Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Virginia

Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Virginia

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Virginia using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Buena Vista city

- Population: 6,484
- Born in Virginia: 4,736 (73.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,669 (25.7% of population)
--- Midwest (1.4%), Northeast (4.5%), South (8.5%), West (11.4%)
- Born in another country: 68 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Cumberland County

- Population: 9,824
- Born in Virginia: 7,182 (73.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,448 (24.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.5%), Northeast (10.1%), South (9.2%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 100 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bryan Pilati // Wikimedia Commons

#28. King William County

- Population: 16,688
- Born in Virginia: 12,328 (73.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,913 (23.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (7.9%), South (10.0%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 339 (2.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Betcantrell // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Norton city

- Population: 3,970
- Born in Virginia: 2,951 (74.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 833 (21.0% of population)
--- Midwest (4.5%), Northeast (1.9%), South (14.2%), West (0.4%)
- Born in another country: 146 (3.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (3.7%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Wyatt Greene // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Appomattox County

- Population: 15,707
- Born in Virginia: 11,680 (74.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,803 (24.2% of population)
--- Midwest (2.8%), Northeast (8.6%), South (9.3%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: 193 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Madison County

- Population: 13,170
- Born in Virginia: 9,811 (74.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,882 (21.9% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (7.9%), South (8.8%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 390 (3.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.8%), Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.1%)

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Ser Amantio di Nicolao // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Charlotte County

- Population: 12,040
- Born in Virginia: 9,007 (74.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,919 (24.2% of population)
--- Midwest (1.7%), Northeast (10.6%), South (11.2%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 93 (0.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Craig County

- Population: 5,110
- Born in Virginia: 3,829 (74.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,269 (24.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.5%), Northeast (4.1%), South (15.1%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 12 (0.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Franklin city

- Population: 8,147
- Born in Virginia: 6,114 (75.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,890 (23.2% of population)
--- Midwest (2.0%), Northeast (3.7%), South (16.5%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 111 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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DanTD // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Emporia city

- Population: 5,442
- Born in Virginia: 4,088 (75.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,154 (21.2% of population)
--- Midwest (1.2%), Northeast (3.4%), South (15.6%), West (0.3%)
- Born in another country: 150 (2.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (2.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Bath County

- Population: 4,307
- Born in Virginia: 3,242 (75.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 974 (22.6% of population)
--- Midwest (0.8%), Northeast (7.8%), South (6.3%), West (7.6%)
- Born in another country: 91 (2.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Ser Amantio di Nicolao // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Surry County

- Population: 6,523
- Born in Virginia: 4,912 (75.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,523 (23.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.1%), Northeast (7.9%), South (9.0%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 71 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Taber Andrew Bain // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Amherst County

- Population: 31,775
- Born in Virginia: 24,084 (75.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,963 (21.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.6%), Northeast (6.4%), South (10.7%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 570 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Essex County

- Population: 10,998
- Born in Virginia: 8,378 (76.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,429 (22.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.0%), Northeast (9.7%), South (10.2%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 171 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.5%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Brunswick County

- Population: 16,520
- Born in Virginia: 12,630 (76.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,428 (20.8% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (6.1%), South (11.7%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 288 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Jarek Tuszyński // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Alleghany County

- Population: 15,157
- Born in Virginia: 11,602 (76.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,326 (21.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (3.3%), South (15.4%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 190 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Cecouchman // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Page County

- Population: 23,788
- Born in Virginia: 18,322 (77.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,984 (21.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (4.8%), South (10.4%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 388 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.1%)

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Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Buckingham County

- Population: 17,059
- Born in Virginia: 13,162 (77.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,558 (20.9% of population)
--- Midwest (1.8%), Northeast (7.8%), South (8.4%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 233 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Smyth County

- Population: 30,767
- Born in Virginia: 23,754 (77.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,460 (21.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.3%), Northeast (2.9%), South (14.7%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 429 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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vastateparksstaff // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Halifax County

- Population: 34,552
- Born in Virginia: 26,759 (77.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,913 (20.0% of population)
--- Midwest (2.6%), Northeast (5.5%), South (10.1%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 712 (2.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Nottoway County

- Population: 15,433
- Born in Virginia: 11,956 (77.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,768 (17.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.6%), Northeast (4.6%), South (9.5%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 589 (3.8% of population)
--- Africa (1.2%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (2.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Cecouchman // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Dinwiddie County

- Population: 28,485
- Born in Virginia: 22,083 (77.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,231 (18.4% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (5.2%), South (9.2%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 791 (2.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Wythe County

- Population: 28,844
- Born in Virginia: 22,411 (77.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,131 (21.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.5%), Northeast (3.9%), South (13.1%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 168 (0.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Pittsylvania County

- Population: 61,256
- Born in Virginia: 47,716 (77.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 12,320 (20.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.0%), Northeast (5.3%), South (11.3%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,076 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Puddin Tain // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Sussex County

- Population: 11,377
- Born in Virginia: 8,871 (78.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,195 (19.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.8%), Northeast (5.0%), South (9.6%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 263 (2.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Russell County

- Population: 27,141
- Born in Virginia: 21,242 (78.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,583 (20.6% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (1.1%), South (15.7%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 248 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Tburgess68 // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Buchanan County

- Population: 21,788
- Born in Virginia: 17,130 (78.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,209 (19.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (14.8%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 383 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.7%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Amelia County

- Population: 12,953
- Born in Virginia: 10,247 (79.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,485 (19.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (3.8%), South (8.3%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 149 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.8%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Nathan Yates // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Dickenson County

- Population: 14,756
- Born in Virginia: 11,825 (80.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,853 (19.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (1.3%), South (12.9%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 55 (0.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Charles City County

- Population: 7,014
- Born in Virginia: 5,695 (81.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,138 (16.2% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (4.6%), South (7.4%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 134 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.8%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)