McDowell, VA Public Records
McDowell is an unincorporated community (a census-designated place) in Highland County, Virginia, with an estimated population of 58 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey) and 1.0 square miles of land.
🏢 Local Government for McDowell
McDowell is not an incorporated city or town, so it has no city hall, town clerk or local government of its own. Local government services and records for McDowell come from Highland County. Birth and death certificates, marriage records, deeds and court files come from the county and state offices below.
Population figure: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimate for the McDowell census-designated place (a statistical area, not a government).
↑ Back to record types🏛️ County Courthouse & Records Office for McDowell
McDowell is in Highland County. In Virginia, deeds, mortgages and other land records are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county and independent city. Divorce cases in Virginia are heard by the Circuit Court in each county and independent city. Wills and estates in Virginia are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court (probate) in each county and independent city.
📍 Highland County at a Glance
| County | Highland County |
| County population (2024 est.) | 2,348 Source: www2.census.gov ↗ |
⚖️ Highland Circuit Court – Clerk's Office
| Address | P. O. Box 190, Monterey, VA 24465-0190 (mailing address) |
| Phone | (540) 468-2447 |
| Hours | Clerk's office: 8:30AM - 4:30PM |
| Records available | Circuit court case files (civil, criminal, divorce); the Circuit Court Clerk also records deeds and land records, probates wills and estates, and issues marriage licenses |
| Official website | vacourts.gov |
| Sources | vacourts.gov/…/circ.pdf ↗ vacourts.gov/…/circuit ↗ |
| Last verified | October 16, 2026 |
See the full Highland County records page →
↑ Back to record types📋 Where to Get Records for McDowell
Where to get the most-requested public records for people and property in McDowell, VA:
📋 McDowell Records Guide
| Birth & death certificates | Virginia Department of Health – Office of Vital RecordsIn Virginia, certified birth and death certificates can also be ordered at DMV customer service centers. |
| Deeds & property records | In Virginia, deeds, mortgages and other land records are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county and independent city. |
| Court cases & divorce | Highland County courthouse. Divorce cases in Virginia are heard by the Circuit Court in each county and independent city. |
| Wills & estates | Wills and estates in Virginia are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court (probate) in each county and independent city. |
| State court system | Virginia's Judicial System |
| Sex offender registry | Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry (Virginia State Police) |