46,689 | 48,488 | 49,166 | 5.3% | 1.4% |
| Fairfax County, VA | 1,081,726 | 1,134,423 | 1,137,538 | 5.2% | 0.3% |
| Prince George’s County, MD | 863,420 | 894,199 | 904,430 | 4.7% | 1.1% |
| Fauquier County, VA | 65,203 | 67,233 | 68,248 | 4.7% | 1.5% |
| Jefferson County, WV | 53,498 | 54,961 | 55,713 | 4.1% | 1.4% |
| Warren County, VA | 37,575 | 38,607 | 38,987 | 3.8% | 1.0% |
| Clarke County, VA | 14,034 | 14,348 | 14,423 | 2.8% | 0.5% |
| Calvert County, MD | 88,737 | 90,480 | 90,613 | 2.1% | 0.1% |
| Rappahannock County, VA | 7,373 | 7,453 | 7,361 | -0.2% | -1.2% |
By Margo Maier/Capital News Service
Capital News Service is a flagship program of the VCU’s Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students participating in the program provide state government coverage for Virginia’s community newspapers and other media outlets, under the supervision of Associate Professor Jeff South.
