List of counties in Virginia

Independent cities and Counties of Virginia
Location	Commonwealth of Virginia
Number	95 Counties 38 Independent Cities
Populations	(Counties):2,536 (Highland) – 1,118,602 (Fairfax) (Independent cities):2,536 (Norton) – 447,021 (Virginia Beach)
Areas	(Counties):26 square miles (67 km^2) (Arlington) – 978 square miles (2,530 km^2) (Pittsylvania) (Independent cities):2 square miles (5.2 km^2) (Manassas Park) – 400 square miles (1,000 km^2) (Suffolk)
Government	County government
Subdivisions	(Counties):cities, towns, unincorporated communities, census designated place (Independent cities):Borough, Neighborhood

Virginia counties and cities by year of establishment.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 38 independent cities that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes. Note that the map in this article, taken from the official United States Census Bureau site, includes Clifton Forge and Bedford as independent cities. This reflected the political reality at the time of the 2000 Census. However, both have since chosen to revert to town status. In Virginia, cities are co-equal levels of government to counties, but towns are part of counties. For some counties, for statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines any independent cities with the county that it was once part of (before the legislation creating independent cities took place in 1871).

Many county seats are politically not a part of the counties they serve; under Virginia law, all municipalities incorporated as cities are independent cities and are not part of any county. Some of the cities in the Hampton Roads area (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, and Suffolk) were formed from an entire county. These cities are no longer county seats, since the counties ceased to exist once the cities were completely formed, but are functionally equivalent to counties.

It is also worthy of note that there are several counties and cities which have the same name, but are separate politically. These currently include Fairfax, Franklin, Richmond, and Roanoke. In the past they also included Norfolk and Alexandria, whose counties changed their names, ostensibly to end some of the confusion; as well as Bedford, where a city was surrounded by a county of the same name from 1968 until 2013, when the city reverted to town status. A city and county that share a name may be completely unrelated in geography. For example, Richmond County is nowhere near the City of Richmond, and Franklin County is even farther from the City of Franklin.

More Virginia counties are named for women than in any other state.^[1]

Virginia's postal abbreviation is VA and its FIPS state code is 51.

List of the 95 counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia (links shown under FIPS County Code are for the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics Info Page for that county):

Clickable map

List of counties

County	FIPS County Code [2]	County seat [3]	Established [3]	Origin	Etymology	Population [3]	Area [3]	Map
Accomack County	001	Accomac	1663	Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the original eight shires of Virginia.	From the Native American word Accawmack, meaning "on the other side", referencing the county's position across Chesapeake Bay	33,164	455 sq mi (1,178 km^2)
Albemarle County	003	Charlottesville	1744	In 1744, the Virginia General Assembly created Albemarle County by taking the northern portion of Goochland County.	Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, colonial proprietary governor	98,970	723 sq mi (1,873 km^2)
Alleghany County	005	Covington	1822	Formed from parts of Bath and Botetourt counties as well as Monroe County (now in WV)	Alleghany Mountains	16,250	446 sq mi (1,155 km^2)
Amelia County	007	Amelia Court House	1735	Formed from Brunswick and Prince George counties	Princess Amelia Sophia, second daughter of George II of Great Britain	11,400	357 sq mi (925 km^2)
Amherst County	009	Amherst	1761	From Albemarle county	Jeffery Amherst, British conqueror of Quebec during the Seven Years' War and colonial governor of Virginia	31,894	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Appomattox County	011	Appomattox	1845	From Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte and Prince Edward counties	Appomattox River	13,705	334 sq mi (865 km^2)
Arlington County	013	Arlington	1846	Annexed from the District of Columbia, having previously been part of Fairfax County prior to the district’s formation	Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, originally called Alexandria County; renamed in 1920	220,565	26 sq mi (67 km^2)
Augusta County	015	Staunton	1738	Augusta county was formed in 1738 from Orange County, Virginia, although the government was not organized until 1745.	Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess of Wales	73,750	971 sq mi (2,515 km^2)
Bath County	017	Warm Springs	1791	From Augusta, Botetourt and Greenbrier counties May 1, 1791	Bath, England	5,048	532 sq mi (1,378 km^2)
Bedford County	019	Bedford	1754	From Lunenburg county	John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, British politician and one of the head negotiators of the Peace of Paris	60,371	755 sq mi (1,955 km^2)
Bland County	021	Bland	1861	From Giles, Tazewell, and Wythe counties	Richard Bland, member of the Continental Congress and publisher of the American Revolutionary War-era tract An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies	6,871	359 sq mi (930 km^2)
Botetourt County	023	Fincastle	1770	From Augusta county.	Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, colonial governor of Virginia	30,496	543 sq mi (1,406 km^2)
Brunswick County	025	Lawrenceville	1720	From Prince George county	Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	18,419	566 sq mi (1,466 km^2)
Buchanan County	027	Grundy	1858	From Russell and Tazewell counties	James Buchanan, fifteenth U.S. President	26,978	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
Buckingham County	029	Buckingham	1761	From Albemarle county	Buckinghamshire, England	15,623	581 sq mi (1,505 km^2)
Campbell County	031	Rustburg	1782	From Bedford county	William Campbell, Revolutionary War general	51,078	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
Caroline County	033	Bowling Green	1728	From Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties	Caroline of Ansbach, wife of King George II of Great Britain	28,545	533 sq mi (1,380 km^2)
Carroll County	035	Hillsville	1842	From Grayson county	Charles Carroll of Carrollton	30,042	476 sq mi (1,233 km^2)
Charles City County	036	Charles City	1634	Colonial division before 1635[4]	King Charles I of England	6,926	182 sq mi (471 km^2)
Charlotte County	037	Charlotte Court House	1765	From Lunenburg county	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of Great Britain	12,472	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Chesterfield County	041	Chesterfield	1749	From Henrico County	Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British politician and Lord of the Bedchamber	322,388	426 sq mi (1,103 km^2)
Clarke County	043	Berryville	1836	From Frederick County	George Rogers Clarke, Revolutionary War general	12,652	177 sq mi (458 km^2)
Craig County	045	New Castle	1851	Formed from Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, and Monroe (in present-day West Virginia) Counties	Robert Craig, U.S. Representative from Virginia	5,091	330 sq mi (855 km^2)
Culpeper County	047	Culpeper	1749	Culpeper County was established in 1749 from Orange County, Virginia.	Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial proprietary governor	46,689	381 sq mi (987 km^2)
Cumberland County	049	Cumberland	1749	Goochland County	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, British general, politician, and son of King George II	9,017	298 sq mi (772 km^2)
Dickenson County	051	Clintwood	1880	Formed from parts of Buchanan, Russell, and Wise Counties	William J. Dickinson, member of the Virginia House of Delegates	16,395	333 sq mi (862 km^2)
Dinwiddie County	053	Dinwiddie	1752	From Prince George County	Robert Dinwiddie, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	24,533	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
Essex County	057	Tappahannock	1692	Essex County was established in 1692 from Rappahannock County, Virginia.	Essex, United Kingdom	9,989	258 sq mi (668 km^2)
Fairfax County	059	Fairfax	1742	From Prince William County	Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the only resident British noble in Virginia	1,118,602	396 sq mi (1,026 km^2)
Fauquier County	061	Warrenton	1759	From Prince William County	Francis Fauquier, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	68,010	650 sq mi (1,683 km^2)
Floyd County	063	Floyd	1831	From Montgomery County	John Floyd, governor of Virginia	13,874	382 sq mi (989 km^2)
Fluvanna County	065	Palmyra	1777	From Henrico County	From the Latin name for the James River, which itself translates to "Annie's River" in honor of Queen Anne	20,047	287 sq mi (743 km^2)
Franklin County	067	Rocky Mount	1786	Formed from parts of Bedford and Henry Counties	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, orator, scholar, and U.S. Founding Father	47,286	692 sq mi (1,792 km^2)
Frederick County	069	Winchester	1738	From Orange County	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II	59,209	415 sq mi (1,075 km^2)
Giles County	071	Pearisburg	1806	Formed from Montgomery, Monroe, Wythe, and Tazewell Counties	William Branch Giles, U.S. Senator from Virginia	16,657	358 sq mi (927 km^2)
Gloucester County	073	Gloucester	1651	From York County	Gloucestershire, England	34,780	217 sq mi (562 km^2)
Goochland County	075	Goochland	1728	From Henrico County	William Gooch, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	16,863	284 sq mi (736 km^2)
Grayson County	077	Independence	1793	From Wythe County	William Grayson, U.S. Senator from Virginia	17,917	443 sq mi (1,147 km^2)
Greene County	079	Stanardsville	1838	From Orange County	Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general	15,244	157 sq mi (407 km^2)
Greensville County	081	Emporia	1781	From Brunswick County	Richard Grenville, commander of the English expedition to found Roanoke Colony	11,560	296 sq mi (767 km^2)
Halifax County	083	Halifax	1752	From Lunenburg County	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, President of the Board of Trade	37,355	814 sq mi (2,108 km^2)
Hanover County	085	Hanover	1721	From the area of New Kent County called St. Paul's Parish	Electorate of Hanover, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	101,327	473 sq mi (1,225 km^2)
Henrico County	087	Richmond	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, oldest son of James I of England	306,935	238 sq mi (616 km^2)
Henry County	089	Martinsville	1777	From Pittsylvania County, it was initially named Patrick Henry County	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	57,930	382 sq mi (989 km^2)
Highland County	091	Monterey	1847	From Bath and Pendleton Counties[5]	Mountainous topography	2,536	416 sq mi (1,077 km^2)
Isle of Wight County	093	Isle of Wight	1634	Original county of the Colony under England, initially named Warrosquyoake Shire	Isle of Wight, England	29,728	316 sq mi (818 km^2)
James City County	095	Williamsburg	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	King James I of England	68,971	143 sq mi (370 km^2)
King and Queen County	097	King and Queen Court House	1691	King and Queen County was established in 1691 from New Kent County, Virginia.	King William III and Queen Mary II	6,630	316 sq mi (818 km^2)
King George County	099	King George	1721	From Richmond County	George I of Great Britain	16,803	180 sq mi (466 km^2)
King William County	101	King William	1702	English colonists formed King William County in 1702 out of King and Queen County, Virginia.	William III of England	13,146	275 sq mi (712 km^2)
Lancaster County	103	Lancaster	1651	Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties.	Lancaster, United Kingdom	11,567	133 sq mi (344 km^2)
Lee County	105	Jonesville	1793	From Russell County	Light Horse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War general and governor of Virginia	23,589	437 sq mi (1,132 km^2)
Loudoun County	107	Leesburg	1757	From Fairfax County	John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, British Commander-in-Chief, North America during the Seven Years' War	333,253	520 sq mi (1,347 km^2)
Louisa County	109	Louisa	1742	From Hanover County	Princess Louise, youngest daughter of George II	25,627	498 sq mi (1,290 km^2)
Lunenburg County	111	Lunenburg	1746	From Brunswick County	Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	13,146	432 sq mi (1,119 km^2)
Madison County	113	Madison	1793	From Orange County	James Madison, Congressman from Virginia, principal author of the U.S. Constitution, and future U.S. President	12,520	322 sq mi (834 km^2)
Mathews County	115	Mathews	1791	From Gloucester County	Thomas Mathews, Revolutionary War general.	9,207	86 sq mi (223 km^2)
Mecklenburg County	117	Boydton	1765	From Lunenburg County	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	32,380	624 sq mi (1,616 km^2)
Middlesex County	119	Saluda	1673	From Lancaster County	Middlesex, United Kingdom	9,932	130 sq mi (337 km^2)
Montgomery County	121	Christiansburg	1777	From Fincastle County	Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War general	83,629	388 sq mi (1,005 km^2)
Nelson County	125	Lovingston	1808	From Amherst County	Thomas Nelson Jr., governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence	14,445	472 sq mi (1,222 km^2)
New Kent County	127	New Kent	1654	New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County, Virginia.	Kent County, England	13,462	210 sq mi (544 km^2)
Northampton County	131	Eastville	1634	Original county of the Colony under England, initially named Accomac Shire	Northamptonshire, England	13,093	207 sq mi (536 km^2)
Northumberland County	133	Heathsville	1648	The county was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1648 during a period of rapid population growth and geographic expansion.	Northumberland, United Kingdom	12,259	192 sq mi (497 km^2)
Nottoway County	135	Nottoway	1789	From the area of Amelia County called Nottaway Parish	Nodawa tribe	15,725	315 sq mi (816 km^2)
Orange County	137	Orange	1734	Settlers established the legal entity of Orange County in 1734 from a portion of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.	William III of England	25,881	342 sq mi (886 km^2)
Page County	139	Luray	1831	From Shenandoah and Rockingham counties	John Page, governor of Virginia	23,177	311 sq mi (805 km^2)
Patrick County	141	Stuart	1791	From Patrick Henry County	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	19,407	483 sq mi (1,251 km^2)
Pittsylvania County	143	Chatham	1767	From Halifax County	William Pitt, British Prime Minister	61,745	978 sq mi (2,533 km^2)
Powhatan County	145	Powhatan	1777	From Cumberland County	Powhatan tribe	22,377	261 sq mi (676 km^2)
Prince Edward County	147	Farmville	1754	From Amelia County	Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, brother of George III	19,720	353 sq mi (914 km^2)
Prince George County	149	Prince George	1703	From Charles City County	Prince Jørgen of Denmark & Norway, husband of Queen Anne	33,047	266 sq mi (689 km^2)
Prince William County	153	Manassas	1731	From Stafford and King George counties	Prince William Augustus, son of George II	421,164	338 sq mi (875 km^2)
Pulaski County	155	Pulaski	1839	From Montgomery and Wythe counties	Kazimierz Pulaski, Polish-born Revolutionary War general	35,127	321 sq mi (831 km^2)
Rappahannock County	157	Washington	1833	First founded in 1656 from part of Lancaster, and became extinct in 1692 when split to form Essex and Richmond. The current county was formed by the General Assembly in 1833, based on the need for a new county seat. County lands were taken from Culpeper.	Rappahannock River	6,983	267 sq mi (692 km^2)
Richmond County	159	Warsaw	1692	The original Rappahannock County was split to form Richmond and Essex counties.	Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, illegitimate son of King Charles II	8,809	192 sq mi (497 km^2)
Roanoke County	161	Salem	1838	From the southern part of Botetourt County	Roanoke River	85,778	251 sq mi (650 km^2)
Rockbridge County	163	Lexington	1778	From parts of Augusta and Botetourt counties	Natural Bridge	20,808	600 sq mi (1,554 km^2)
Rockingham County	165	Harrisonburg	1778	From Augusta County	Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister	67,725	851 sq mi (2,204 km^2)
Russell County	167	Lebanon	1786	From a section of Washington County	William Russell, frontiersman and state representative	30,308	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Scott County	169	Gate City	1814	Formed from parts of Washington, Lee, and Russell Counties	Winfield Scott, War of 1812 and later Mexican-American War general	23,403	537 sq mi (1,391 km^2)
Shenandoah County	171	Woodstock	1772	Formed from land purchased from the Iroquois in 1744	Shenandoah River	35,075	512 sq mi (1,326 km^2)
Smyth County	173	Marion	1832	From Washington and Wythe counties	Alexander Smyth, Congressman from Virginia	33,081	452 sq mi (1,171 km^2)
Southampton County	175	Courtland	1749	Most of it from part of Warrosquyoake Shire	Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company	17,482	600 sq mi (1,554 km^2)
Spotsylvania County	177	Spotsylvania Courthouse	1721	Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties.	Alexander Spotswood, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	125,684	401 sq mi (1,039 km^2)
Stafford County	179	Stafford	1664	From part of Westmoreland County	Stafford, England	132,791	270 sq mi (699 km^2)
Surry County	181	Surry	1652	From part of James City County	Surrey, United Kingdom	6,829	279 sq mi (723 km^2)
Sussex County	183	Sussex	1754	From Surry County	Sussex, United Kingdom	12,504	491 sq mi (1,272 km^2)
Tazewell County	185	Tazewell	1800	From portions of Wythe and Russell counties	Henry Tazewell, U.S. Senator from Virginia	44,598	520 sq mi (1,347 km^2)
Warren County	187	Front Royal	1836	From Frederick and Shenandoah counties	Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War general	31,584	214 sq mi (554 km^2)
Washington County	191	Abingdon	1777	From Fincastle County	George Washington, Revolutionary War commander, U.S. Founding Father, and future U.S. President	51,103	564 sq mi (1,461 km^2)
Westmoreland County	193	Montross	1653	From Northumberland County	Westmoreland, United Kingdom	16,718	229 sq mi (593 km^2)
Wise County	195	Wise	1856	From Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties	Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia	40,123	403 sq mi (1,044 km^2)
Wythe County	197	Wytheville	1790	From Montgomery County	George Wythe, legal scholar and signer of the Declaration of Independence	27,599	463 sq mi (1,199 km^2)
York County	199	Yorktown	1634	Formed in 1634 as one of the eight shires of Virginia. It was originally called Charles River Shire.	James Stuart, Duke of York, the future King James II	65,464	106 sq mi (275 km^2)

List of independent cities

City	FIPS County Code [2]	Seat [3]	Established [3]	Origin	Etymology	Population [3]	Area [3]	Map
City of Alexandria	510	N/A	1902[6]	From Alexandria County before 1870[7]	Phillip & John Alexander, brothers and area plantation owners	147,391	15 sq mi (39 km^2)
City of Bristol	520	N/A	1902[6]	From Washington County in 1890[7]	Bristol, England	17,367	12 sq mi (31 km^2)
City of Buena Vista	530	N/A	1902[6]	From Rockbridge County in 1892[7]	from the Buena Vista Company, which founded an iron mine in the area and established the town for its laborers	6,349	7 sq mi (18 km^2)
City of Charlottesville	540	N/A	1902[6]	From Albemarle County in 1888[7]	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	45,049	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
City of Chesapeake	550	N/A	1963	Formed out of consolidation of Norfolk County (extinct) and City of South Norfolk (extinct)[8]	Chesapeake tribe	222,209	341 sq mi (883 km^2)
City of Colonial Heights	570	N/A	1948	From Chesterfield County	From the actions of Revolutionary War general Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette; his soldiers, nicknamed the "Colonials," placed an artillery on high ground overlooking Petersburg	16,897	8 sq mi (21 km^2)
City of Covington	580	N/A	1952	From Alleghany County	Leonard Covington, hero of the Siege of Fort Recovery and Congressman from Maryland	6,303	4 sq mi (10 km^2)
City of Danville	590	N/A	1902[6]	From Pittsylvania County before 1870[7]	Dan River	48,411	43 sq mi (111 km^2)
City of Emporia	595	N/A	1967	From Greensville County	Emporia, Kansas	5,665	7 sq mi (18 km^2)
City of Fairfax	600	N/A	1961	From Fairfax County	Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, only resident British noble in colonial Virginia	21,498	6 sq mi (16 km^2)
City of Falls Church	610	N/A	1948	From Fairfax County	The Falls Church	12,332	2 sq mi (5 km^2)
City of Franklin	620	N/A	1961	From Southampton County	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, scholar, orator, and U.S. Founding Father	8,346	8 sq mi (21 km^2)
City of Fredericksburg	630	N/A	1902[6]	From Spotsylvania County before 1870[7]	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II	24,286	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
City of Galax	640	N/A	1952	From Grayson County and Carroll County	the galax shrub	6,837	8 sq mi (21 km^2)
City of Hampton	650	N/A	1908	Founded 1610. Current city formed by consolidation of Elizabeth City County and City of Hampton in 1952[8]	Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company	146,437	52 sq mi (135 km^2)
City of Harrisonburg	660	N/A	1916	From Rockingham County in 1916[7]	Thomas Harrison, pioneering settler and town founder	40,468	18 sq mi (47 km^2)
City of Hopewell	670	N/A	1916	From Prince George County in 1916[7]	The Hopewell, a ship that carried some of the early English settlers to Virginia	22,354	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
City of Lexington	678	N/A	1966	From Rockbridge County	Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington	6,867	2 sq mi (5 km^2)
City of Lynchburg	680	N/A	1902[6]	From Campbell County before 1870[7]	John Lynch, ferry operator and constructor of the first bridge across the James River in the area	65,269	49 sq mi (127 km^2)
City of Manassas	683	N/A	1975	From Prince William County?	Manassas Gap Railroad	40,605	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
City of Manassas Park	685	N/A	1975	From Prince William County?	Manassas Gap Railroad and Manassas National Battlefield Park	14,273	2 sq mi (5 km^2)
City of Martinsville	690	N/A	1928	From Henry County	Joseph Martin, Revolutionary War general	15,416	11 sq mi (28 km^2)
City of Newport News	700	N/A	1902[6]	From Warwick County in 1896[7]	Uncertain—see main city article	180,726	68 sq mi (176 km^2)
City of Norfolk	710	N/A	1845[9]	Founded 1682.[10] Incorporated as City in 1845 from Norfolk County (extinct)[8]	Norfolk, England	245,782	54 sq mi (140 km^2)
City of Norton	720	N/A	1954	From Wise County	Eckstein Norton, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad	3,904	7 sq mi (18 km^2)
City of Petersburg	730	N/A	1902[6]	From Prince George County before 1870[7]	Peter Jones, early settler and merchant	33,740	23 sq mi (60 km^2)
City of Poquoson	735	N/A	1975	From York County	An Algonquin term roughly translating to "great marsh" or "flat land"	11,566	16 sq mi (41 km^2)
City of Portsmouth	740	N/A	1858[8]	Founded 1752.[11] Incorporated as City in 1858 from Norfolk County (extinct)[8]	Portsmouth, England	96,470	33 sq mi (85 km^2)
City of Radford	750	N/A	1902[6]	From Montgomery County in 1892[7]	Dr. John Blair Radford, owner of a plantation that included that town's lands	15,859	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
City of Richmond	760	N/A	1902[6]	From Henrico County before 1870[7]	Richmond, Surrey, England	210,309	60 sq mi (155 km^2)
City of Roanoke	770	N/A	1902[6]	From Roanoke County in 1884[7]	Roanoke River	94,911	43 sq mi (111 km^2)
City of Salem	775	N/A	1968	From Roanoke County	After Salem, New Jersey, home of town founder William Bryan	24,747	15 sq mi (39 km^2)
City of Staunton	790	N/A	1902[6]	From Augusta County before 1870[7]	Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of colonial Lieutenant Governor William Gooch	23,853	20 sq mi (52 km^2)
City of Suffolk	800	N/A	1910[12]	Founded 1742.[12] Incorporated as City in 1910 from Nansemond County (extinct)[12]	Suffolk, England	63,677	400 sq mi (1,036 km^2)
City of Virginia Beach	810	N/A	1963	Founded 1906 around existing community of Seatack. Incorporated as City in 1963 from Princess Anne County (extinct)[8]	The city's coastal location	447,021	248 sq mi (642 km^2)
City of Waynesboro	820	N/A	1948	From Augusta County	Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general	19,520	14 sq mi (36 km^2)
City of Williamsburg	830	N/A	1902[6]	From James City County	William III of England	14,068	9 sq mi (23 km^2)
City of Winchester	840	N/A	1902[6]	From Frederick County in 1874[7]	Winchester, England	23,585	9 sq mi (23 km^2)

Former counties

Virginia Colony

• Bermuda Hundred (1617–?)
• Kecoughtan (1617–?)

Kentucky Territory

• Fincastle (1772–1776), formed from territory claimed by Botetourt Co. & including western Virginia
• Kentucky (1776–1780), formed from Fincastle
  • Fayette (1780–1792), formed from Kentucky Co., centered on Lexington, and seceded to form Kentucky
    • Bourbon (1785–1792), formed from Fayette, centered on Paris, and seceded to form Kentucky
      • Mason (1788–1792), formed from Bourbon, centered on Limestone, and seceded to form Kentucky
    • Woodford (1788–1792), formed from Fayette, centered on Versailles, and seceded to form Kentucky
  • Jefferson (1780–1792), formed from Kentucky Co., centered on Louisville, and seceded to form Kentucky
    • Nelson (1782–1792), formed from Jefferson, centered on Baird's Town, and seceded to form Kentucky
  • Lincoln (1780–1792), formed from Kentucky Co., centered first on Harrodstown then on Stanford, and seceded to form Kentucky
    • Madison (1785–1792), formed from Lincoln, centered on Milford, and seceded to form Kentucky
    • Mercer (1786–1792), formed from Lincoln, centered on Harrodsburg, and seceded to form Kentucky

West Virginia

• Virginia lost 50 counties upon the secession of West Virginia in June 1863

References

1. Kane, Joseph Nathan; Aiken, Charles Curry (2005). The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000. Scarecrow Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-8108-5036-1.
2. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
3. National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Retrieved 2007-04-26.
4. "Virginia Historical Counties". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: Newberry Library. Retrieved 2010-07-10. Select the map for December 31, 1634 (the earliest date available).
5. "About Us: History". Highland County. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
6. "Virginia Historical Counties". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: Newberry Library. Retrieved 2010-07-09. Compare the maps for July 9 and July 10, 1902.
7. Census Office (1920). "Fourteenth Census of the United States".
8. Durman, George W. "Current Virginia Counties & Independent Cities". Germanna Colonies. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
9. City of Norfolk. "19th Century History". City of Norfolk History. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
10. City of Norfolk. "17th Century History". City of Norfolk History. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
11. City of Portsmouth. "City of Portsmouth, Virginia - History". City of Portsmouth. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
12. City of Suffolk. "All About Suffolk: History". Suffolk: Community. Retrieved 31 January 2012.