Drakes Branch: Demographics & People
Census counts 435 people in Drakes Branch, in 203 households. Population shrank 8.4% from 475 (2022) to 435 (2024). Median age 52.2 years. (7.7y older than Charlotte County; 14.4y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 13% of the population. Population is 60% White (non-Hispanic) and 36% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.50). 49% of households are family-led. County is gaining 219 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 51% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 78 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 8.4% from 475 (2022) to 435 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~399 (extrapolated at -4.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 354.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 11,529 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -8.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 475 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 435 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 435 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 354 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 52.2y is 13.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 13% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 52.2 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 13.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 435 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 58 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 105.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 139.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 133 |
| Population under 18 | 58 |
| Median age | 52.2 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 435 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.50 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 247 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 210 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 49.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 53.9% |
| Black population | 35.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.7% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 60.0% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%.
| Residents born in this state | 364 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 69 |
| Share born in this state | 83.7% |
| Share born in another state | 16.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 15.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 72 |
Households & Family Composition
203 households. Averaging 2.0 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 49% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 130 families, 2% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 55 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 130 |
| Married couples with children | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.02 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 24.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 4 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 2 |
| Family households | 100 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 49.3% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 203 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 6.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 219 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 6.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 9,933 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 9,714 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 219 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 77 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 15.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-05 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Charlotte |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 12.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 23.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51037 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Charlotte County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 365 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51037 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Charlotte County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 44.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 38.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 17.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 11,880 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 13.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 435, shrinking, retirement community, lower-income, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 435 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Charlotte County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade