Prince Edward

Formed January 1, 1754 (43^rd county)

Prince Edward County (21,846), Farmville (7,473)

The 1939 red brick Colonial Revival courthouse was augmented in 1999 with a Justice Center.  The facility is on Main Street between 3^rd and High streets.  United States Highway 15 Business is in front of the location.  Hinnant & Smith are the architects.  The structure features columns with veteran memorials on the grounds.  There was an 1872 courthouse also in Farmville.  The county was established on January 1, 1754 from Amelia County as the 43^rd county.  Worsham was the first county seat until 1871 when Farmville took over.  The county was named for Prince Edward, brother of King George III.  Farmville is presumably a geographical term for local farms. 

Prince Edward County government consists of a sheriff and 8 Supervisors.  Two Circuit Court Judges and Six District Court Judges serve Prince Edward, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg counties and Forty-nine Magistrate Court Judges serve Prince Edward, Appomattox, Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex counties and Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, and Petersburg cities.  The county is in southern Virginia.  Richmond, Virginia is northeast and Roanoke, Virginia is west of the county.  The county center is 7.2 miles Southwest of Farmville nearer Worsham.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Buckingham, Cumberland, Amelia, Nottoway, Lunenburg, Charlotte, and Appomattox counties. 

The area of the county is 353 square miles.  It is 55 out of 133 in the state.  It ranks 78 out of 133 in population in the state.  It has a density of 61.9 persons per square mile making it 89 out of 133 in the state.  Prince Edward County has 31.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 15 passes north to south through the county from Buckingham County to Charlotte County.  United States Highway 360 enters from the east, Nottoway County, and exits to the southeast, Lunenburg County.  United States Highway 460 comes from Nottoway County and goes west into Appomattox County.  The county is shaped like the State of Ohio.  Farmville is located on the northern border of the county and extends into Cumberland County.  Farmville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 34.2% of the county population.