County · code 51115
Mathews CountyVirginia
Mathews County is a county in Virginia, formed in 1791 from Gloucester County with its seat at Mathews.
- Founded1791
- County seatMathews
- Named forThomas Mathews
- Land area86 sq mi + 166 sq mi water
- Population8,533 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped12,162 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Mathews 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 1791 from Gloucester County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Mathews County was created on May 1, 1791, from Gloucester County and named after Thomas Mathews.
- 1791
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Mathews
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 12,162 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, 6,382 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
Mathews 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.
Records
- Assessor and property records
Commissioner of Revenue
- Clerk of court: deeds and plats
Clerk of Circuit Court
Permits
- Health department: septic and well
Health & Welfare Services
- Wetlands Permit
- Building Permits
Zoning and code
County government
- County government
The official website of Mathews County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Mathews 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 Mathews County
- When was Mathews County founded?
- Mathews County was founded in 1791, formed from Gloucester County, and named after Thomas Mathews.
- What is the county seat of Mathews County?
- The county seat of Mathews County is Mathews.
- Is there an online parcel map for Mathews County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 12,162 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Mathews County's boundary or name changed?
- Mathews County was created in 1791 from Gloucester County. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records no boundary change since.
- Who issues building permits in Mathews County?
- The county's page on building permits: Wetlands Permit. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Mathews County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health & Welfare Services.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Mathews County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby