County · code 51195
Wise CountyVirginia
Wise County is in Virginia and has its county seat in Wise. It was created in 1856 from Lee, Russell, and Scott counties and named after Henry A. Wise.
- Founded1856
- County seatWise
- Named forHenry A. Wise
- Land area403 sq mi + 2 sq mi water
- Population36,130 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped38,292 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Wise 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 1856 from Lee County, Russell County and Scott County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Wise County was created on February 16, 1856 from Lee, Russell, and Scott counties. In 1880, Dickenson County was formed from Wise's territory. Starting in 1954, portions of Wise County were lost to the independent city of Norton through multiple boundary changes.
- 1856Wise County created Wise created from Lee, Russell, and Scott. · Va. Acts 1855-1856, ch. 107, sec. 1/pp. 87-90
- 1880Lost territory Wise lost to creation of Dickenson. · Robinson, 48; Va. Acts 1879-1880, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 140, sec. 1/pp. 125-129
- 1954Lost territory Wise lost to creation of Norton as an independent city, 2d class. · Virginia Commission on Local Government, correspondence, February 1990
- 1963Lost territory Wise lost to the independent city of Norton. · Norton City Manager, correspondence, April 1994; Bain, Annexation, [247]
- 1974Lost territory Wise lost to the independent city of Norton. · Norton City Manager, correspondence, April 1994; Norton City Charter, ch. 1
- 1984Lost territory Wise lost to the independent city of Norton. · Norton City Manager, correspondence, April 1994; Norton City Charter, ch. 1
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Wise
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 38,292 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, 21,640 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
Wise 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
County government
- County government
The official website of Wise County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Wise 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 Wise County
- When was Wise County founded?
- Wise County was founded in 1856, formed from Lee County, Russell County and Scott County, and named after Henry A. Wise.
- What is the county seat of Wise County?
- The county seat of Wise County is Wise.
- Is there an online parcel map for Wise County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 38,292 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Wise County's boundary or name changed?
- Wise County was created in 1856 from Lee County, Russell County and Scott County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Dickenson County.
- Who issues building permits in Wise County?
- The county's page on building permits: Permits & Fees. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Wise County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health department: septic and well.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Wise County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby