Washington County, Virginia
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Washington County, Virginia Facts

When was Washington County, VA Created?
Washington County was established on December 07, 1776 from Fincastle County.

What is the County Seat of Washington County, VA?
The County Seat is located in Abingdon also, the county government website is www.washcova.com/ .

What counties are adjacent to Washington County, VA?
Bordering Counties are Smyth County, Grayson County (east-southeast), Johnson County, Tennessee (south/southeast), Sullivan County, Tennessee, Scott County, Russell County.

Washington County, VA Vital Records

Where can find Washington County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Washington County vital records can be found at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Vital Records which has Birth and Death Records since June 14, 1912 and copies of Marriage and Divorce Records since 1918 to present. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Virginia for current fees and application process.

You can search online for Washington County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also order Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for copies of Washington Co. Virginia Birth, Marriage, Divorce, Death Certificate Applications to mail.

The Archives Division has copies of surviving birth and death records for the period 1853 to 1896 and marriage records prior to 1936. Another resource is the Washington County Health Department, 15068 Lee Highway, Suite 1000, Bristol, VA 24202; Phone: (276) 676-5604

• Washington County, Virginia Deaths, 1886-96
• Washington County, Virginia Deaths, 1853-85
• Washington County, Virginia Births, 1889-96
• Washington County marriage register, 1782-1820
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• USGenweb Archives Virginia Marriage Project
• Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1917
• Virginia Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers
• Virginia Birth and Marriage (Husband-Wife) Indexes
• Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
• Early Virginia Marriage Records
• Early Virginia Marriage Records – Research Notes Number 26.
• Henley Marriage/Obituary Index to Virginia Newspapers
• Index to Virginia Marriage Records
• Marriage Index for Richmond Enquirer/Richmond Visitor
• Virginia Death Records Indexing Project
• Virginia Death Certificates, 1912-1939
• Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912

Washington County, VA Census Records

What Washington County, VA census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Washington County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Washington Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Washington Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Virginia Census Records Research Guide

• Search The U.S. Federal Census Collection
• Washington County, VA Census Records Links
• Washington County Usgwarchives Census Records

Washington County, VA Courthouse and Government Records

Washington County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Washington County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Washington County. The years listed below are the first noted records with this county. See Also Virginia Courthouse Records Research Guide.

• Washington County Clerk of Circuit Court
  • Address: Courthouse, 189 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210-2838
  • Phone: (276) 676-6224
  • Marriage Records: 1782
  • Land Records: 1778
  • Court Records: 1777
  • Probate Records: 1777
• Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800
• Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850
• Using County and City Court Records in the Archives at the Library of Virginia
• County and City Research in Virginia Guides and Indexes – County and city records document the daily activities of the courts in Virginia’s counties, independent cities, and towns. The Library of Virginia houses both original and microfilm records for many of Virginia’s counties and independent cities. The guides list will help researchers navigate the complex variety of county and city records in the Library’s collections. It includes County and City Records at the Library of Virginia, Using County and City Court Records, Chancery Cases, Judgments, Lost Records Localities database and Burned Jurisdiction database.
• Virginia County Records, Volume, VI, VII , IX, X – The records in these series were compiled as part of a series known as the Virginia County Records . The volume includes wills, land grants, and marriage bonds as well as other miscellaneous information on early Virginia settlers.
• BLM Land Records

Washington County, VA Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Washington County, VA?
A list of Washington County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Virginia Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

• New River Notes (newrivernotes.com)
• Historical Society of Washington County, Old Courthouse, Main and Court Streets, P.O. Box 484, Abingdon, VA 24212-0484
• Holston Territory Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 433, Bristol, VA 24203-0433
• Washington County Public Library, Oak Hill and Valley Streets, Abingdon, VA 24210, (540) 676-6222
• Bristol Public Library, 701 Goode Street, Bristol, VA 24201, (540) 669-9444
• The Library of Virginia, Archives And Research Services , 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
• The Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
• Virginia Genealogical Society, 5001 West Broad Street, Suite 115, Richmond, Virginia 23230-3023 Telephone (804) 285-8954
• Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220, Phone: 804.358.4901
• Washington County microfilmed holdings at The Library of Virginia (lva.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Heritage – Guides to manuscript and Archival Collections in Washington Co. Virginia

Where can I connect with other Washington County, VA Researchers through message boards and forums?

• Virginia Genealogy Network
• Virginia State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Washington County, Virginia Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Washington County
• Washington County, Virginia Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)

What other genealogical resources are available in Washington County, VA?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Washington County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a fee. This is just a listing which has been compiled or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.

Washington Co. VA Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Virginia Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Virginia historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Virginia (1784 – 1922 ) (genealogybank.com) Immediately locate names and keywords in over 450 million content articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth notices and other items written and published in over 2,800 historic U.S. newspapers. Brand new articles and other content added each month!
• Washington County, Virginia Books (amazon.com)
•  Search Virginia Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Virginia County Obituaries (usgwarchives.net)

Washington Co. VA Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards

• Washington Co., Virginia Graves (findagrave.com)
• Washington County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Washington Co., Virginia Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Washington Co., Virginia Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Washington County, Virginia Church Books (amazon.com)

Washington Co. VA Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
• Virginia Penny Postcards (usgwarchives.net)
• Washington County Pictures (usgwarchives.net)

Washington Co. VA General and History Websites

• Washington County Virginia (genealogytrails.com)
• A Brief History of Washington County, Virginia (washcova.com)
• History of Southwest Virginia and Washington County (search.ancestry.com)
• History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 (search.ancestry.com)
• The life and adventures of Wilburn Waters, the famous hunter and trapper of White Top Mountain : embracing early history of sou (search.ancestry.com)
• Washington County, Virginia Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Washington County, Virginia Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Washington Co. VA Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Washington County History (usgwarchives.net)
• Washington County – American History and Genealogy Project (usgennet.org)
• Washington County, Virginia (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Virginia – Counties – Washington (cyndislist.com)
• Washington Co. VAGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Washington County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Washington Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Washington Co. VA Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Virginia Links and Information
• 1895 Washington County Map (livgenmi.com)

Washington Co. VA Military Records

• Virginia Military Records Research Guide
• Virginia Revolutionary War Units (revolutionarywar101.com)
• Virginia Military Records (Fold3.com) gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Virginia both women and men which served. Ideal for genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.