Mathews County land and farms excite investors, developers, homebuyers and sportsmen because of the miles of waterfront sites, skilled workforce and business-friendly local government. Land in Mathews County is in the Coastal region and adjacent to Middlesex, Gloucester and York counties. The 252-square-mile county includes 166 square miles of water. Tourism, hospitality and fishing are the major sources of employment for the county’s 8,834 residents. Located on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, farming serves a dual purpose by raising crops and livestock. Some farmers create waterfowl impoundments to attract both waterfowl and hunters. Mathews County farmland encompasses 6,584 acres, and crops provide 55% of the agricultural sales. Almost surrounded by water, fishermen enjoy pursuing fish in the Chesapeake Bay, Piankatank and North Rivers, Burke Mill Stream and Mobjack Bay. Hunters go after waterfowl, deer and small game. Other attractions include Wolf Trap Lighthouse, Old Point Comfort Lighthouse located on the grounds of Fort Monroe in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the second-oldest light in the bay and the oldest still in use, and Gwynn's Island. Mathews County Public School provides K-12 public education.
