Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

Buckingham County, Virginia

Quick answer: Buckingham County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Buckingham. Its estimated population in 2025 was 17,137, up 1.8% since 2020. It covers about 580 square miles of land.
Typecounty
County seatBuckingham
Established1761
Population, 2025 estimate17,137
Population, 2020 estimate16,826
Change 2020–20251.8%
Rank by population in Virginia89 of 133
Buckingham VA - county courthouse
Photo: Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA · CC BY 2.0 (license), via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Overview

Virginia has 95 counties, and Buckingham County is one of them.[1] The county seat is Buckingham.[2] The county was established in 1761.[2] The name comes from Buckinghamshire.[2]

Population of Buckingham County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Buckingham County at 17,137 in July 2025, up 1.8% from the April 2020 base of 16,828.[1] That made it 89th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 67th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 646 births and 1,116 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 470.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 768. Moves from abroad added 13.[1]

Geography

Buckingham County covers 579.6 square miles of land and 3.8 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 12th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 30 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 37.57° N, 78.53° W.[3]

The county borders Albemarle County, Appomattox County, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Nelson County and Prince Edward County.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 103 named streams, 9 named summits, 11 lakes and reservoirs and 1 island in the county.[5]

Towns

Buckingham County has one incorporated town: Dillwyn (441), with its estimated 2025 population in brackets.[6] In Virginia, towns remain part of the county around them, unlike independent cities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of Buckingham County?
Buckingham.

What is the population of Buckingham County?
About 17,137 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Buckingham County?
About 580 square miles of land, plus 3.8 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.buckinghamcountyva.org

Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.