County · code 51177
Spotsylvania CountyVirginia
Spotsylvania County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Spotsylvania Courthouse. It was created in 1721 from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties and named after Alexander Spotswood.
- Founded1721
- County seatSpotsylvania Courthouse
- Named forAlexander Spotswood
- Land area401 sq mi + 13 sq mi water
- Population140,032 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped69,674 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Spotsylvania 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 1721 from Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Spotsylvania County was created on May 1, 1721, from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named after Alexander Spotswood. In 1735, Spotsylvania lost area to the creation of Orange County. Over time, particularly from 1902 onward, the county lost areas to the independent city of Fredericksburg through several boundary adjustments.
- 1721Spotsylvania County created Spotsylvania created from Essex, King and Queen, and King William. · Hening, 4:77-79; Robinson, 77; Winfree, 179-185
- c. 1735
- 1902Lost territory Spotsylvania lost to creation of Fredericksburg as an independent city, 2d class. · Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18-21; Swindler, 10:166, 169
- 1939Lost territory Spotsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Fredericksburg. · Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243]
- 1951Lost territory Spotsylvania lost small area to the independent city of Fredericksburg. · Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [245]
- 1955Lost territory Spotsylvania lost to the independent city of Fredericksburg. · Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [246]
- 1983Lost territory Spotsylvania lost to the independent city of Fredericksburg. · Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; 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 Spotsylvania
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 69,674 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, 66,312 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
Spotsylvania 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
Assessment Department
- Clerk of court: deeds and plats
Circuit Court
Permits
Zoning and code
- Planning and zoning
Board of Building Code Appeals
- County Ordinances
- Text of Ordinance
- Land Development
- Rezoning
- Zoning Use
County government
- County government
The official website of Spotsylvania County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Spotsylvania 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 Spotsylvania County
- When was Spotsylvania County founded?
- Spotsylvania County was founded in 1721, formed from Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County, and named after Alexander Spotswood.
- What is the county seat of Spotsylvania County?
- The county seat of Spotsylvania County is Spotsylvania Courthouse.
- Is there an online parcel map for Spotsylvania County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 69,674 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Spotsylvania County's boundary or name changed?
- Spotsylvania County was created in 1721 from Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 6 later changes, chiefly involving Orange County.
- Who issues building permits in Spotsylvania County?
- The county's page on building permits: Permit Center. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Spotsylvania County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: EMS Health & Safety.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Spotsylvania County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby