York County originally was named Charles River County, for King Charles I, and was one of the eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. A record of 7 January 1634 employs the name York County, and a statute of 1643 officially changed the name to York County, probably in honor of James, duke of York, the second son of King Chares I, and later King James II.

Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. Most pre-Revolutionary War-era loose records are missing. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

The Board of Supervisors is the basic governing body of the county. County laws--called ordinances--may also be passed by this board. This form of government came into existence with the state constitution of 1869 when the counties were divided into a minimum of three townships each, with a popularly elected supervisor from each township. When the township system was abolished in 1875, the counties were divided into magisterial districts. The Board of Supervisors are the current elected representatives of these districts and meet in regular monthly public sessions.

The Virginia Constitution of 1869 provided for the election of a superintendent of the poor, and he shared with the overseers responsibility for the almshouses, beggars, vagrants, and other welfare concerns.

The state literary fund was established in 1811, and was assigned the next year to the education of the poor. After 1818, the county court appointed school commissioners to direct the education of indigent children; these commissioners were the active ancestors of the county school board. The Virginia Constitution of 1869 created a uniform system of compulsory free schools, and the new system was administrated by a county superintendent and by school trustees whose general duties were adminstration of school matters and construction and maintenance of school buildings.