Shipman: Demographics & People
About 472 people live in Shipman, in 181 households. Population shrank 3.5% from 489 (2022) to 472 (2024). Median age 42.1 years. (9.2y younger than Nelson County; 4.3y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 29% of the population. Population is 56% White (non-Hispanic) and 43% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.48). 50% of households are family-led. County is gaining 259 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 35% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 50% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 47 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 3.5% from 489 (2022) to 472 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~455 (extrapolated at -1.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 434.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 14,775 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -3.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 489 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 472 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 472 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 434 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.1y is 3.2 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 29% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.1 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 29.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 472 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 139 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 59.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 262.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 12 |
| Population under 18 | 139 |
| Median age | 42.1 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 472 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.48 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 318 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 171 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 12 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 48.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 63.5% |
| Black population | 42.6% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 55.5% (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).
| Residents born in this state | 255 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 72 |
| Share born in this state | 54.0% |
| Share born in another state | 46.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 15.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 30.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 107 |
Households & Family Composition
181 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 50% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 120 families, 44% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 136 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 120 |
| Married couples with children | 53 |
| Single-parent households | 10 |
| Average household size | 2.34 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 63 |
| Family households | 90 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 49.7% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 181 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. 5.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 259 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 5.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 13,970 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 13,711 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 259 |
| 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 | 48 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.9% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-05 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51125 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 125 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Nelson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 18.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 13.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 25.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51125 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Nelson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 390 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51125 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Nelson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 57.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 14,930 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 29.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 472, declining, established, working-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 472 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Nelson County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade