Appomattox County is a county in Virginia, United States, in the Piedmont region near the geographic centre of the state. It had a population of 16,119 at the 2020 census and covers 335 square miles (870 km2), centred near 37°21′32″N 78°49′35″W.
Appomattox is the county seat, and its postal code is 24522. The county has 2 incorporated towns (Appomattox and Pamplin City) and more than a dozen unincorporated communities; Virginia has no civil townships, so the county is not subdivided into them. Appomattox County sits in the Eastern time zone, and its FIPS code is 51011.
Towns & Villages in Appomattox County
Appomattox County has 2 incorporated towns and about 13 unincorporated communities. Only Appomattox and Pamplin City hold town charters; the rest are CDPs or unincorporated crossroads without their own municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appomattox | Town · seat | 1,821 | 24522 |
| Pamplin City | Town | 184 | 23958 |
| Beckham | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Bent Creek | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Bowler | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Chap | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Evergreen | Unincorp. | — | 23939 |
| Flood | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Hixburg | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Hollywood | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Hurtsville | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Oakville | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Spout Spring | Unincorp. | — | 24593 |
| Stonewall | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
| Vera | Unincorp. | — | 24522 |
Two names from the old list are not carried over: “Fore Store” has no independent trace in county gazetteers and appears to be a garbled duplicate of a nearby crossroads, and “Stonewall Mills” duplicates the community of Stonewall under a variant name. Both are omitted rather than guessed at.
ZIP Codes
- 24522 — Appomattox (also serves most of the county’s rural east and centre)
- 23958 — Pamplin City
- 24593 — Spout Spring
- 23939 — Evergreen (PO Box only)
The 24522 ZIP alone covers about 64% of county residents; smaller communities without their own post office use the nearest of these four codes.
Geography
Appomattox County lies in the Piedmont, a rolling upland belt between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coastal plain. The Appomattox River, which gives the county its name, rises in the northern part of the county and flows east; the county is otherwise drained by smaller creeks feeding the James and Staunton (Roanoke) river systems. Of its 335 square miles, 333 are land and about 1.2 square miles are water.
The county borders Nelson County to the north, Buckingham County to the northeast, Prince Edward County to the southeast, Charlotte County to the south, Campbell County to the southwest, and Amherst County to the northwest.
Demographics
Appomattox County had 16,119 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 48 people per square mile. The town of Appomattox is the largest community (1,821), followed by Pamplin City (184); most residents live in the unincorporated rural areas between the two towns. County-level median household income figures are not verified here; statewide, Virginia’s 2023 median household income was $89,931, and Appomattox County’s is typically below that state figure, consistent with its rural, small-town economy.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and forestry remain significant in Appomattox County, alongside light manufacturing and services tied to the county seat. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, operated by the National Park Service, is the county’s largest tourism draw and a major local employer during peak season. Appomattox County Public Schools and county government are also significant employers in the town of Appomattox.
History
Appomattox County was formed in 1845 from parts of Buckingham, Prince Edward, Campbell, and Charlotte counties, and takes its name from the Appomattox River, itself named for the Appamatuck people. The county’s defining historical moment came on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, a village a few miles from the modern town of Appomattox, effectively ending the American Civil War.
Getting There
US Route 460 and US Route 60 are the county’s main highways, along with State Routes 24, 26, 47, and 131.
- Lynchburg — 25 miles southwest
- Farmville — 20 miles southeast
- Charlottesville — 55 miles north
- Richmond — 95 miles east
Lynchburg Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Appomattox County?
It is in the Piedmont region of central Virginia, about 25 miles southwest of Lynchburg.
What is the population of Appomattox County?
16,119 at the 2020 census.
How big is Appomattox County?
335 square miles (870 km2), of which about 1.2 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Appomattox County?
The town of Appomattox.
How many towns are in Appomattox County?
Two incorporated towns, Appomattox and Pamplin City, plus about 13 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Appomattox County?
24522 (Appomattox), 23958 (Pamplin City), 24593 (Spout Spring), and 23939 (Evergreen).
What happened at Appomattox Court House?
On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant there, effectively ending the Civil War.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.