County · code 51009
Amherst CountyVirginia
Amherst County is in Virginia, with its seat in Amherst. It was formed in 1761 and covers 474 square miles.
- Founded1761
- County seatAmherst
- Named forJeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst
- Land area474 sq mi + 5 sq mi water
- Population31,307 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped26,213 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Amherst on the map of Virginia
Virginia has 133 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1761 from Albemarle County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Amherst County was created from Albemarle County in 1761 and named after Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst. In 1770, islands in the Fluvanna River were assigned to the county. In 1808, Amherst County lost territory to the creation of Nelson County.
- 1761
- 1770Changed Islands in the Fluvanna River were assigned to Amherst. · Hening, 8:395-398
- 1808
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Amherst
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 26,213 parcels from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 16,796 in all from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Dept of Emergency Management (VDEM; VGIN moved from VITA to VDEM).
checked 14 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Amherst by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Amherst County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of Amherst County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Amherst County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Amherst County
- When was Amherst County founded?
- Amherst County was founded in 1761, formed from Albemarle County, and named after Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst.
- What is the county seat of Amherst County?
- The county seat of Amherst County is Amherst.
- Is there an online parcel map for Amherst County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 26,213 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Amherst County's boundary or name changed?
- Amherst County was created in 1761 from Albemarle County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 2 later changes, chiefly involving Nelson County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Amherst County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby