Independent city · code 51520
Bristol cityVirginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia that was founded in 1856.
- Founded1856
- Named forBristol, South West England
- Land area13 sq mi + 0.1 sq mi water
- Population17,219 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped13,598 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Bristol 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
Founded in 1856
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Bristol became an independent city, 2nd class, from Washington in 1902. In 1942, Bristol's status changed from 2nd class to 1st class when it gained territory from Washington. Bristol gained additional territory from Washington in 1973.
- 1902Independent city separated Bristol made an independent city, 2d class, from Washington. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1942Gained territory Independent city of Bristol gained from Washington; Bristol's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. · Bristol Community Development and Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Dodson, Cities, "Bristol"
- 1973Gained territory Independent city of Bristol gained from Washington. · Bristol Community Development and Planning Dept., email, February 2003
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Bristol
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 13,598 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, 10,327 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
Bristol 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
Bristol city'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 Bristol city.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Bristol city 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 Bristol city
- When was Bristol city founded?
- Bristol city was founded in 1856, and named after Bristol, South West England.
- Is there an online parcel map for Bristol city?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 13,598 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Bristol city's boundary or name changed?
- Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 3 changes for Bristol city. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 3 later changes, chiefly involving Washington County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Bristol city yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby