Washington DC History Resources

Matthew B. Gilmore

District of Columbia Population History

The District of Columbia’s population growth over the past decade reversed itself, dropping by 16,204 people, a 2.3% decline–dropping the District’s population below its 2017 point. In 2019, D.C.’s population increase had slowed dramatically, climbing by just 3,294 (under .5%) to 705,749 as of July 2019, a slowing trend begin in 2018. D.C.’s population had been growing since 2000, when it reversed a 50-year decline.

Source: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html

2019 United States Census update: D.C. population increase slows dramatically, climbing by just 3,294 (under .5%) to 705,749 as of July 2019. 

 

DCpopulation history2019.jpg

DC Population history 1800-2019

Click to access dcpopulation-history2019cropped.pdf

2018 United States Census update:
D.C. population surpasses 700,000. D.C.’s population is now 702,455 as of July 2018. This 1% increase represents a substantial slowing, which has averaged almost 2% (2011-2017–see below).

Census news release:  https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/estimates-national-state.html?CID=CBSM+POP18

DC Population 1800-2010

DC Population 1800-2010

Click here for PDF: DC Population 1800-2010

Chart with 2010-2015 population estimates from

DC population 1800-2015

DC population 1800-2015

dcpopulation-history2016DC population 1800-2015


DCpopulation history2017

DC population 1800-2017

DCpopulation history2017C

Projection to 2020


Racial composition of the population of the District of Columbia 1800-2010

Year Total white black free* slave* other**** AI/E/A A/PI Asian NH&OPI Two or more races
1800 14,093 10,066d 4,027 783 3,244    
1810 24,023* 16,079d 7,914 2,549 5,395d    
1820 33,039* 23,164* 10.425 4,048 6,377d    
1830 39,834* 27,563* 12,271 6,152 6,119    
1840 43,711*** 30,657d 13,054 8,360d 4,694    
1850 51,687 37,941 13,746 10,059 3,687    
1860 75,080 60,763 14,316 11,131 3,185 1    
1870 131,700 88,278 43,404   18    
1880 177,624 118,006 59,596   22    
1890 230,392 154,695 75,572   125    
1900 278,718 191,532 86,702   484    
1910 331,069* 236,128* 94,446*   495    
1920 437,571 326,860* 109,996   745    
1930 486,869 353,981** 132,068   820    
1940 663,091 474,326* 187,266   1,499    
1950 802,178* 517,865 280,803   3,510    
1960 763,956 345,263 411,737   6,956    
1970 756,510 209,272 537,712   9,526    
1980 638,333 171,796 448,229   1,031 6,636    
1990 606,900 179,667 399,604   1,559 11,233    
2000 572,059 176,101 343,312   21,950 1,713   15,189 348 13.446
2010 601,723 231,471 305,125     24,374 2,079   21,056 302 17,316
                       

Key:

AI/E/A = American Indian/Eskimo/Aleut

A/PI = Asian/Pacific Islander

NH&OPI = Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Notes/Sources:
Dodd, Donald B. [comp.] Historical statistics of the United States: Two centuries of the census.
1993
d DeBow, J.D.B Statistical view of the United States…. 1854
*Green, Constance. Washington.
**1960 census
***corrected addition by M B Gilmore

2010 data source:
Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010
2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File

© Matthew Gilmore, August 2014

dc-population-by-race-2

click here for PDF DC population by race 1800-2010 [PDF]

NOTE: Population figures are for the District of Columbia and do include Alexandria City/County up until the 1846 retrocession back to Virginia.

 

7 comments on “District of Columbia Population History

  1. Pingback: Latest D.C. Population Update – July 2015 | Washington DC History Resources

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  3. Pingback: DC Population increases; rate of growth slows–Census stats released Dec. 2016 | Washington DC History Resources

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