When was Pendleton County founded?

Pendleton County was founded in 1788, formed from Augusta County, Hardy County and Rockingham County, and named after Edmund Pendleton.

What is the county seat of Pendleton County?

The county seat of Pendleton County is Franklin.

Is there an online parcel map for Pendleton County?

Yes. West Virginia University GIS Technical Center publishes a parcel map of 11,048 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.

Has Pendleton County's boundary or name changed?

Pendleton County was created in 1788 from Augusta County, Hardy County and Rockingham County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Augusta (Va.) County, Bath (Va.) County and Highland (Va.) County.

Is my lot in a flood zone?

We do not have flood maps for Pendleton County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

County · code 54071

Pendleton CountyWest Virginia

Pendleton County is in West Virginia and has its seat in Franklin. It was created by Virginia in 1788 from parts of Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham counties, and named after Edmund Pendleton.

Founded1788
County seatFranklin
Named forEdmund Pendleton
Land area696 sq mi + 2.1 sq mi water
Population6,143 2020 Census
Parcels mapped11,048 checked 16 October 2026

Open the free map Click any parcel in Pendleton County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated 20 October 2026

Census outline · seat marked

History

Formed in 1788 from Augusta County, Hardy County and Rockingham County

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Pendleton County was created by Virginia on May 1, 1788, from Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham counties. It gained territory from Augusta in 1791 and from Bath in 1796, but lost land to the creation of Pocahontas in 1821 and Highland in 1847. On June 20, 1863, Pendleton County separated from Virginia and became a county in West Virginia.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

1788
Pendleton County created Pendleton created by Virginia from Augusta (Virginia), Hardy, and Rockingham (Virginia).
from Augusta (Va.)from Hardy from Rockingham (Va.)
1 May 1788 · Hening, 12:637-638
1791
Gained territory Pendleton gained from Augusta (Virginia).
from Augusta (Va.)
1 May 1791 · Hening, 13:165-167
1796
Gained territory Pendleton gained from Bath (Virginia).
from Bath (Va.)
3 December 1796 · Shepherd, 2:53
1821
Lost territory Pendleton lost to creation of Pocahontas.
to Pocahontas
21 December 1821 · Va. Acts 1821-1822, ch. 27, sec. 1/pp. 27-28
1847
Lost territory Pendleton lost to creation of Highland (Virginia).
to Highland (Va.)
1 May 1847 · Va. Acts 1846-1847, ch. 56, secs. 1, 13/pp. 52-55
1863
Became part of West Virginia Pendleton separated from Virginia and became a county in the state of West Virginia. 20 June 1863 · Swindler, 10:363

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Pendleton

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Parcels Good enough

Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 11,048 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, 7,422 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

Pendleton by the Census

Population

6,143 2020 Census count

Housing units

3,666 2020 Census count

Land area

696 square miles

Water area

2.1 square miles

People per sq mi

9 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Pendleton 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 Pendleton County.
pendletoncounty.wv.gov

See your own lot on these maps

Open Pendleton 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.

Open the free map no sign-in Pro early access

Questions

Common questions about Pendleton County

When was Pendleton County founded?: Pendleton County was founded in 1788, formed from Augusta County, Hardy County and Rockingham County, and named after Edmund Pendleton.
What is the county seat of Pendleton County?: The county seat of Pendleton County is Franklin.
Is there an online parcel map for Pendleton County?: Yes. West Virginia University GIS Technical Center publishes a parcel map of 11,048 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Pendleton County's boundary or name changed?: Pendleton County was created in 1788 from Augusta County, Hardy County and Rockingham County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Augusta (Va.) County, Bath (Va.) County and Highland (Va.) County.
Is my lot in a flood zone?: We do not have flood maps for Pendleton County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby