(See below for:
Virginia County Abbreviations
History of County Formations in Text
Discontinued Virginia Counties
(These maps are best viewed at 1024 x 768 dpi.)
Go to Year:
1617 1634 1636 1637 1643 1645 1651 1652 1653 1654 1656 1661 1664 1669 1691 1692 1701 1702 1703 1720 1721 1728 1730 1731 1732 1734 1735 1738 1742 1743 1744 1745 1746 1749 1752 1753 1754 1757 1759 1761 1764 1765 1766 1767 1769 1770 1772 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1804 1806 1807 1808 1809 1814 1816 1818 1820 1821 1822 1824 1831 1832 1833 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1850 1851 1856 1858 1860 1861 1863 1866 1867 1871 1880 1882 1887 1895 1900 1906 1908 1910 1916 1920 1921 1928 1948 1952 1953 1954 1958 1960 1961 1963 1966 1967 1968 1972 1974 1975 1995
County Formation Chronology in Text |
(Where there is one date, that is the date the county was formed, and the date it became effective; where there are two dates, the first is the "pending" formation date, and the second is the legally "effective" date.) (The counties in blue color are WV counties originally in VA, or that were formed after WV became a state.) Four Original "Incorporations"-----------------------------------------1617 Eight Original "Shires", Immediately Referred to as "Counties"---------1634 Accawmack formed-----------------------------------------------------1634 Charles City formed--------------------------------------------------1634 Charles River formed-------------------------------------------------1634 Elizabeth City formed------------------------------------------------1634 Henrico formed-------------------------------------------------------1634 James City formed----------------------------------------------------1634 Warrosquoyacke formed------------------------------------------------1634 Warwick River formed-------------------------------------------------1634 New Norfolk formed from Elizabeth City---------------------------------1636 Lower Norfolk formed from New Norfolk----------------------------------1637 Upper Norfolk formed from New Norfolk----------------------------------1637 New Norfolk ceases to exist------------------------------------------1637 Isle of Wight (name changed from Warrosquyoake)------------------------1637 Warrosquyoake ceases to exist----------------------------------------1637 Northampton (name changed from Accawmack)------------------------------1643 Accawmack ceases to exist--------------------------------------------1643 York (name changed from Charles River)---------------------------------1643 Charles River ceases to exist----------------------------------------1643 Warwick (name changed from Warwick River)------------------------------1643 Warwick River ceases to exist----------------------------------------1643 Northumberland formed from Indian District of Chickacoan---------------1645 Nansemond (name changed from Upper Norfolk)----------------------------1645 Upper Norfolk ceases to exist----------------------------------------1645 Gloucester formed from York--------------------------------------------1651 Lancaster formed from Northumberland-----------------------------------1651 Surry formed from James City-------------------------------------------1652 Westmoreland formed from Northumberland--------------------------------1653 New Kent formed from York----------------------------------------------1654 Rappahannock (Old) formed from Lancaster-------------------------------1656 Accomack formed from Northampton---------------------------------------1661 Stafford formed from Westmoreland--------------------------------------1664 Middlesex formed from Lancaster----------------------------------------1669 King and Queen formed from New Kent------------------------------------1691 Norfolk formed from Lower Norfolk--------------------------------------1691 Princess Anne formed from Lower Norfolk--------------------------------1691 Lower Norfolk ceases to exist----------------------------------------1691 Essex formed from Rappahannock (Old)-----------------------------------1692 Richmond formed from Rappahannock (Old)--------------------------------1692 Rappahannock (Old) ceases to exist-----------------------------------1692 King William formed from King and Queen---------------------------1701-1702 Prince George formed from Charles City----------------------------1702-1703 Hanover formed from New Kent--------------------------------------1720-1721 King George formed from Richmond----------------------------------1720-1721 Spotsylvania formed from Essex, King & Queen, and King William----1720-1721 Caroline formed from Essex, King & Queen, and King William-------------1728 Goochland formed from Henrico------------------------------------------1728 Prince William formed from King George and Stafford---------------1730-1731 Brunswick formed from Prince George-------------------------------1720-1732 Brunswick gained from Isle of Wight and Surry--------------------------1732 Orange formed from Spotsylvania----------------------------------------1734 Amelia formed from Brunswick and Prince George--------------------1734-1735 Fairfax formed from Prince William-------------------------------------1742 Louisa formed from Hanover---------------------------------------------1742 Frederick formed from Orange--------------------------------------1738-1743 Albemarle formed from Goochland----------------------------------------1744 Augusta formed from Orange----------------------------------------1738-1745 Lunenburg formed from Brunswick----------------------------------------1746 Culpeper formed from Orange--------------------------------------------1749 Chesterfield formed from Henrico---------------------------------------1749 Cumberland formed from Goochland---------------------------------------1749 Southampton formed from Isle of Wight----------------------------------1749 Dinwiddie formed from Prince George------------------------------------1752 Halifax formed from Lunenburg------------------------------------------1752 Bedford formed from Albemarle and Lunenburg-----------------------1753-1754 Prince Edward formed from Amelia----------------------------------1753-1754 Hampshire formed from Frederick-----------------------------------1753-1754 Sussex formed from Surry------------------------------------------1753-1754 Loudon formed from Fairfax---------------------------------------------1757 Fauquier formed from Prince William------------------------------------1759 Albemarle gained from Louisa-------------------------------------------1761 Amherst formed from Albemarle------------------------------------------1761 Buckingham formed from Albemarle---------------------------------------1761 Charlotte formed from Lunenburg-----------------------------------1764-1765 Mecklenburg formed from Lunenburg---------------------------------1764-1765 Yohogania formed from Augusta------------------------------------------1766 Monongalia formed from Augusta-----------------------------------------1766 Ohio formed from Augusta-----------------------------------------------1776 Pittsylvania formed from Halifax----------------------------------1766-1767 Botetourt formed from Augusta-------------------------------------1769-1770 Fincastle formed from Botetourt----------------------------------------1772 Dunmore formed from Frederick------------------------------------------1772 Berkeley formed from Frederick-----------------------------------------1772 Powhaten formed from Cumberland and Chesterfield-----------------------1777 Fluvanna formed from Albemarle-----------------------------------------1777 Henry formed from Pittsylvania------------------------------------1776-1777 Kentucky formed from Fincastle------------------------------------1776-1777 Montgomery formed from Fincastle----------------------------------1776-1777 Washington formed from Fincastle----------------------------------1776-1777 Fincastle ceases to exist---------------------------------------1776-1777 King George exchanged with Westmoreland (overlap)----------------------1777 Greenbrier formed from Botetourt and Montgomery-------------------1777-1778 Illinois formed from Augusta-------------------------------------------1778 Rockbridge formed from Augusta and Botetourt---------------------------1778 Rockingham formed from Augusta-----------------------------------------1778 Shenandoah (name changed from Dunmore)---------------------------------1778 King George exchanged with Westmoreland (overlap resolved)-------------1779 Kentucky divided into Fayette, Jefferson, & Lincoln--------------------1780 Fayette formed from Kentucky-------------------------------------------1780 Jefferson formed from Kentucky-----------------------------------------1780 Lincoln formed from Kentucky-------------------------------------------1780 Kentucky ceases to exist---------------------------------------------1780 Greensville formed from Brunswick and Sussex----------------------1780-1781 Campbell formed from Bedford--------------------------------------1781-1782 Harrison formed from Monongalia----------------------------------------1784 Illinois discontinued------------------------------------------------1784 Nelson (KY) formed from Jefferson---------------------------------1784-1785 Franklin formed from Bedford and Henry----------------------------1785-1786 Hardy formed from Hampshire---------------------------------------1785-1786 Madison (KY) formed from Lincoln----------------------------------1785-1786 Mercer (KY) formed from Lincoln-----------------------------------1785-1786 Bourbon (KY) formed from Fayette----------------------------------1785-1786 Russell formed from Washington-----------------------------------------1786 Yohogania discontinured----------------------------------------------1786 Randolph formed from Harrison-------------------------------------1786-1787 Pendleton formed from Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham--------------1787-1788 Nottoway formed from Amelia---------------------------------------1788-1789 Kanawha formed from Greenbrier and Montgomery---------------------1788-1789 Mason (KY) formed from Bourbon (KY)-------------------------------1788-1789 Woodford (KY) formed from Fayette (KY)----------------------------1788-1789 Wythe formed from Montgomery--------------------------------------1789-1790 Bath formed from Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier---------------1790-1791 Mathews formed from Gloucester------------------------------------1790-1791 Patrick formed from Henry-----------------------------------------1790-1791 Part of Fairfax ceded to Fed. Gov. for District of Columbia------------1791 9 Counties separated as State of Kentucky (Bourbon, Fayette, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Mason, Mercer, Nelson, & Woodford)--------1792 Grayson formed from Patrick and Wythe-----------------------------1792-1793 Lee formed from Russell-------------------------------------------1792-1793 Madison formed from Culpeper--------------------------------------1792-1793 Brooke formed from Ohio-------------------------------------------1796-1797 Wood formed from Harrison----------------------------------------------1798 Monroe formed from Greenbrier------------------------------------------1799 Tazewell formed from Russell and Wythe----------------------------1799-1800 Jefferson formed from Berkeley-----------------------------------------1801 Mason formed from Kanawha----------------------------------------------1804 Giles formed from Monroe, Montgomery, and Tazewell---------------------1806 Nelson formed from Amherst----------------------------------------1807-1808 Cabell formed from Kanawha---------------------------------------------1809 (Boundary changes 1800-1810:) Grayson gained from Patrick---------------------------------------1800-1810 Tazewell gained from Russell--------------------------------------1800-1810 Harrison gained from Ohio-----------------------------------------1800-1810 Tyler formed from Ohio-------------------------------------------------1814 Scott formed from Lee, Russell, and Washington-------------------------1814 Lewis formed from Harrison---------------------------------------------1816 Nicholas formed from Greenbrier and Kanawha----------------------------1818 Preston formed from Monongalia-----------------------------------------1818 Morgan formed from Berkeley and Hampshire------------------------------1820 Pocahantas formed from Bath, Pendleton, and Randolph-------------------1821 Alleghany formed from Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe----------------------1822 Logan formed from Cabell, Giles, and Kanawha---------------------------1824 (Boundary changes 1820-1830:) Nicholas gained from Kanawha and Lewis----------------------------1820-1830 Lee gained from Scott---------------------------------------------1820-1830 Giles gained from Monroe and Tazewell-----------------------------1820-1830 Tazewell gained from Washington and Wythe-------------------------1820-1830 Preston gained from Randolph--------------------------------------1820-1830 Floyd formed from Montgomery-------------------------------------------1831 Fayette formed from Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Logan---------------------1831 Page formed from Rockingham and Shenandoah-----------------------------1831 Jackson formed from Kanawha, Mason, and Wood---------------------------1831 Smyth formed from Washington and Wythe---------------------------------1832 Rappahannock formed from Culpeper--------------------------------------1833 Marshall formed from Ohio----------------------------------------------1835 Clarke formed from Frederick-------------------------------------------1836 Warren formed from Frederick and Shenandoah----------------------------1836 Braxton formed from Kanawha, Lewis, and Nicholas-----------------------1836 Mercer formed from Giles and Tazewell----------------------------------1837 Greene formed from Orange----------------------------------------------1838 Roanoke formed from Botetourt------------------------------------------1838 Pulaski formed from Montgomery and Wythe-------------------------------1839 (Boundary changes 1830-1840:) Preston gained from Randolph--------------------------------------1830-1840 Tazewell gained from Russell--------------------------------------1830-1840 Carroll formed from Grayson--------------------------------------------1842 Marion formed from Harrison and Monongalia-----------------------------1842 Wayne formed from Cabell-----------------------------------------------1842 Barbour formed from Harrison, Lewis, and Randolph----------------------1843 Ritchie formed from Harrison, Lewis, and Wood--------------------------1843 Taylor formed from Barbour, Harrison, Marion, and Preston--------------1844 Appomattox formed from Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, and Prince Edward-----------------------------------------1845 Doddridge formed from Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie, and Tyler--------------1845 Gilmer formed from Kanawha and Lewis-----------------------------------1845 Part of District of Columbia ceded by Fed. Gov. back to Fairfax--------1846 Wetzel formed from Tyler-----------------------------------------------1846 Alexandria formed from Fairfax-----------------------------------------1847 Highland formed from Bath and Pendleton--------------------------------1847 Boone formed from Cabell, Kanawha, and Logan---------------------------1847 Hancock formed from Brooke---------------------------------------------1848 Putnam formed from Cabell, Kanawha, and Mason--------------------------1848 Wirt formed from Jackson and Wood--------------------------------------1848 (Boundary changes 1840-1850:) Mercer and Giles gained from Monroe-------------------------------1840-1850 Braxton gained from Kanawha and Lewis-----------------------------1840-1850 Preston gained from Monongalia------------------------------------1840-1850 Powhaten gained from Chesterfield---------------------------------1840-1850 Roane gained from Montgomery--------------------------------------1840-1850 Franklin gained from Patrick--------------------------------------1840-1850 Raleigh formed from Fayette--------------------------------------------1850 Wyoming formed from Logan----------------------------------------------1850 Craig formed from Botetourt, Giles, Monroe, and Roanoke----------------1851 Pleasants formed from Ritchie, Tyler, and Wood-------------------------1851 Upshur formed from Barbour and Lewis-----------------------------------1851 Calhoun formed from Gilmer---------------------------------------------1856 Roane formed from Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, and Wirt-------------------1856 Tucker formed from Randolph--------------------------------------------1856 Wise formed from Lee, Russell, and Scott-------------------------------1856 Taylor gained from Marion----------------------------------------------1856 Carroll and Henry gained from Patrick----------------------------------1856 Buchanan formed from Russell and Tazewell------------------------------1858 McDowell formed from Tazewell------------------------------------------1858 Clay formed from Braxton and Nicholas----------------------------------1858 Webster formed from Braxton, Nicholas, and Randolph--------------------1860 Bland formed from Giles, Tazewell, and Wythe---------------------------1861 50 Counties separated as State of West Virginia------------------------1863 Grant (WV) formed from Hardy (WV)--------------------------------------1866 Mineral (WV) formed from Hampshire (WV)--------------------------------1866 Lincoln (WV) formed from Boone (WV), Cabell (WV), Kanawha (WV), and Logan (WV)-----------------------------------------1867 (Boundary changes 1860-1870:) Upshur (WV) gained from Randolph (WV)-----------------------------1860-1870 Wirt (WV) gained from Wood (WV)-----------------------------------1860-1870 Jackson (WV) gained from Mason (WV)-------------------------------1860-1870 Summers (WV) from Fayette (WV), Greenbrier (WV), and Mercer (WV)-------1871 (Boundary changes 1870-1880:) Floyd gained from Franklin----------------------------------------1870-1880 Hampshire (WV) gained from Mineral (WV)---------------------------1870-1880 Raleigh (WV) gained from Wyoming (WV)-----------------------------1870-1880 Wayne (WV) gained from Lincoln (WV)-------------------------------1870-1880 Tucker (WV) gained from Barbour (WV)------------------------------1870-1880 Dickenson formed from Buchanan, Russell, and Wise----------------------1880 Warwick gained from Elizabeth City-------------------------------------1882 Webster (WV) gained from Greenbrier (WV) and Nicholas (WV)-------------1882 Rockbridge gained from Botetourt---------------------------------------1887 Mingo (WV) formed from Logan (WV)--------------------------------------1895 Bland gained from Giles------------------------------------------------1900 Arlington (name changed from Alexandria Co.)---------------------------1920 Elizabeth City Co. abolished, merged into Hampton City-----------------1952 Warwick Co. abolished, incorporated as Warwick City--------------------1952 Princess Anne Co. abolished, merged into Virginia Beach City-----------1963 The original 18 Virginia incorporated cities were first recognized as independent of counties in the 1900 U.S. Census. The formalization of the independent status of Virginia cities evolved in stages by legislative acts and court decisions, starting in 1887, and concluding with the Virginia Constitution of 1902. The original 18 incorporated cities, the counties in which they were located, and dates they were incorporated: Williamsburg City (James City and York Cos.)---------------------------1722 Manchester City (Chesterfield Co.)-------------------------------------1769 Richmond City (Henrico and Chesterfield Cos.)--------------------------1782 Salem City (Roanoke Co.)-----------------------------------------------1806 Norfolk City (Norfolk Co.)---------------------------------------------1845 Petersburg City (Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, & Prince George Cos.)--------1850 Alexandria City (Arlington and Fairfax Co.)----------------------------1852 Lynchburg City (Campbell Co.)------------------------------------------1852 Portsmouth City (Norfolk Co.-------------------------------------------1858 Winchester City (Frederick Co.)----------------------------------------1874 Fredericksburg City (Spotsylvania Co.)---------------------------------1879 Roanoke City (Roanoke Co.)---------------------------------------------1884 Charlottesville City (Albemarle Co.)-----------------------------------1888 Danville City (Pittsylvania Co.)---------------------------------------1890 Bristol City (Washington Co.)------------------------------------------1890 Buena Vista City (Rockbridge Co.)--------------------------------------1892 Radford City (Montgomery Co.)------------------------------------------1892 Newport News City (orig. in Warwick Co., which was abolished in 1952)--1896 Later cities incorporated as being independent of any county, the counties in which they were originally located, and dates of incorporation as independent cities: Clifton Forge City (Alleghany Co.)-------------------------------------1906 Hampton City (Elizabeth City Co.)--------------------------------------1908 Suffolk City (Nansemond Co.)-------------------------------------------1910 Manchester City (Chesterfield Co.) merged into Richmond City-----------1910 (Manchester City therefore ceased to exist.)---------------------------1910 Harrisonburg City (Rockingham Co.)-------------------------------------1916 Hopewell City (Prince George Co.)--------------------------------------1916 South Norfolk City (Norfolk Co.)---------------------------------------1921 Martinsville City (Henry Co.-------------------------------------------1928 Falls Church City (Fairfax Co.)----------------------------------------1948 Waynesboro City (Augusta Co.)------------------------------------------1948 Covington City (Alleghany Co.)-----------------------------------------1952 Virginia Beach City (in Princess Anne Co.)-----------------------------1952 Warwick City (Warwick Co., which was abolished in 1952)----------------1952 Galax City (Carroll & Grayson Cos.)------------------------------------1954 Norton City (Wise Co.)-------------------------------------------------1954 Warwick City merged into Newport News City-----------------------------1958 South Boston City (Halifax Co.)----------------------------------------1960 Stanton City (Augusta Co.)---------------------------------------------1960 Colonial Heights City (Chesterfield Co.)-------------------------------1961 Fairfax City (Fairfax Co.)---------------------------------------------1961 Franklin City (Southampton Co.)----------------------------------------1961 Chesapeake City formed from Norfolk Co. and South Norfolk City---------1963 Norfolk County no longer exists----------------------------------------1963 South Norfolk City no longer exists------------------------------------1963 Lexington (Rockbridge Co.)---------------------------------------------1965 Emporia (Greensville Co.)----------------------------------------------1967 Bedford (Bedford Co.)--------------------------------------------------1968 Salem (Roanoke Co.)----------------------------------------------------1968 Nansemond (entire Nansemond Co.)---------------------------------------1972 Nansemond Co. ceases to exist------------------------------------------1972 Nansemond City merged into Suffolk City--------------------------------1974 Manassas (Prince William Co.)------------------------------------------1975 Manassas Park (Prince William Co.)-------------------------------------1975 Poquoson (York Co.)----------------------------------------------------1976 South Boston City merged back into Halifax Co. (no longer independ.)---1995 |
Virginia County Abbreviations |
Aca-Accawmack Aco-Accomack Alb-Albemarle All-Alleghany Ame-Amelia Amh-Amherst Ap -Appomattox Ar -Arlington Au -Augusta Bar-Barbour(WV) Bat-Bath Bed-Bedford Ber-Berkeley(WV) Bl -Bland Boo-Boone(WV) Bot-Botetourt Bra-Braxton(WV) Brn-Brunswick Bro-Brooke(WV) Bcn-Buchanan Bkm-Buckingham Cab-Cabell(WV) Cal-Calhoun(WV) Cam-Campbell Crl-Carroll Crn-Caroline CC -Charles City Clt-Charlotte Che-Chesterfield Clk-Clarke Cly-Clay(WV) CR -Charles River Cr -Craig Cul-Culpeper Cum-Cumberland Dic-Dickenson Din-Dinwiddie Do -Doddridge(WV) EC -Elizabeth City Es -Essex Fai-Fairfax Fau-Fauquier Fay-Fayette(WV) Flo-Floyd Flu-Fluvanna Fra-Franklin Fre-Frederick Gls-Giles Gmr-Gilmer(WV) Gl -Gloucester Go -Goochland |
Gra-Grant(WV) Gra-Grayson Grb-Greenbrier(WV) Grn-Greene Gvl-Greensville Hal-Halifax Ham-Hampshire(WV) Hck-Hancock(WV) Hvr-Hanover Hdy-Hardy(WV) Hsn-Harrison(WV) Hco-Henrico Hi -Highland Hry-Henry IW -Isle of Wight Jac-Jackson(WV) JC -James City Je -Jefferson(WV) Ka -Kanawha(WV) KQ -King and Queen KG -King George KW -King William La -Lancaster Ldn-Loudon Lee-Lee Lew-Lewis(WV) Li -Lincoln(WV) Log-Logan(WV) Lsa-Louisa Lu -Lunenburg Mc -McDowell (WV) Mad-Madison Mrn-Marion(WV) Msl-Marshall(WV) Mas-Mason (WV) Mat-Mathews Mec-Mecklenburg Mer-Mercer (WV) Mi -Middlesex Mnl-Mineral (WV) Mno-Mingo (WV) Mon-Monongalia (WV) Mro-Monroe(WV) Mon-Montgomery Mor-Morgan(WV) Na -Nansemond Nel-Nelson NK -New Kent Ni -Nicholas(WV) Nfk-Norfolk Nhn-Northampton |
NN -New Norfolk Nud-Northumberland Not-Nottoway Oh -Ohio(WV) Or -Orange Pag-Page Pat-Patrick Pe -Pendleton(WV) Pi -Pittsylvania PE -Prince Edward PG -Prince George PA -Princess Anne Pl -Pleasants(WV) Poc-Pocahontas(WV) Pow-Powhatan Pr -Preston(WV) PW -Prince William Pul-Pulaski Put-Putnam(WV) Ral-Raleigh(WV) Ran-Randolph(WV) Rap-Rappahannock Ric-Richmond Rit-Ritchie(WV) Rbr-Rockbridge Rhm-Rockingham Rne-Roane(WV) Rnk-Roanoke Ru -Russell Sc -Scott Sh -Shenandoah Sm -Smyth So -Southampton Sp -Spotsylvania St -Stafford Su -Summers(WV) Sur-Surry Sus-Sussex Tay-Taylor(WV) Taz-Tazewell Tu -Tucker(WV) Ty -Tyler(WV) Up -Upshur(WV) Wrn-Warren Wwk-Warwick Was-Washington Way-Wayne(WV) Web-Webster(WV) Wes-Westmoreland Wet-Wetzel(WV) Wir-Wirt(WV) |
Wis-Wise Wod-Wood(WV) Wqy-Warrosquyoake WR -Warwick River Wy -Wythe Wyo-Wyoming(WV) Yor-York [Independent Cities:] [Alexandria] [Bedford] [Bristol] [Buena Vista] [Charlottesville] [Chesapeake] [Clifton Forge] [Colonial Heights] [Covington] [Danville] [Emporia] [Fairfax] [Falls Church] [Franklin] [Fredericksburg] [Galax] [Hampton] [Harrisonburg] [Hopewell] [Lexington] [Lynchburg] [Manassas] [Manassas Park] [Martinsville] [Newport News] [Norfolk] [Norton] [Petersburg] [Poquoson] [Portsmouth] [Radford] [Richmond] [Roanoke] [Salem] [South Boston] [Staunton] [Suffolk] [Virginia Beach] [Waynesboro] [Williamsburg] [Winchester] |
(NOTE on Virginia CITIES: The Commonwealth of Virginia has a unique system of local government in that independent CITIES are politically and administratively separate from the county or counties in which they are geographically situated. Independent CITIES operate their own court systems and other governmental systems. Virginia's TOWNS exercise only limited functions of self-government and are subordinate, in most respects, to the counties in which they are located. There are currently 40 independent CITIES in the Commonwealth. Note, also, that some independent CITIES comprise areas that are located in more than one county, and, in some cases, and independent CITY may be the entire county.
Virginia Discontinued Counties |
Accawmack: | Created in 1634. Renamed Northampton in 1642/43 |
Charles River: | Formed in 1634. Renamed York County in 1642 |
Dunmore: | Formed in 1772 from Frederick County. Renamed Shenandoah County in 1778. |
Elizabeth City: |
Originally created in 1634 as Elizabeth River Shire, it was one of eight Shires created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. In 1636, it was subdivided, and the portion north of the harbor of Hampton Roads became known as Elizabeth City Shire. It was renamed Elizabeth City County a short time later. The town of Hampton, established in 1680, became the largest town in Elizabeth City County, and was the county seat. In 1908, Hampton was incorporated as an independent city, and in 1952, the county and the former town of Phoebus in the county were merged into the independent city of Hampton. Elizabeth City is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. Its records were damaged and/or destroyed during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. A few early deeds, wills, orders, and guardian's accounts survive. |
Fincastle: |
Formed in 1772 from Botetourt County. Fincastle County (extinct) was named either for George, Lord Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle; or, for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, which was named after Lord Botetourt's home in England. It became extinct in 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties. Some Fincastle records may be found in the Montgomery Co. Courthouse in Christiansburg.
Historic Fincastle, Inc., &
James Early Cabin, |
Kentucky: | Formed in 1777 from Fincastle. Abolished in 1780 |
Lower Norfolk: | Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk. Abolished in 1691. Records are in the City of Chesapeake. |
Nansemond: |
Formed as Upper Norfolk in 1637 from New Norfolk County. All records transferred to City of Suffolk. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from 1774. County Court Records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866. A few Fee Books have been found in the records of Sussex County. |
New Norfolk: | Formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City. Abolished in 1637 and divided into Lower and Upper Norfolk Counties |
Norfolk: |
Formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk. Merged with the City of Chesapeake in 1963. All record were transferred to the City of Chesapeake. Some records may also be located in the City of Portsmouth. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from 1774. Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, for his native county in England. The county seat was Portsmouth. |
Princess Anne: | Formed from Lower Norfolk County.
Merged with, and records transferred to, the City of Virginia Beach in 1963. The records include Marriage from 1724; Death from 1853; and Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1691. Princess Anne County (extinct) was named for Anne (daughter of James II) who became Queen of England in 1702. The County Seat was Princess Anne. (Now Virginia Beach.) |
Old Rappahannock: | Formed in 1656 from Lancaster County.
It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties. The records were transferred to Essex County. Records include Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1656. |
Upper Norfolk: |
Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk County.
In 1646, it was renamed Nansemond County for the area's Nansemond Indians. The county seat was Suffolk. The county became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, and, in 1974, Nansemond merged with the city of Suffolk. The entire area is now known as Suffolk. |
Warrosquyoake: | Formed in in 1634 as one of the original eight Shires.
Renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637. Records were transferred there. Warrosquyoake County was named for the Warrosquyoake Indian tribe. |
Warwick River: | Formed in 1634 as one of 8 original Shires. It was named either for Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, a prominent member of the London Company, or for the County of Warwick in England. Warwick County became extinct in 1952, when it became the independent city of Warwick. It was consolidated with Newport News in 1958, and took the latter's name as an independent city. Denbigh was the county seat. Warwick is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. County Court Records were destroyed several times, with the most destruction occurring during the Civil War. A Seventeenth Century Livestock Registry, one Order Book, and one Minute Book from the Eighteenth Century survive. It has the earliest records for Land from 1662, Probate from 1648, and Court from 1646. (Records are missing from pre-Civil War times. Extant records are located with the City Clerk in the City of Newport News. |
Yohogania: | Created from the West Augusta territory in 1776.
The county was ceded to Pennsylvania in 1785 |
(I have prepared these "slideshow" presentations for KY, MD, NC, PA, TN, VA, and WV (see VA); they can be accessed from the GERMANNA COLONIES Home Page. [Click Below to return there.] For other states, in a different format, got to http://www.mystategenealogy.com, where "state" is replaced by the state you wish to view, e.g., http://www.mynewyorkgenealogy.com, http://www.mycaliforniagenealogy.com, etc.) |