When was Northumberland County founded?

Northumberland County was founded in 1648, and named after Northumberland.

What is the county seat of Northumberland County?

The county seat of Northumberland County is Heathsville.

Is there an online parcel map for Northumberland County?

Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 22,160 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.

Has Northumberland County's boundary or name changed?

Northumberland County was created in 1648. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 2 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Lancaster County and Westmoreland County.

Who issues building permits in Northumberland County?

The county's page on building permits: Forms and Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.

Is my lot in a flood zone?

We do not have flood maps for Northumberland County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Northumberland County, Virginia: parcels, history and offices

Where it is

Northumberland on the map of Virginia

Virginia has 133 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.

Counties of Virginia · Northumberland highlighted

History

Founded in 1648

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Northumberland County was created in 1648 from York County and named after Northumberland. The county lost territory in 1651 with the creation of Lancaster County and again in 1653 with the creation of Westmoreland County.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

c. 1648
Northumberland County created Northumberland created from York.
from York
31 December 1648 · Hening, 1:294n., 352, 362; Robinson, 63, 86
c. 1649
Boundary clarified Northumberland boundaries clarified (no change).
no change
31 December 1649 · Hening, 1:362
c. 1651
Lost territory Northumberland lost to creation of Lancaster.
to Lancaster
31 December 1651 · Hening, 1:374; Robinson, 57, 82-83
c. 1653
Lost territory Northumberland lost to creation of Westmoreland.
to Westmoreland
31 December 1653 · Hening, 1:381; Robinson, 71

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Northumberland

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Parcels Good enough

Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 22,160 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, 11,136 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

Northumberland by the Census

Population

11,839 2020 Census count

Housing units

8,947 2020 Census count

Land area

191 square miles

Water area

94 square miles · 33% of the county, including large bodies of water

People per sq mi

62 population ÷ land area

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.

Permits

Forms and Permitsfrom co.northumberland.va.us
Forms & Permitsfrom co.northumberland.va.us

Zoning and code

Planning and zoning 804-580-8910from co.northumberland.va.us · checked 13 October 2026
County Ordinancesfrom co.northumberland.va.us
Building & Zoning Formsfrom co.northumberland.va.us

County government

County government
The official website of Northumberland County.
co.northumberland.va.us

See your own lot on these maps

Open Northumberland 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.

Open the free map no sign-in Pro early access

Questions

Common questions about Northumberland County

When was Northumberland County founded?: Northumberland County was founded in 1648, and named after Northumberland.
What is the county seat of Northumberland County?: The county seat of Northumberland County is Heathsville.
Is there an online parcel map for Northumberland County?: Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 22,160 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Northumberland County's boundary or name changed?: Northumberland County was created in 1648. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 2 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Lancaster County and Westmoreland County.
Who issues building permits in Northumberland County?: The county's page on building permits: Forms and Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
Is my lot in a flood zone?: We do not have flood maps for Northumberland County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby

Northumberland CountyVirginia