Emporia, VA Demographics

A map of Emporia's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	3,569	3,631	64.3%	63.0%
White	1,017	1,529	18.3%	26.5%
Multiracial	493	163	8.9%	2.8%
Hispanic	436	345	7.9%	6.0%
Asian	32	50	0.6%	0.9%
Native American/Other	0	48	0.0%	0.8%

Emporia, Virginia has an estimated population of 5,547, a decrease from the 5,766 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 64.3% Black, 18.3% White, 8.9% Multiracial, 7.9% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Emporia, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Emporia has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Emporia, that probability was 52.9% in 2020 and 53.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Emporia is ranked the 194th most populous place in Virginia, out of 688 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Emporia was ranked the 188th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Emporia's White Population

1,017 residents of Emporia, or 18.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Emporia is significantly lower than in Virginia overall, where 58.4% of the population is White. Emporia ranks 627th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Emporia's White population has declined by an estimated 33.5%. White residents' share of Emporia's population has decreased from 26.5% to 18.3%.

Emporia is more White than neighboring Seaboard (10.1% White), and Garysburg (0% White). Emporia is less White than neighboring Jarratt (58.7% White), Gaston (36.5% White), and Roanoke Rapids (50.1% White).

Emporia's Black Population

3,569 residents of Emporia, or 64.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Emporia is significantly higher than in Virginia overall, where 18.3% of the population is Black. Emporia ranks 21st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Emporia's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.7%. Black residents' share of Emporia's population has increased from 63.0% to 64.3%.

Emporia is more Black than neighboring Jarratt (40% Black), Gaston (58.4% Black), and Roanoke Rapids (37% Black). Emporia is less Black than neighboring Seaboard (85.6% Black), and Garysburg (94.6% Black).

Emporia's Asian Population

32 residents of Emporia, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Emporia is lower than in Virginia overall, where 6.9% of the population is Asian. Emporia ranks 336th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Emporia's Asian population has declined by an estimated 36.0%. Asian residents' share of Emporia's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Emporia is more Asian than neighboring Jarratt (0% Asian), Seaboard (0% Asian), Gaston (0.5% Asian), and Garysburg (0% Asian). Emporia is less Asian than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (1.1% Asian).

Emporia's Hispanic Population

436 residents of Emporia, or 7.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Emporia is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Emporia ranks 287th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Emporia's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 26.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Emporia's population has increased from 6.0% to 7.9%.

Emporia is more Hispanic than neighboring Jarratt (0.4% Hispanic), Seaboard (0.3% Hispanic), Gaston (1.4% Hispanic), Garysburg (0.5% Hispanic), and Roanoke Rapids (6.1% Hispanic).

Emporia's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Emporia, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Emporia is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Emporia ranks 234th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Emporia's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Emporia's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.0%.

Emporia is less Native American/Other than neighboring Gaston (1% Native American/Other), Garysburg (0.5% Native American/Other), and Roanoke Rapids (0.5% Native American/Other).

Emporia's Multiracial Population

493 residents of Emporia, or 8.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Emporia is slightly higher than in Virginia overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Emporia ranks 516th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Emporia's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 202.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Emporia's population has increased from 2.8% to 8.9%.

Emporia is more Multiracial than neighboring Jarratt (0.8% Multiracial), Seaboard (3.9% Multiracial), Gaston (2.1% Multiracial), Garysburg (4.4% Multiracial), and Roanoke Rapids (5.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.