Mathews is the second smallest county in Virginia, with 252 square miles, and has a population of approximately 9000.  In 1791, Mathews County was formed from a part of Gloucester and named for Revolutionary War General Thomas Mathews.  Well-known for its waterways, Mathews boasts 214 miles of waterfront, with much of that frontage on the Chesapeake Bay, Piankatank River, North and East Rivers, and Mobjack Bay. All this water makes Mathews a haven for boaters, kayakers, fishermen, and nature lovers.