Richmond County is a county in Virginia, United States, on the Northern Neck peninsula about 65 miles southeast of Richmond, the state capital — the two share a name but nothing else, and this county is not the independent City of Richmond. It had a population of 8,923 at the 2020 census, an estimated 9,294 by 2025, and covers 216 square miles total, of which 191 square miles (490 km2) is land and 25 square miles is water, centred near 37°56′N 76°43′W.
Warsaw is the county seat, and it’s the county’s only incorporated town; its postal code is 22572. The county holds 1 incorporated town and 16 smaller unincorporated communities, spread across a rural peninsula with no civil townships, and it runs on Eastern Time. Its FIPS code is 51159.
Towns & Villages in Richmond County
Richmond County has 17 named places: Warsaw, the seat, and 16 unincorporated communities with no town government of their own. None is a Census-designated place, so only Warsaw has a tracked population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | Town · seat | 1,637 | 22572 |
| Farnham | Unincorp. | — | 22460 |
| Foneswood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Germans Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Haynesville | Unincorp. | — | 22472 |
| Ivondale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lyells | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rich Neck | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Robley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sharps | Unincorp. | — | 22548 |
| Simons Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Simonson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tidewater | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Totuskey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Village | Unincorp. | — | 22570 |
| Westover Gardens | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 22572 — Warsaw (also serves Foneswood, Germans Corner, Ivondale, Rich Neck, Robley, Simons Corner, Simonson, Tidewater, Totuskey and Westover Gardens)
- 22460 — Farnham
- 22472 — Haynesville
- 22548 — Sharps
- 22570 — Village (Lyells and Newland use this delivery area too)
Ten of the county’s small communities never had their own post office, or lost it when Rural Free Delivery consolidated Northern Neck routes in the early 20th century; mail there runs through Warsaw or Village today.
Geography
Richmond County sits on a narrow neck of land between the Rappahannock River, which forms its entire southern and western border, and Chesapeake Bay tributaries draining its northern half. The land is flat to gently rolling coastal plain, cut by tidal creeks — Totuskey Creek, Cat Point Creek and Menokin Bay are the largest. The Rappahannock itself is the county’s dominant water feature, tidal and several hundred feet wide along this stretch.
The county borders Westmoreland County to the north, Northumberland County to the east, Lancaster County to the southeast across the Rappahannock, and Essex County to the southwest, also across the Rappahannock. Read more on Westmoreland County, Northumberland County, Lancaster County and Essex County.
Demographics
Richmond County had a population of 8,923 at the 2020 census, roughly 47 people per square mile. The 2020 population was 64.3% white and 27.3% Black or African American, with Hispanic residents at 6.7%; median age was 43.5. Warsaw, with 1,637 residents, is the county’s largest population center; Farnham and Sharps are the next-largest named communities, though neither is tracked as a separate Census place. Median household income runs $66,304, well below Virginia’s statewide $93,170, and per-capita income of $29,974 trails the state figure of $50,666. The county’s poverty rate, 7.7%, is lower than the statewide 9.9%.
Economy & Local Life
Construction (449 workers), manufacturing (426) and public administration (383) are the county’s three largest employment sectors, out of roughly 3,408 employed residents. Professional and technical services pay the highest average wages locally, followed by educational services and public administration. Richmond County Public Schools runs two campuses — an elementary/middle school and Rappahannock High School — serving about 1,300 students. Warsaw’s small downtown, clustered around the courthouse and US-360/US-17 junction, holds the county’s retail, banking and government offices. The Menokin Music Festival, held each September at Menokin, the restored 18th-century home of Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, is the county’s largest annual event.
History
Richmond County was formed in 1692, when the original Rappahannock County split into Richmond County and Essex County. Its name likely honors Richmond upon Thames in England, following the naming pattern of several Tidewater Virginia counties from that era. Menokin, built in 1769 as a wedding gift for Francis Lightfoot Lee, is a National Historic Landmark; after its roof collapsed in 1965 the house was partially deconstructed and is now being rebuilt with glass panels replacing the missing sections, a widely studied approach to ruin preservation.
Getting There
No interstate highway crosses Richmond County. US Route 360 and US Route 17 meet in Warsaw and carry most through-traffic; both are two-lane roads for their length here.
- Tappahannock, Virginia — 18 miles southwest
- Kilmarnock, Virginia — 25 miles east
- Fredericksburg, Virginia — 42 miles northwest
- Richmond, Virginia — 65 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Richmond International Airport, about 65 miles southwest. The nearest Amtrak station is in Fredericksburg, about 42 miles northwest on the Northeast Regional line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richmond County the same as the city of Richmond?
No. Richmond County is a rural Northern Neck county roughly 65 miles from the independent City of Richmond, which is not part of any county. There is also a Richmond County in New York (Staten Island) and a Richmond County in Georgia (Augusta) — all three are unrelated.
Where is Richmond County, Virginia?
It sits on Virginia’s Northern Neck peninsula, bordered by the Rappahannock River to the south and west and Chesapeake Bay tributary creeks to the north.
What is the population of Richmond County?
8,923 at the 2020 census, an estimated 9,294 by 2025.
How big is Richmond County?
216 square miles total, 191 square miles of land and 25 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Richmond County?
Warsaw, the county’s only incorporated town, is the county seat.
How many towns and communities are in Richmond County?
17: Warsaw plus 16 unincorporated communities, including Farnham, Sharps, Haynesville and Village.
What ZIP codes serve Richmond County?
22572 (Warsaw), 22460 (Farnham), 22472 (Haynesville), 22548 (Sharps) and 22570 (Village).
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.