County · code 51033
Caroline CountyVirginia
Caroline County is a county in Virginia established in 1728 with its seat in Bowling Green.
- Founded1728
- County seatBowling Green
- Named forCaroline of Ansbach
- Land area527 sq mi + 9.6 sq mi water
- Population30,887 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped24,021 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Caroline 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 1728 from Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Caroline County was created in 1728 from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named after Caroline of Ansbach. It gained territory from King and Queen County in 1742 and again in 1763.
- 1728Caroline County created Caroline created from Essex, King and Queen, and King William. · Winfree, 319-320
- 1742
- 1763
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Caroline
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 24,021 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, 16,361 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
Caroline 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
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
County government
- County government
The official website of Caroline County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Caroline 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 Caroline County
- When was Caroline County founded?
- Caroline County was founded in 1728, formed from Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County, and named after Caroline of Ansbach.
- What is the county seat of Caroline County?
- The county seat of Caroline County is Bowling Green.
- Is there an online parcel map for Caroline County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 24,021 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Caroline County's boundary or name changed?
- Caroline County was created in 1728 from Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 2 later changes, chiefly involving King and Queen County.
- Who issues building permits in Caroline County?
- The county's page on building permits: Building Permit (PDF). Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Caroline County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health department: septic and well.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Caroline County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby