Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

Carroll County, Virginia

Quick answer: Carroll County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Hillsville. Its estimated population in 2025 was 29,299, up 0.5% since 2020. It covers about 475 square miles of land.
Typecounty
County seatHillsville
Established1842
Population, 2025 estimate29,299
Population, 2020 estimate29,146
Change 2020–20250.5%
Rank by population in Virginia61 of 133
Hillsville-Carroll-County-Courthouse-va
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0 (license), via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Overview

Virginia has 95 counties, and Carroll County is one of them.[1] The county seat is Hillsville.[2] The county was established in 1842.[2] The name comes from Charles Carroll of Carrollton.[2]

Population of Carroll County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Carroll County at 29,299 in July 2025, up 0.5% from the April 2020 base of 29,154.[1] That made it 61st of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 85th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 1,181 births and 2,514 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 1,333.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 1,376. Moves from abroad added 88.[1]

Geography

Carroll County covers 474.7 square miles of land and 2.9 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 29th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 62 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 36.73° N, 80.73° W.[3]

The county borders Floyd County, the City of Galax, Grayson County, Patrick County, Pulaski County and Wythe County in Virginia, as well as land in North Carolina.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 92 named streams, 44 named summits, 3 lakes and reservoirs and 3 gaps in the county.[5]

Towns

Carroll County has one incorporated town: Hillsville (2,836), 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 Carroll County?
Hillsville.

What is the population of Carroll County?
About 29,299 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Carroll County?
About 475 square miles of land, plus 2.9 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.carrollcountyva.org

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