Rappahannock County is a county in Virginia, United States, in the northern Piedmont at the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the eastern edge of Shenandoah National Park along its western boundary. It had a population of 7,348 at the 2020 census and covers 267.2 square miles (692.0 km2), of which 266.4 square miles (690.0 km2) is land, centred near 38°41′N 78°10′W.
Washington is the county seat, and its postal code is 22747. The county has one incorporated town and a dozen unincorporated crossroads communities; it lies in the Eastern time zone and is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Rappahannock County
Washington is the county’s only incorporated town. Everywhere else is unincorporated — crossroads hamlets, mill sites and former rail stops that never took city charters. County zoning sets a 25-acre minimum lot size outside the villages, which is why the settlement pattern has stayed sparse and rural.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Town · seat | — | 22747 |
| Sperryville | Unincorp. | — | 22740 |
| Amissville | Unincorp. | — | 22747 |
| Castleton | Unincorp. | — | 22716 |
| Flint Hill | Unincorp. | — | 22627 |
| Chester Gap | Unincorp. | — | 22623 |
| Huntly | Unincorp. | — | 22640 |
| Woodville | Unincorp. | — | 22749 |
| Laurel Mills | Unincorp. | — | 22740 |
| Peola Mills | Unincorp. | — | 22740 |
| Scrabble | Unincorp. | — | 22740 |
| Slate Mills | Unincorp. | — | 22740 |
| Wakefield | Unincorp. | — | 22740 |
ZIP Codes
- 22747 — Washington (also serves Amissville)
- 22740 — Sperryville (also serves Laurel Mills, Peola Mills, Scrabble, Slate Mills and Wakefield)
- 22716 — Castleton
- 22627 — Flint Hill
- 22623 — Chester Gap
- 22640 — Huntly
- 22749 — Woodville
Most of the county’s crossroads communities share a ZIP with the nearest post office town rather than carrying their own.
Geography
The county straddles the transition from the rolling Piedmont to the steep front of the Blue Ridge, with the crest of the mountains and part of Shenandoah National Park forming its western edge. The Rappahannock River rises in the county’s hills and the Thornton and Hazel rivers drain much of its farmland. Strict agricultural zoning has kept the landscape in cattle pasture, orchards and vineyards rather than subdivisions.
Rappahannock County borders Warren County to the northwest, Fauquier County to the northeast, Culpeper County to the southeast, Madison County to the southwest, and Page County to the west across the Blue Ridge.
Demographics
The county’s population was 7,348 at the 2020 census, spread across a land area of 266.4 square miles for a density of about 27.6 people per square mile — one of the lowest in northern Virginia. Washington and the Sperryville area are the two largest population centres. Median household income runs above the Virginia median of $89,931, reflecting the county’s mix of longtime farm families and second-home owners drawn by the mountain scenery and wineries.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle, hay and specialty crops — remains the traditional base, joined in recent decades by a growing wine and craft-beverage industry: the county counts roughly nine wineries, two distilleries and two breweries, most clustered along US 522 and US 211. There is no large industrial or commercial employer; county government, the school system and tourism tied to Shenandoah National Park’s Thornton Gap entrance provide most local jobs. Because the tax base is so thin, property taxes here run higher than in many neighboring counties.
History
Rappahannock County was formed in 1833 from Culpeper County by act of the Virginia General Assembly. It takes its name from the Rappahannock River, whose own name comes from an Algonquian word usually translated as “river of quick, rising water” or “where the tide ebbs and flows.” The county seat, Washington, was surveyed in 1749 by a 17-year-old George Washington and is sometimes called “Little Washington” to distinguish it from the national capital. The county saw no major Civil War battles but was crossed repeatedly by cavalry columns moving between the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont.
Getting There
- Warrenton — 20 miles northeast
- Culpeper — 18 miles southeast
- Front Royal — 20 miles northwest
- Charlottesville — 35 miles south
US Route 211 crosses the county east–west through Sperryville and over the Blue Ridge into the Shenandoah Valley; US 522 runs north–south through Flint Hill. The nearest commercial airport is Dulles International, roughly an hour’s drive northeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rappahannock County, Virginia?
It sits in the northern Piedmont along the Blue Ridge Mountains, bordering Shenandoah National Park, about 70 miles west of Washington, D.C.
What is the population of Rappahannock County?
7,348 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Rappahannock County?
267.2 square miles (692.0 km2), of which 266.4 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Rappahannock County?
Washington is the county seat — often called “Little Washington.”
How many towns are in Rappahannock County?
One incorporated town, Washington, plus about a dozen unincorporated communities such as Sperryville, Amissville, Flint Hill and Huntly.
What ZIP codes are in Rappahannock County?
22747 (Washington), 22740 (Sperryville), 22716 (Castleton), 22627 (Flint Hill), 22623 (Chester Gap), 22640 (Huntly) and 22749 (Woodville).
What is Rappahannock County known for?
Its Blue Ridge scenery, Shenandoah National Park access, and a growing cluster of small wineries and distilleries along US 211 and US 522.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.