Population34,413 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
A Courthouse Town And A River Port
Caroline County, VirginiaCaroline County invites visitors to look beyond the interstate corridor and discover a courthouse town, a river port and a working agricultural landscape. Bowling Green and Port Royal offer different starting points, while the county’s visitor center introduces an unexpected prehistoric chapter through its whale display. The variety rewards a selective itinerary. A family might combine natural history with a farm experience, while another visitor could focus on historic streets, art or the relationship between inland communities and the Rappahannock River.
Caroline County at a Glance
Population34,413 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatBowling Green
Largest municipalityBowling Green (2020 Census)
Established1728 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP coverage count15 (whole or partial coverage; Oct. 2026)
Total Area, Including Water536.988 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major routesI-95; US 1; US 17; SR 2
Main area codes804 / 686
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Discover Caroline County
Caroline County
Formed from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties in the 1720s, Caroline was named for Queen Caroline. Its colonial government followed much older Indigenous relationships with the region. Bowling Green developed as a civic center, while Port Royal’s river setting connected it with trade and travel. These histories describe distinct communities rather than a single countywide townscape. The surviving buildings, local museum work and documentary collections provide different ways to examine that past, including questions about whose experiences appear in official records and whose require a wider search.
Choose a manageable theme before setting out. The Art and Antiques Trail can organize a browsing trip, while agricultural visitor listings point toward seasonal markets and farm experiences. The Meadow adds a horse-racing connection through Secretariat, and the visitor-center whale display offers a very different family conversation about time and landscape. Because these experiences operate on different schedules, build the route around a confirmed visit or event. Then leave time for a town walk or an additional stop that helps connect the day’s discoveries rather than simply lengthening the checklist.
What Shapes Us
Two Town Perspectives
Bowling Green and Port Royal invite different questions about community development. Compare the role of a county seat with that of a river port, while recognizing the separate histories within each place.
Agricultural Encounters
Visitor-friendly farms and markets provide a seasonal view of Caroline’s rural life. Look for an advertised public experience so that a working landscape becomes an informed encounter rather than an assumed attraction.
Unexpected Discoveries
A prehistoric whale, a celebrated racehorse and local art create unusually varied entry points for conversation. Let one interest lead the day, then use a contrasting stop to broaden the experience.
Discover the town and river connections within one county.
A Closer Look
Caroline County
Places and perspectives from Caroline County
Fredericksburg Free Press
PHOTOS: USDA Rural Development spends Friday building in Caroline
USDA Rural Development traded desk work in DC and NoVA for work gloves in Caroline County on Friday.
Read the Story Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min readAround Caroline County
Stories from every corner of Caroline County.
PHOTOS: USDA Rural Development spends Friday building in Caroline
USDA Rural Development traded desk work in DC and NoVA for work gloves in Caroline County on Friday.
Oct 17, 2026 • 2 min read
Should a Virginia Jail in Caroline County Be Exempt from State Standards Just Because It Contracts with ICE?
THE FXBG ADVANCE THURSDAY 10/15/26 MIDMORNING READ
Oct 15, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Local
Agendas — Find published meeting agendas and records to follow county decisions.
Board of Supervisors — Learn about the county governing board and find its official information.
Boards & Commissions — Find county boards, commissions or committees and their areas of responsibility.
Departments — Locate county departments and the office responsible for the service you need.
Commissioner of Revenue — Locate the county revenue office and its assessment information.
County Administrator — Contact county administration and learn about its responsibilities.
Economic Development — Find local business-development information and the responsible county partner.
Procurement — Find county purchasing information and guidance for prospective vendors.
Planning and Community Development — Find the county’s land-use planning or zoning information and contacts.
Building Inspections — Start with the county’s building-permit or inspection guidance.
Schools
Local
Caroline County Public Schools — Find the local school division, school contacts and family information.
Local contacts
Bowling Green Elementary — Elementary; grades PK-05. 17502 New Baltimore Road, Milford, VA 22514. 804-596-2391 . Contact listing: NCES 2024–2025; confirm hours and services directly.
Caroline High — High; grades 09-12. 19155 Rodgers Clark Blvd, Milford, VA 22514. 804-633-9886 . Contact listing: NCES 2024–2025; confirm hours and services directly.
Caroline Middle — Middle; grades 06-08. 13325 Devils Three Jump Road, Milford, VA 22514. 804-633-6561 . Contact listing: NCES 2024–2025; confirm hours and services directly.
Lewis and Clark Elementary — Elementary; grades PK-05. 18101 Clark & York Blvd, Ruther Glen, VA 22546. 804-448-0175 . Contact listing: NCES 2024–2025; confirm hours and services directly.
Madison Elementary — Elementary; grades PK-05. 9075 Chance Place, Ruther Glen, VA 22546. 804-448-2171 . Contact listing: NCES 2024–2025; confirm hours and services directly.
Virginia statewide
School Quality Profiles — Find state reporting on schools and school divisions.
Home instruction — Review state home-instruction guidance and local reporting requirements.
Special education — Find VDOE special-education information and family resources.
Virginia community colleges — Explore community-college education and workforce-training pathways.
Hospitals
For an emergency, call 911.
Local and regional hospitals
Mary Washington Hospital visitor information — Fredericksburg; regional hospital outside the surrounding counties. View hospital services and visitor information. This is a regional option, not a nearest-hospital ranking.
Local
Health Department — Find local public-health or healthcare information; this is not a hospital emergency department.
Virginia statewide
Virginia local health districts — Find the public health district and offices serving your locality.
VDH health facility oversight — Find licensing information and facility oversight contacts.
Virginia Medicaid — Find official coverage and member-service information.
Virginia health insurance marketplace — Review coverage options through the state marketplace.
Virginia 211 — Find local assistance with health access, transportation and basic needs.
Virginia immunization services — Find public vaccination information and service resources.
Virginia maternal health — Find state maternal-health resources and support.
National locator
HRSA health center locator — Search nearby federally supported health centers.
Public Safety
For an emergency, call 911.
Local
Sheriff's Office — Find the local law-enforcement office and its public services.
Sheriff's Office — Find the local law-enforcement office and its public services.
Virginia statewide
Active Alerts — Check current statewide public-safety alerts.
Missing Persons — View official missing-person notices and reporting information.
Criminal Record Check — Find state criminal-history record request procedures.
Fingerprinting — Review official fingerprinting service information.
Aggressive/Reckless Driver: How to Report — Read the State Police procedure for reporting dangerous driving.
Crime Prevention — Browse practical crime-prevention resources.
Vehicle Safety Inspection — Find information about Virginia vehicle safety inspections.
Vehicle Recalls — Check official resources for vehicle safety recalls.
Emergency Services
For an emergency, call 911.
Local
Fire & Rescue — Find local fire, rescue or emergency-services information and contacts.
Fire Prevention — Find local fire-prevention information and public safety programs.
Fire Rescue & Emergency Management — Find local emergency planning, alerts and preparedness information.
Emergency Preparedness — Find local emergency planning, alerts and preparedness information.
Virginia statewide
VDEM preparedness — Find Virginia household emergency planning resources.
Virginia 511 — Check traffic incidents and road conditions before travel.
National service
National Weather Service — Enter your location for official forecasts, watches and warnings.
Ready.gov emergency kit — Use the federal checklist to assemble household emergency supplies.
Ready.gov family plan — Prepare a household communication and meeting plan.
Flood preparation — Find preparation and response guidance for flooding.
State Parks
Nearby regional park
Lake Anna State Park — Regional park in Spotsylvania County; trails, shoreline access and seasonal recreation.
Virginia statewide
Find a Park — Compare Virginia state parks by location when planning a regional outing.
Park trail maps — Download park maps before choosing a walking or riding route.
Find programs and events — Check ranger programs and scheduled activities by park and date.
Reservation information — Review how to reserve campsites, cabins and other facilities.
Prices — Check the official fee schedule before your visit.
Search by amenity — Find parks with the facilities your group needs.
Accessibility — Review accessible facilities and visitor assistance.
Become a Junior Ranger — Find children's learning activities available through the state park system.
Rules and regulations — Check visitor rules, permitted activities and restrictions.
Trails
Nearby regional park
Lake Anna trail information — Regional park in Spotsylvania County; trails, shoreline access and seasonal recreation. Use the official maps to plan a route.
Local
Parks & Recreation — Find local recreation facilities and information for planning an outdoor visit.
Parks — Find local recreation facilities and information for planning an outdoor visit.
Parks & Recreation Department — Find local recreation facilities and information for planning an outdoor visit.
Parks & Walking Trails — Find trail planning information, maps or current project status.
Virginia statewide
Park trail maps — Download official state park trail maps and choose an appropriate route.
Hiking — Find state park walking opportunities and planning information.
Biking — Identify parks with cycling opportunities and check permitted use.
Equestrian — Find horse-trail and horse-camping information.
Accessibility — Check accessibility information before choosing a trail.
Utilities
Local
Public Utilities — Find public utility or public works contacts and service information; coverage varies by address.
Utilities Listing — Find public utility or public works contacts and service information; coverage varies by address.
Solid Waste & Recycling — Find local waste-disposal or recycling information.
Public Works — Find public utility or public works contacts and service information; coverage varies by address.
Virginia statewide
Regulated Electric Companies & Service Map — Identify electric service territories; confirm service for your specific address.
Regulated Gas Companies & Service Map — Identify regulated gas providers and their service areas.
Regulated Water/Sewer Companies — Find regulated water and sewer companies; municipal systems may be separate.
Universal Service: Lifeline — Review the telephone affordability program and application resources.
Electricity FAQs — Find answers about electric utility service and billing.
Natural Gas FAQs — Find answers about gas service and customer responsibilities.
Libraries
Local
Library — Find library services, branch information and borrowing resources.
Caroline County Library System — Find library services, branch information and borrowing resources.
Local contacts
Caroline County Library — 17202 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, VA 22427. 804-633-5455 . Contact listing: IMLS FY2024; confirm hours and services directly.
Dawn Branch — 31046 Richmond Turnpike, Hanover, VA 23069. 804-632-8341 . Contact listing: IMLS FY2024; confirm hours and services directly.
Port Royal Branch — 419 King Street, Port Royal, VA 22535. 804-742-5254 . Contact listing: IMLS FY2024; confirm hours and services directly.
Ladysmith Branch — 7199 Clara Smith Drive, Ruther Glen, VA 22546. 804-448-0357 . Contact listing: IMLS FY2024; confirm hours and services directly.
Virginia statewide
Get a Library Card — Check eligibility for a Library of Virginia account and remote resources.
Catalog Search — Search the state library catalog for books and archival material.
Databases & eBooks — Explore online research databases and electronic books; access rules vary.
Research Guides & Indexes — Find guidance for Virginia genealogy and historical research.
Courts
Local
Clerk of Court — Find official courts information and service contacts.
General District Court — Find court contacts, office information and guidance for court business.
Clerk of Court Online Forms — Locate forms provided by the local court office.
Virginia statewide
Find a Local Court — Identify the court serving your locality and its official contact page.
Case Status and Information — Choose the appropriate court system to look up case information.
Pay Traffic Tickets and Other Offenses — Review official payment options and participating courts.
Access to Justice Self-Help — Find court-approved self-help information and forms.
Other Court-Related Forms — Locate forms by court and proceeding type.
Assistance with Protective Orders (I-CAN!) — Find the court system's protective-order assistance resources.
Mediation — Learn about court-connected mediation services.
DMV
Local
DMV — Check locally offered DMV services before visiting; DMV Select has limited transactions.
Virginia statewide
Locations — Find a customer service center and check the services offered before traveling.
Reserve Your Spot — Check appointment options for a DMV visit.
Driver's License — Find instructions for obtaining, renewing or replacing a Virginia license.
Title Your Vehicle or Trailer — Review the documents needed to establish vehicle ownership.
Registration — Find vehicle registration and renewal instructions.
REAL ID — Review the identity documents needed for a REAL ID credential.
Disability Programs — Find parking placard and license plate information.
Change my address — Update the address attached to your DMV records.
Request a Copy of Your Driver or Vehicle Record — Request an official driving or vehicle record.
Transportation
Virginia statewide
Traffic conditions — Check road incidents, closures and traffic cameras before travel.
Travel advisories — Read current VDOT travel notices and planned restrictions.
Road maps — Download official highway and county road maps.
Toll roads — Identify toll facilities and their payment information.
Rest areas — Locate state-maintained rest stops along major highways.
Virginia Breeze routes — Compare intercity bus stops and schedules; service does not reach every county.
Virginia Breeze passenger information — Check luggage, accessibility and trip-planning information.
Commuting and public transit — Find Commonwealth public-transportation resources.
Virginia passenger rail — Compare Amtrak Virginia routes and stations for regional trips.
VDOT customer service — Report road maintenance concerns to VDOT.
Postal Services
USPS nationwide service
Locations — Locate post offices and collection boxes by your address or ZIP Code.
Forwarding Mail — Review mail-forwarding and change-of-address options.
Rent/Renew a PO Box — Check PO Box availability, rental and renewal options.
Schedule a Pickup — Check address eligibility and arrange collection of qualifying packages.
Schedule a Redelivery — Request another delivery attempt for eligible missed mail.
Track a Package — Check delivery progress using a USPS tracking number.
Calculate a Price — Compare postage costs for the size and destination of your mailing.
Finding Missing Mail — Follow the official steps for a delayed or missing item.
Passports — Locate passport acceptance services and review appointment preparation.
USPS Service Updates — Check disruptions affecting postal operations before visiting or shipping.
Veterans
Virginia statewide
Virginia Department of Veterans Services — Find state benefits offices and veteran support programs.
Virginia Veterans Network employment services — Connect with Virginia veteran employment and transition assistance.
National VA service
VA facility locator — Find nearby VA medical centers, clinics and benefit offices.
Accredited claims representatives — Find accredited assistance with VA benefit claims.
VA health care enrollment — Review health care enrollment and application options.
Disability claims — Find the official steps for filing a disability claim.
Education benefits — Review application steps for VA education benefits.
Careers and employment — Explore VA career counseling and employment support.
VA housing assistance — Find veteran home-loan and housing assistance programs.
Burial and memorial benefits — Review cemetery, burial and memorial benefit resources.
Employment
Local
Human Resources — Find county employment information and the human resources office.
Employment Opportunities — View employment opportunities and application guidance from this local employer.
Employment Find job opportunities — View employment opportunities and application guidance from this local employer.
Virginia statewide
Virginia Works job-seeker services — Find career assistance, training and job-search support.
Virginia Workforce Connection — Learn how to register for the state job-search system.
Registered apprenticeships — Search approved apprenticeship opportunities.
Virginia state jobs — Search current Commonwealth employment openings.
Unemployment applications — Find official application steps for unemployment benefits.
VEC reemployment services — Review the state reemployment and eligibility-assessment program.
Virginia community colleges — Find community colleges and workforce-training pathways.
Get to Know Caroline County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Caroline County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
34,413 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
536.988 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
The display presents a resin cast of a prehistoric whale skeleton associated with the county. It is an unexpected introduction to the region’s deep natural history, rather than a modern marine-life exhibit. Visitor-center whale display.
Historic Port Royal offers museum interpretation and walking-tour information about the river-port community. Begin with the organization’s visitor information, then look for the relationship between the historic streets and the Rappahannock. Historic Port Royal.
The county’s Art and Antiques Trail brings together stops for browsing local art and older objects. Choose a few participating locations and confirm their hours before planning a leisurely driving loop. Caroline Art and Antiques Trail.
The Meadow is central to the county’s Secretariat story. Caroline’s tourism page introduces the horse and the Meadow Event Park; use its current visitor information to distinguish scheduled experiences from general grounds access. Secretariat and the Meadow.
Caroline County was formed from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties during the 1720s and named for Queen Caroline. Bowling Green became its civic center, while Port Royal developed in a riverfront setting. County planning history also recognizes Indigenous communities in the area before colonial government. The contrast between inland administration and navigable waterways gives the county more than one historical center of attention. It is a useful starting point for investigating individual towns, routes and records in greater detail.
Compare Bowling Green's county-seat setting with Port Royal's river context through a focused two-town route. Choose a current public heritage destination in each community before traveling. Historical accounts of waterways and Indigenous places need interpretation rather than an assumption of present access. For a records inquiry, use the county's historical-society resources to refine the topic, keeping the town's particular history separate from a general institutional timeline.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 527.363 square miles of land and 9.625 square miles of water in Caroline County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
In the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate series, Caroline County had an estimated 30,922 residents on July 1, 2020, and 34,413 on July 1, 2025. Over that interval, the estimated population increased by 3,491 residents, or about 11.3%. Both figures come from the same estimate vintage, which revises earlier years for a consistent comparison.
The county’s agriculture visitor listings include farms, nurseries and markets. Select an activity that welcomes visitors, then check its seasonal schedule; working farms do not all offer daily drop-in access. Caroline agricultural experiences.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
Kids’ Fun
- Caroline Recreation Park
Milford, Caroline County — in Caroline County
Public recreation park with play and sports facilities. - Robert Farmer Park
Caroline County — in Caroline County
County park for outdoor family recreation. - Caroline County Library
Caroline County — in Caroline County
Browse children’s books together and check the branch calendar for family activities.
Restaurants
- Los Dos Amigos
Bowling Green — in Caroline County
Mexican restaurant on North Main Street in Bowling Green. - The Mix House
Bowling Green — in Caroline County
Coffee shop on North Main Street with drinks and cafe fare. - Gibson’s Soft Serve
Bowling Green — in Caroline County
Soft-serve ice cream and frozen treats on South Main Street.
Shopping & Retail
- Sundry
Bowling Green — in Caroline County
Creative marketplace on Bowling Green’s North Main Street. - Dollar General — Bowling Green
Bowling Green — in Caroline County
Local store for household basics and everyday supplies. - Riverby Books
Fredericksburg — nearby region; outside Caroline County
Used-book shop in downtown Fredericksburg.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Cindy’s Closet
Ruther Glen — in Caroline County
Community thrift shop in Ruther Glen; browse clothing and check current shop information. - Monkee’s of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg — nearby region; outside Caroline County
Women’s clothing, shoes and accessories at the Fredericksburg boutique. - Belk — Spotsylvania Towne Centre
Spotsylvania Towne Centre — nearby region; outside Caroline County
Department-store apparel, shoes and accessories.
Outdoor Fun
- Caroline Recreation Park
Milford, Caroline County — in Caroline County
Plan a park outing using the county facility information. - Robert Farmer Park
Caroline County — in Caroline County
Public park in Caroline County; check available facilities. - Lake Anna State Park
Spotsylvania County — nearby region; outside Caroline County
Plan a walk on the park’s designated trails and review current access, parking and activity fees.
Free Things To Do
- Caroline County Library
Caroline County — in Caroline County
Enjoy reading and browsing in the public library; borrowing eligibility and optional service charges are separate. - Chatham Manor
Stafford County — nearby region; outside Caroline County
Walk the grounds and explore NPS interpretation; check building opening hours. - Chancellorsville Battlefield
Chancellorsville — nearby region; outside Caroline County
Walk the battlefield and view NPS interpretation; the park has no entrance fee.
A New Stop, a Local ConnectionExplore the Listings Below