The population and satets of Virginia State University is represented by a mix of races and ethnicities. There are 93.7% African American students, 2.99% White students, and 0.124% American Indian or Alaska Native and 0.498% Hispanic or Latino students, which is representative of the overall student body. This figure includes undergraduate and graduate students. The overall racial makeup of Masters Colleges and Universities is 52.6% White, 16.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13% Black or African American.
The Virginia State University City's demographic statistics provide interesting information on the community's age distribution. According to the 2010 census, 25.1% of households were headed by married couples. Another twenty-seven percent were headed by a single female. Overall, 28.2% of households were composed of non-families. Twenty-two percent were comprised of individuals, and 11.7% were headed by senior citizens. The average household size in Virginia State University City was 2.38 persons.
Petersburg is also important for its role in African-American history. Pocahontas Island, an ancient free-black settlement, and the establishment of a historically black college, Richard Bland College, in Ettrick, Chesterfield County, were all significant landmarks. In addition, two Baptist churches in Petersburg were founded in the late eighteenth century. These are among the country's oldest black congregations. Both churches were instrumental in the national Civil Rights Movement.
Petersburg is situated on the Appomattox River. The city has a population of 30,513 as of 2009. The majority of the city's population is African-American. It was an important port in the state's history, and its location was advantageous for the development of several industries, including tobacco, flour, and other agricultural products. Today, Petersburg is a thriving economic center in the area.