County · code 51163
Rockbridge CountyVirginia
Rockbridge County is in Virginia, with its seat in Lexington, and was created in 1778.
- Founded1778
- County seatLexington
- Named forNatural Bridge
- Land area597 sq mi + 3.4 sq mi water
- Population22,650 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped27,490 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Rockbridge 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 1778 from Augusta County and Botetourt County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Rockbridge County was formed from Augusta and Botetourt counties in 1778 and is named after Natural Bridge. The county lost territory to Botetourt in 1785 but regained it in 1888.
- 1778Rockbridge County created Rockbridge created from Augusta and Botetourt. · Hening, 9:420-424
- c. 1785
- 1888Gained territory Rockbridge gained from Botetourt. · Va. Acts 1887-1888, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 488, secs. 1, 5/pp. 556-557
- 1902Lost territory Rockbridge lost to creation of Buena Vista as an independent city, 2d class. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1966Lost territory Rockbridge lost to creation of Lexington as an independent city, 2d class. · Va. Sec. Rpt., 526
- 1983Lost territory Rockbridge lost to the independent city of Buena Vista. · Buena Vista City Manager, correspondence, January 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 Rockbridge
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 27,490 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, 13,537 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
Rockbridge 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
Zoning and code
GIS and maps
County government
- County government
The official website of Rockbridge County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County
- When was Rockbridge County founded?
- Rockbridge County was founded in 1778, formed from Augusta County and Botetourt County, and named after Natural Bridge.
- What is the county seat of Rockbridge County?
- The county seat of Rockbridge County is Lexington.
- Is there an online parcel map for Rockbridge County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 27,490 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Rockbridge County's boundary or name changed?
- Rockbridge County was created in 1778 from Augusta County and Botetourt County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Botetourt County.
- Who issues building permits in Rockbridge County?
- The county's page on building permits: Building Department. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Rockbridge County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby