Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

Tazewell County, Virginia

Quick answer: Tazewell County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Tazewell. Its estimated population in 2025 was 38,635, down 4.5% since 2020. It covers about 519 square miles of land.
Typecounty
County seatTazewell
Established1799
Population, 2025 estimate38,635
Population, 2020 estimate40,407
Change 2020–2025-4.4%
Rank by population in Virginia48 of 133
Forested gorge at Breaks Interstate Park on the Virginia–Kentucky line
Photo: vastateparksstaff · CC BY 2.0 (license), via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Overview

Virginia has 95 counties, and Tazewell County is one of them.[1] The county seat is Tazewell.[2] The county was established in 1799.[2] The name comes from Henry Tazewell.[2]

Population of Tazewell County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Tazewell County at 38,635 in July 2025, down 4.5% from the April 2020 base of 40,438.[1] That made it 48th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 127th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 1,673 births and 3,811 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 2,138.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 309. Moves from abroad added 28.[1]

Geography

Tazewell County covers 518.8 square miles of land and 1.1 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 19th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 74 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 37.13° N, 81.56° W.[3]

The county borders Bland County, Buchanan County, Russell County and Smyth County in Virginia, as well as land in West Virginia.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 109 named streams, 34 named summits, 3 lakes and reservoirs, 15 gaps and 8 springs in the county.[5]

Towns

Tazewell County has 5 incorporated towns. With their estimated 2025 populations, they are: Richlands (5,051), Bluefield (4,839), Tazewell (4,291), Cedar Bluff (1,003), Pocahontas (259).[6] In Virginia, towns remain part of the county around them, unlike independent cities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of Tazewell County?
Tazewell.

What is the population of Tazewell County?
About 38,635 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Tazewell County?
About 519 square miles of land, plus 1.1 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.tazewellcounty.org

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