County · code 51165
Rockingham CountyVirginia
Rockingham County is a county in Virginia formed in 1778 from Augusta County, with its seat in Harrisonburg.
- Founded1778
- County seatHarrisonburg
- Named forCharles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
- Land area850 sq mi + 4.1 sq mi water
- Population83,757 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped51,885 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Rockingham 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
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Rockingham County was created from Augusta County on March 1, 1778, and was named after Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. Over its history, Rockingham County has lost territory to the creation of Pendleton County (now West Virginia) in 1788, Page County in 1831, and multiple boundary adjustments with the independent city of Harrisonburg from 1916 onward.
- 1778
- 1788Lost territory Rockingham lost to creation of Pendleton (West Virginia). · Hening, 12:637-638
- 1831Lost territory Rockingham lost to creation of Page. · Va. Acts 1830-1831, ch. 74, sec. 1/pp. 140-142
- 1916Lost territory Rockingham lost to creation of Harrisonburg as an independent city, 2d class. · Harrisonburg Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990
- 1962Lost territory Rockingham lost to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247]
Show all 11 changes
- 1778
- 1788Lost territory Rockingham lost to creation of Pendleton (West Virginia). · Hening, 12:637-638
- 1831Lost territory Rockingham lost to creation of Page. · Va. Acts 1830-1831, ch. 74, sec. 1/pp. 140-142
- 1916Lost territory Rockingham lost to creation of Harrisonburg as an independent city, 2d class. · Harrisonburg Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990
- 1937Lost territory Rockingham lost small area to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243]
- 1938Lost territory Rockingham lost small area to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Bain, Annexation, [243]
- 1950Lost territory Rockingham lost small area to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [245]
- 1962Lost territory Rockingham lost to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247]
- 1965Lost territory Rockingham lost small area to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Bain, Annexation, [248]
- 1983Lost territory Rockingham lost to the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Map of the City of Harrisonburg, January 1983
- 2000Exchanged territory Rockingham exchanged small areas with the independent city of Harrisonburg. · Commission on Local Government, "Municipal Boundary Change Actions in Virginia: 2000," http://www.clg.state.va.us/annexations.2000.pdf, 8 October 2003; City of Harrisonburg, Planning and Community Development Department, email, 12 November 2002
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Rockingham
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 51,885 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, 46,509 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
Rockingham 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
- Clerk of court: deeds and plats
Clerk of Circuit Court
Permits
- Health department: septic and well
Environmental Services
- Sign Permit
- Tent Permit
Zoning and code
- Planning and zoning
Building Code Enforcement
- Subdivision Ordinance
- Fire Codes & County Ordinances
- Zoning
- Rezoning
County government
- County government
The official website of Rockingham County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Rockingham 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 Rockingham County
- When was Rockingham County founded?
- Rockingham County was founded in 1778, formed from Augusta County, and named after Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham.
- What is the county seat of Rockingham County?
- The county seat of Rockingham County is Harrisonburg.
- Is there an online parcel map for Rockingham County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 51,885 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Rockingham County's boundary or name changed?
- Rockingham County was created in 1778 from Augusta County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 10 later changes, chiefly involving Page County and Pendleton (W. Va.) County.
- Who issues building permits in Rockingham County?
- The county's page on building permits: Sign Permit. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Rockingham County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Environmental Services.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Rockingham County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby