Gloucester County was probably named for the English county, although it may have been meant to honor Henry, duke of Gloucester, the third son of Charles I. It was formed from York County in 1651. Its area is 225 square miles, and the county seat is Gloucester. According to the 2000 census, its population is 34,780.

Note: Gloucester is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. All county court records were destroyed by an 1821 fire, and records created after that date were destroyed in Richmond on 3 April 1865. Six minute books from the nineteenth century and two surveyor's record books survive.

Original Records at The Library of Virginia: Yes