County · code 51173
Smyth CountyVirginia
Smyth County is a county in Virginia with its seat in Marion. It was created on February 23, 1832, from Washington County and Wythe County.
- Founded1832
- County seatMarion
- Named forAlexander Smyth
- Land area451 sq mi + 1.3 sq mi water
- Population29,800 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped35,883 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Smyth 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 1832 from Washington County and Wythe County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Smyth County was formed from Washington County and Wythe County in 1832 and named after Alexander Smyth.
- 1832Smyth County created Smyth created from Washington and Wythe. · Va. Acts 1831-1832, ch. 67, sec. 1/pp. 47-49
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Smyth
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 35,883 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, 17,048 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
Smyth 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.
County government
- County government
The official website of Smyth County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Smyth 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 Smyth County
- When was Smyth County founded?
- Smyth County was founded in 1832, formed from Washington County and Wythe County, and named after Alexander Smyth.
- What is the county seat of Smyth County?
- The county seat of Smyth County is Marion.
- Is there an online parcel map for Smyth County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 35,883 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Smyth County's boundary or name changed?
- Smyth County was created in 1832 from Washington County and Wythe County. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records no boundary change since.
- Who issues building permits in Smyth County?
- The county's page on building permits: Pay Permit Online. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Smyth County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby