Gretna: Demographics & People
About 1,452 people live in Gretna, in 638 households. Population grew 13.9% from 1,275 (2022) to 1,452 (2024). Median age 47.8 years. (10.0y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 54% White (non-Hispanic) and 26% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.53). 48% of households are family-led. County is gaining 392 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 52% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 127 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 13.9% from 1,275 (2022) to 1,452 (2024) — about 23.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,660 (extrapolated at 6.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,966.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 60,501 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 13.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,275 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,452 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 1,452 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,966 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 47.8y is 8.9 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 47.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,452 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 321 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 248.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 391.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 492 |
| Population under 18 | 321 |
| Median age | 47.8 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 1,452 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.53 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 758 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 391 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 99 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 52.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 60.7% |
| Black population | 26.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 18.7% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 53.7% (at Virginia median) |
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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 1,296 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 109 |
| Share born in this state | 89.3% |
| Share born in another state | 10.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 7.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 8 |
| From Europe | 8 |
Households & Family Composition
638 households. Averaging 1.9 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 48% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 307 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 195 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 307 |
| Married couples with children | 47 |
| Single-parent households | 20 |
| Average household size | 1.95 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 17 |
| Family households | 305 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 47.8% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 638 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. 21.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 392 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 21.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 52,093 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 51,701 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 392 |
| 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 | 138 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 12.1% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 87 residents live in group quarters (6.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 87 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51143 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 143 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Pittsylvania |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 19.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 16.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 22.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51143 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Pittsylvania County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,533 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51143 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Pittsylvania County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 48.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 42.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 31.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 60,354 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,452, booming, established, lower-income, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,452 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Pittsylvania County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade