County Clerk digitizes land records after $100K investment and grant support

Cumberland County's Board of Supervisors Budget Workshop highlighted a significant achievement in digitizing land records, a project that cost over $100,000 and took three years to complete. The initiative, funded entirely through non-reverting funds generated from fees paid by title searchers and attorneys, has successfully made land records accessible online from as far back as 1749.

The project, which also includes old indexes, allows users to easily locate documents by referencing specific pages and books. The next phase will focus on digitizing wills and marriage licenses, with plans to continue until all relevant records are available online.

In addition to the digitization efforts, the county received a preservation grant of $52,352 from the Library of Virginia to restore historical law order books from the 17th and 18th centuries. A second grant application for $39,675 is pending approval, aimed at restoring deed books and marriage licenses.

The meeting also touched on the budget for the circuit court, which remains minimal, primarily covering a portion of the judge's secretary salary and a few other minor expenses. The successful completion of the land records project marks a significant step forward in improving public access to important historical documents in Cumberland County.