Cumberland County is a county in Virginia, United States, about 50 miles west of Richmond on the south bank of the James River. It had a population of 9,675 at the 2020 census and covers 300 square miles (780 km2), of which 297 square miles (770 km2) are land, centred near 37°31′N 78°14′W.
Cumberland, an unincorporated community, is the county seat and its postal code is 23040. The county has no incorporated towns; its population is spread across roughly two dozen small unincorporated communities and crossroads. Cumberland County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Cumberland County
Cumberland County has no incorporated cities or towns of its own — every place below is an unincorporated community, crossroads, or census-designated place (CDP). The historic market town of Farmville sits on the county’s southern line but is primarily located across the border in Prince Edward County, so it is not listed here. Population and ZIP figures are shown only where a reliable census or postal figure exists; other cells are marked —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | CDP · seat | — | 23040 |
| Cartersville | Unincorp. | — | 23027 |
| Angola | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ashby | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clinton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cotton Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Guinea Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hamilton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hatcher | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hawk | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hillcrest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kimberly Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lakeside Village | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McRae | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Forest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raines Tavern | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reeds | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stoddert | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunny Side | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tamworth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trenton Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trents Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whiteville | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 23040 — Cumberland (also serves most of the county’s interior)
- 23027 — Cartersville (serves communities along the James River in the northeast)
The rest of the county’s small communities share the Cumberland or Cartersville ZIP code depending on which post office is closer; none has a dedicated ZIP of its own.
Geography
Cumberland County lies in Virginia’s Piedmont, a rolling plateau of hardwood forest and farmland between the fall line and the Blue Ridge foothills. The James River forms the county’s northern boundary, and the Willis and Appomattox rivers drain its southern and western reaches. Bear Creek Lake, inside Cumberland State Forest, is the county’s largest body of standing water.
Cumberland County borders Goochland County to the northeast, Powhatan County to the east, Amelia County to the southeast, Prince Edward County to the south, Buckingham County to the west, and Fluvanna County to the northwest.
Demographics
Cumberland County had 9,675 residents at the 2020 census, spread across a mostly rural landscape with a population density of about 32 people per square mile. Cumberland and Cartersville are its two largest named communities. Household income in the county has historically trailed the Virginia median of $89,931, reflecting the county’s agricultural and forestry-based economy.
Economy & Local Life
Timber, forestry, and small-scale farming remain central to Cumberland County’s economy, alongside county government and the local public school system, among its largest employers. Cumberland State Forest, one of Virginia’s oldest state forests, and Bear Creek Lake State Park draw hunters, anglers, and campers from across central Virginia and support tourism-related jobs. Many residents commute to jobs in the Richmond metro area or in neighboring Farmville, just across the Prince Edward County line.
History
Cumberland County was formed in 1749 from Goochland County and named for Prince William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland. In April 1776, Cumberland became the first Virginia county to formally call for independence from Great Britain, a resolution later cited as a precursor to the state’s own declaration that spring. The county’s economy and settlement pattern were shaped for generations by tobacco and grain agriculture along the James and Willis rivers.
Getting There
U.S. Route 60 crosses the county east–west and U.S. Route 45 runs north–south through Cumberland, the two main routes linking its communities.
- Farmville — 10 miles south
- Powhatan — 15 miles east
- Richmond — 50 miles east
- Charlottesville — 45 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Richmond International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cumberland County, Virginia?
It is in the Piedmont region of central Virginia, about 50 miles west of Richmond on the south bank of the James River.
What is the population of Cumberland County?
9,675 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Cumberland County?
300 square miles (780 km2), of which 297 square miles (770 km2) are land.
What is the county seat of Cumberland County?
Cumberland is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cumberland County?
None are incorporated; the county’s population lives in about two dozen unincorporated communities, the largest of which are Cumberland and Cartersville.
What ZIP codes are in Cumberland County?
23040 (Cumberland) and 23027 (Cartersville) are the county’s two ZIP codes.
Is Farmville in Cumberland County?
Farmville sits right on the county line but is primarily located in neighboring Prince Edward County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.