Census Data for Norfolk
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Norfolk a population of 243,581 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Norfolk a population of 242,803 people.
The 2010 Census gave Virginia had a population of 8,001,024 people, meaning that Norfolk had 3.03% of the total population of Virginia - making it the state's 2nd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Norfolk has a total area of 96.4 square miles [249.5 km²]. Of this total, 54.1 square miles [140.2 km²] is land, with the balance (43.83%) being water (42.23 square miles [109.4 km²]).
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- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Norfolk, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Norfolk reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Norfolk might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 36° 55' 22" (or 36.92°)
- Lon: -76° 14' 40" (or -76.24°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Norfolk had 95,018 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 242,803 people, this averages 2.56 people per Housing Unit.
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- The 2010 Census shows Norfolk had a land area of 54.1 square miles [140.2 km²]. This translates to 986 Housing Units per square mile [380.8 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Norfolk had 94,416 Housing Units, a population of 234,403 people and a land area of 53.7 square miles [139.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.48 people per Housing Unit and 980 Housing Units per square mile [378.5 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Norfolk and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Norfolk, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Norfolk. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Norfolk or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Norfolk, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Norfolk.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 36.923015° (or 36°55'22" N)
- Lon: -76.244641° (or -76°14'40" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 36.885747° (or 36°53'8" N)
- Lon: -76.259900° (or -76°15'35" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2 miles to the north<4> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1498557) to Norfolk. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Norfolk. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 36.891259° (or 36°53'28" N)
- Lon: -76.261884° (or -76°15'42" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 2 miles to the northeast<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Norfolk. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Norfolk.
Miscellaneous Information for Norfolk ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either or the city of Norfolk:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Norfolk is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Norfolk.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Norfolk: www.norfolk.gov/
The official website for State of Virginia: https://www.virginia.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)