Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

City of Hopewell, Virginia

Quick answer: The City of Hopewell is an independent city in Virginia. Its estimated population in 2025 was 23,261, up 1.0% since 2020. It covers about 10 square miles of land.
Typeindependent city
Founded1914
Population, 2025 estimate23,261
Population, 2020 estimate23,012
Change 2020–20251.1%
Rank by population in Virginia75 of 133
Hopewell, VA, USA
Photo: olekinderhook · CC BY 3.0 (license), via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Overview

The City of Hopewell is one of Virginia's 38 independent cities. In Virginia, an independent city is not part of any county; it runs its own local government, courts and schools.[1] Its founding date is recorded as 1914.[2]

Population of Hopewell

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Hopewell at 23,261 in July 2025, up 1.0% from the April 2020 base of 23,031.[1] That made it 75th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 75th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 1,695 births and 1,856 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 161.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 256. Moves from abroad added 143.[1]

Geography

The City of Hopewell covers 10.4 square miles of land and 0.5 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 117th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 2,247 people per square mile in 2025, so it is one of the more densely settled places in the state. Its geographic center lies near 37.29° N, 77.30° W.[3]

The city borders Chesterfield County and Prince George County.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 3 named streams in the city.[5]

Frequently asked questions

Is Hopewell in a county?
No. Hopewell is an independent city, so it is not part of any county.

What is the population of the City of Hopewell?
About 23,261 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is the City of Hopewell?
About 10 square miles of land, plus 0.5 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.hopewellva.gov

Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.