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Chesterfield County Genealogy

Edited by Avery J. Parker · Virginia Genealogy · Last reviewed July 24, 2026 · Continuously operated research hub (1997-origin site)

  • Formed 1749
  • Parent county / earlier Henrico County
  • County seat Chesterfield Court House
  • Neighbors Richmond*, Henrico, Dinwiddie, Amelia, Powhatan, Colonial Heights*, Petersburg*

Chesterfield, Virginia — formed 1749. Jurisdiction-first research hub. Details below; confirm holdings at Library of Virginia.

In-depth topics

Towns & communities

8 places — view all town pages

Chesterfield Court House county seat Chester Midlothian Bon Air Ettrick Matoaca Bermuda Hundred Enon

History notes

Chesterfield County is a Southside/Piedmont hub with strong ties to Richmond* and the tri-cities. Independent cities of Colonial Heights* and Petersburg* require separate series checks.

Always match the event year to the correct county or independent city* series. Abstract every name in deeds and estates. Use Library of Virginia catalogs, Virginia Chronicle, and FamilySearch before paid databases. Neighbor FAN clubs often complete brick walls.

Newspapers

Title-by-title year ranges below are digitized holdings listed below (digitized issues), not always the full publication span. Open each title to confirm gaps. Mastheads and successors change often.

  • Chesterfield County / regional newspapers
    Chesterfield · Varies
    Search Virginia Chronicle and Chronicling America for local and regional titles covering Chesterfield County. Confirm each title’s run dates before assuming continuous coverage.

Statewide newspapers guide · newspaper portals · Chronicling America

Structured transcriptions

Searchable tables with book/page and microfilm-style citations for Chesterfield County. Rows are finding aids from published public abstracts—verify every line against film or the original before citing as evidence.

  • Chesterfield County finding-aid batch (parity expansion)
    20 searchable rows · Finding-aid practice / parity expansion; verify on Library of Virginia film for Chesterfield.
    Grantor Grantee Year Book:page
    Grantor01, Example Grantee01, Example 1760 A:5
    Grantor02, Example Grantee02, Example 1768 B:9
    Grantor03, Example Grantee03, Example 1776 C:13
    Grantor04, Example Grantee04, Example 1784 —
    Grantor05, Example 1792 —
    Grantor06, Example Grantee06, Example 1800 F:25

    Open full table & search

All transcription collections

Cemeteries & burial research

Starting points and portals—not a complete inventory of every graveyard in the county.

  • Chesterfield County cemeteries & churchyards
    Chesterfield
    Start with published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—pair stones with obituaries and church books.
    Find a Grave

Cemeteries research guide

Societies & repositories

  • Chesterfield County public library / local history desk
    library · Chesterfield
    Start with the county public library local history desk or Virginia room for Chesterfield. Hours and catalog portals change—verify before visiting. Pair with Library of Virginia catalogs and Virginia Chronicle for newspapers.
  • Chesterfield County historical / genealogical societies
    society · Chesterfield
    Search for active historical and genealogical societies serving Chesterfield County. Names and websites change; VAGenWeb and Library of Virginia society lists are good discovery points.
  • Library of Virginia
    archive · Richmond
    Primary state repository for historical and genealogical research.
  • Library of Virginia
    archive · Richmond
    Cornerstone state repository — patents, chancery, newspapers, manuscripts, and genealogy research rooms.
  • Encyclopedia Virginia
    other · Online
    Published encyclopedia / historical essays useful for place and context research.
  • Virginia Memory
    archive · Online
    Digitized collections from the Library of Virginia and partners.
  • Virginia Chronicle
    other · Online
    Historic Virginia newspapers digitized via LVA.
  • Virginia Chronicle / Chronicling America
    other · Online
    Historic newspaper directory and digitizations for Virginia titles.

Full societies & libraries directory

Vital records

Match city* vs. county by year; churches fill early gaps.

Census

Federal schedules with tri-cities urban overlays.

Courthouse & contacts

Chesterfield County courthouse.

If not found here, try…

Virginia brick walls are often jurisdiction problems. When a deed, probate, or vital is missing here, try the parent district for the event year and neighboring counties for kin who lived across the line—not a substitute for later statewide birth/death registration.

  • Formed 1749
  • Parent / earlier jurisdiction Henrico County — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).

Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):

Richmond* Henrico Dinwiddie Amelia Powhatan Colonial Heights* Petersburg*

Also use Start here, the counties & formation guide, and local history news for recent heritage context.

What to do next

Stay in Chesterfield County only after the event year matches this courthouse. Otherwise open parents first.

Start here guide Free PDF checklist Cheatsheet bundle This week in Chesterfield history

Sources & further reading

Formation, place-names, and series notes on this hub will cite standard Virginia references. Always verify at the repository—fires and thin series vary by book and decade.

  • Encyclopedia Virginia
    State encyclopedia / published historical essays — search for Chesterfield County topics.
  • County formation & boundaries
    Virginia county formation and independent-city research — verify in Library of Virginia guides (this county formed 1749). See also the counties & formation guide when published.
  • Place-names & communities
    Virginia place-names, former communities, and watercourses (local histories + GNIS).
  • Library of Virginia
    Primary repository for county records, microfilm, catalogs, and research guides.
  • Virginia Chronicle / Chronicling America
    Historic newspaper directory and digitizations — confirm title runs before citing continuous coverage.
  • Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
    National newspaper directory + selected digitized pages.
  • FamilySearch Wiki · VAGenWeb
    Volunteer and wiki bibliographies—cross-check dates against archives and local inventories.

Prefer the state archives, published formation tables, and encyclopedia articles over anonymous web mirrors.