Developed lands range from golf courses and city parks to suburban and urban areas with buildings and paved surfaces. In 2020, nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) consisted of developed lands covering approximately 12% of the state (USGS 2024). These areas are primarily found in and around Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach. Urban development is also found at smaller scales in larger cities in the state such as Roanoke, Staunton and Lynchburg. Commercial and residential development, as well as energy infrastructure, continues to be driven by population growth within the state, with the human population numbering 8.6 million people in 2020 (U.S. Census Bureau).
Breeding birds such as Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) can thrive in environments with varying degrees of development. Even some Species of Greatest Conservation Need, such as Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), can inhabit urban areas.
Literature Cited
U.S. Census Bureau, Quick Facts. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/VA,US/PST045225, referenced July 2, 2026
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (2024). Annual NLCD collection 1 science products (ver. 1.1, June 2025): U.S. Geological Survey data release. Reston, VA, USA. https://doi.org/10.5066/P94UXNTS.
