Lake Wilderness: Demographics & People
3,139 people call Lake Wilderness home, in 1,056 households. Population shrank 3.6% from 3,255 (2022) to 3,139 (2024). Median age 36.1 years. (2.5y younger than Spotsylvania County; 1.7y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 77% White (non-Hispanic) and 11% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.38). 76% of households are family-led. County is gaining 5,236 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 3.0 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 24% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 60 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 3.6% from 3,255 (2022) to 3,139 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,028 (extrapolated at -1.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,884.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 140,032 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -3.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,255 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,139 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 3,139 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 2,884 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 36.1y is 2.8 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 36.1 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 3,139 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 746 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 798.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,158.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 437 |
| Population under 18 | 746 |
| Median age | 36.1 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 3,139 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.38 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 2,523 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 423 |
| Asian residents | 56 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 256 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 37.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 77.4% |
| Asian population | 2.0% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 11.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 77.0% (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 (8)
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%. 6% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,693 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,233 |
| Share born in this state | 53.9% |
| Share born in another state | 46.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 39.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 6.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 173 |
| From Europe | 32 |
| From Africa | 33 |
Households & Family Composition
1,056 households. Averaging 3.1 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 76% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 831 families, 29% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 771 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 831 |
| Married couples with children | 239 |
| Single-parent households | 36 |
| Average household size | 3.07 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 141 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 52 |
| Family households | 807 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 76.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,056 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. 3.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 5,236 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 3.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 151,223 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 145,987 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 5,236 |
| 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 | 67 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 2.1% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-07 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51177 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 177 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Spotsylvania |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 12.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 14.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51177 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Spotsylvania County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,987 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51177 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Spotsylvania County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 55.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 45.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 13.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 136,215 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,139, declining, family-oriented, affluent, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,139 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Spotsylvania County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade