Highland County, Virginia

Quick answer: Highland County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Monterey. Its estimated population in 2025 was 2,318, up 3.8% since 2020. It covers about 415 square miles of land.

Overview

Highland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of 95 in the state.[1] The county seat is Monterey.[2] The county was established in 1847.[2]

Population of Highland County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Highland County at 2,318 in July 2025, up 3.8% from the April 2020 base of 2,234.[1] That made it 133rd of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 41st for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 82 births and 162 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 80.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 169. Moves from abroad were -4.[1]

Geography

Highland County covers 415.2 square miles of land and 0.7 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 42nd of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 6 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 38.37° N, 79.56° W.[3]

The county borders Augusta County and Bath County in Virginia, as well as land in West Virginia.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 61 named streams, 36 named summits, 4 gaps and 3 springs in the county.[5]

Towns

Highland County has one incorporated town: Monterey (162), 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 Highland County?
Monterey.

What is the population of Highland County?
About 2,318 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Highland County?
About 415 square miles of land, plus 0.7 square miles of water.

References

• [1] U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025) – last checked 11/08/2026
• [2] Wikidata, Highland County, Virginia (open data, CC0) – last checked 11/08/2026
• [3] U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files: Counties – last checked 11/08/2026
• [4] U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File (2024) – last checked 11/08/2026
• [5] U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Domestic Names – last checked 11/08/2026
• [6] U.S. Census Bureau, City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 – last checked 11/08/2026

Official website: www.highlandcova.org

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