County · code 51095
James City CountyVirginia
James City County is a county in Virginia, founded in 1634, with its seat at Williamsburg.
- Founded1634
- County seatWilliamsburg
- Named forJames VI and I
- Land area142 sq mi + 37 sq mi water
- Population78,254 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped36,432 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
James City 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 1634
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
James City County was established in 1634 as one of Virginia's original eight shires. Over the next three centuries, the county lost territory to the creation of Surry County in 1652, Charles City County in 1721, and Williamsburg as an independent city starting in 1902, with additional boundary adjustments through 1964.
- c. 1634James City County created James City created as one of the original eight shires (counties). · Hening, 1:224; Tyler, 197-198
- 1767
- 1902Lost territory James City lost to creation of Williamsburg as an independent city, 2d class. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1942Lost territory James City lost to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243]
- 1964Lost territory James City lost to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247]
Show all 14 changes
- c. 1634James City County created James City created as one of the original eight shires (counties). · Hening, 1:224; Tyler, 197-198
- c. 1652
- c. 1721
- 1767
- 1769Boundary clarified Boundary between James City and York clarified (no change).with Yorkno change· Hening, 8:405-406
- 1770
- 1852Gained territory James City gained small area from York to accommodate local landowner. · Va. Acts 1852, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 41, sec. 1/p. 31
- 1880Gained territory James City gained remainder of Williamsburg from York. · Va. Acts 1879-1880, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 265, sec. 1/pp. 257-258
- 1902Lost territory James City lost to creation of Williamsburg as an independent city, 2d class. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1915Lost territory James City lost small area to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990
- 1924Lost territory James City lost small area to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [242]
- 1942Lost territory James City lost to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243]
- 1964Lost territory James City lost to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247]
- 1983Lost territory James City lost to the independent city of Williamsburg. · Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970-Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in James City
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 36,432 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, 45,564 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
James City 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
James City 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 James City County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open James City 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 James City County
- When was James City County founded?
- James City County was founded in 1634, and named after James VI and I.
- What is the county seat of James City County?
- The county seat of James City County is Williamsburg.
- Is there an online parcel map for James City County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 36,432 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has James City County's boundary or name changed?
- James City County was created in 1634. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 12 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving York County, Charles City and New Kent County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for James City County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby