Drakes Branch is a town in Charlotte County, Virginia, United States. The population was 530 at the 2010 census.^[5]

Drakes Branch is located southeast of the center of Charlotte County at 36°59′35″N 78°36′6″W (36.992958, −78.601714).^[6] Virginia State Route 47 passes through the town, leading north 5 miles (8 km) to Charlotte Court House, the county seat, and southeast 7 miles (11 km) to U.S. Route 15. Virginia State Route 59 intersects Route 47 in the north part of town and leads northeast 8 miles (13 km) to Keysville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Drakes Branch has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.7 km²), all of it land.^[5]

At the 2000 census there were 504 people, 231 households, and 134 families living in the town. The population density was 121.8 people per square mile (47.0/km²). There were 262 housing units at an average density of 63.3 per square mile (24.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.33% White, 40.08% African American, 0.20% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98%.^[3]

Of the 231 households 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 35.5% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.81.

The age distribution was 20.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,583, and the median family income was $35,000. Males had a median income of $25,469 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,701. About 8.2% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.