County · code 51143
Pittsylvania CountyVirginia
Pittsylvania County is a county in Virginia with its seat in Chatham. The county was formed on June 1, 1767, from Halifax County.
- Founded1767
- County seatChatham
- Named forWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
- Land area969 sq mi + 9.2 sq mi water
- Population60,501 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped61,062 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Pittsylvania 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 1767 from Halifax County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Pittsylvania County was named after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. In 1776, the county lost territory to the creation of Henry County. Starting in 1902, Pittsylvania County lost land to the independent city of Danville through multiple boundary adjustments over several decades.
- 1767
- 1776
- 1902Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to creation of Danville as an independent city, 1st class. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1907Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Bain, Annexation, [240]; Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990
- 1933Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243]
Show all 16 changes
- 1767
- 1776
- 1902Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to creation of Danville as an independent city, 1st class. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1907Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Bain, Annexation, [240]; Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990
- 1933Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243]
- 1947Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [244]
- 1951Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [245]
- 1956Lost territory Pittsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [246]
- 1960Lost territory Pittsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Danville. · Bain, Annexation, [246]
- 1963Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247]
- c. 1964Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division., correspondence, February 1990
- c. 1971Lost territory Pittsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990
- c. 1973Lost territory Pittsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990
- c. 1974Lost territory Pittsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990
- c. 1978Lost territory Pittsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990
- 1988Lost territory Pittsylvania lost to the independent city of Danville. · Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Danville Dept. of Community Development, correspondence, December 2002; 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 Pittsylvania
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 61,062 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, 33,631 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
Pittsylvania 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 the Revenue
- Clerk of court: deeds and plats
Clerk of Circuit Court
Permits
Zoning and code
GIS and maps
County government
- County government
The official website of Pittsylvania County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania County
- When was Pittsylvania County founded?
- Pittsylvania County was founded in 1767, formed from Halifax County, and named after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham.
- What is the county seat of Pittsylvania County?
- The county seat of Pittsylvania County is Chatham.
- Is there an online parcel map for Pittsylvania County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 61,062 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Pittsylvania County's boundary or name changed?
- Pittsylvania County was created in 1767 from Halifax County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 15 later changes, chiefly involving Henry County.
- Who issues building permits in Pittsylvania County?
- The county's page on building permits: Gas Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Pittsylvania County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby