County · code 54047
McDowell CountyWest Virginia
McDowell County is a county in West Virginia, with its seat in Welch. The county was formed on February 20, 1858.
- Founded1858
- County seatWelch
- Named forJames McDowell
- Land area533 sq mi + 1.4 sq mi water
- Population19,111 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped31,091 checked 16 October 2026
Where it is
McDowell on the map of West Virginia
West Virginia has 55 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Founded in 1858
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
McDowell was created by Virginia from Tazewell County and Wyoming County. The county was named after James McDowell. On June 20, 1863, McDowell separated from Virginia and became a county in the state of West Virginia.
- 1858McDowell County created McDowell created by Virginia from Tazewell (Virginia) and Wyoming. · Va. Acts 1857-1858, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 155, sec. 1/pp. 106-108
- 1863Became part of West Virginia McDowell separated from Virginia and became a county in the state of West Virginia. · Swindler, 10:363
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in McDowell
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 31,091 parcels from West Virginia University GIS Technical Center. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 16 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 12,507 in all from WV GIS Technical Center (WVGISTC, West Virginia University — the state's GIS clearinghouse) serving WV Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (WVDHSEM) SAMS-II address points.
checked 13 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
McDowell 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
McDowell County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of McDowell County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open McDowell 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 McDowell County
- When was McDowell County founded?
- McDowell County was founded in 1858, and named after James McDowell.
- What is the county seat of McDowell County?
- The county seat of McDowell County is Welch.
- Is there an online parcel map for McDowell County?
- Yes. West Virginia University GIS Technical Center publishes a parcel map of 31,091 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has McDowell County's boundary or name changed?
- McDowell County was created in 1858. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 1 later change.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for McDowell County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby