James City County, Virginia

Quick answer: James City County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Williamsburg. Its estimated population in 2025 was 83,326, up 6.5% since 2020. It covers about 142 square miles of land.

Overview

Virginia has 95 counties, and James City County is one of them.[1] The county seat is Williamsburg.[2] The county was established in 1634.[2] The name comes from James VI and I.[2]

Population of James City County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of James City County at 83,326 in July 2025, up 6.5% from the April 2020 base of 78,253.[1] That made it 25th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 27th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 4,088 births and 4,903 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 815.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 5,165. Moves from abroad added 749.[1]

Geography

James City County covers 142.3 square miles of land and 36.8 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 93rd of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 586 people per square mile in 2025, so it is a mix of towns and countryside. Its geographic center lies near 37.32° N, 76.78° W.[3]

The county borders Charles City County, Gloucester County, Isle of Wight County, King and Queen County, New Kent County, the City of Newport News, Surry County, the City of Williamsburg and York County.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 29 named streams, 1 named summit, 28 lakes and reservoirs and 7 islands in the county.[5]

Towns

James City County has no incorporated towns. Its communities are unincorporated and governed directly by the county.[6]

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of James City County?
Williamsburg.

What is the population of James City County?
About 83,326 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is James City County?
About 142 square miles of land, plus 36.8 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, James City 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.jamescitycountyva.gov

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