List of cities and counties in Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Independent cities and Counties of Virginia |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Commonwealth of Virginia |
| Number | 95 Counties 38 Independent cities 133 Second-level subdivisions |
| Populations | (Counties): 2,339 (Highland) – 1,141,878 (Fairfax) (Independent cities): 3,492 (Norton) – 453,649 (Virginia Beach) |
| Areas | (Counties): 26 square miles (67 km2) (Arlington) – 978 square miles (2,530 km2) (Pittsylvania) (Independent cities): 2 square miles (5.2 km2) (Falls Church) – 400 square miles (1,000 km2) (Suffolk) |
| Government | County government |
| Subdivisions | (Counties): cities, towns, unincorporated communities, census designated place (Independent cities): Borough, Neighborhood |
The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 38 independent cities that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes, totaling 133 second-level subdivisions. 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, including 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. Also in Virginia, a county seat may be an independent city surrounded by, but not part of, the county of which it is the administrative center; for example, Fairfax City is both the county seat of Fairfax County and is completely surrounded by Fairfax County, but the city is politically independent of the county.
Map showing the population density of Virginia
There are 38 independent cities, which are considered county-equivalents for census purposes.
Many towns are as large as cities but are not incorporated as cities and are situated within a parent county or counties. Seven independent cities had 2020 populations of less than 10,000 with the smallest, Norton having a population of only 3,687. In 2020, the largest towns were Leesburg (with 48,250 people) and Blacksburg (44,826). Six other towns also had populations of over 10,000 people. For a complete list of these towns, see List of towns in Virginia. For major unincorporated population centers, see List of unincorporated communities in Virginia.
Virginia's independent cities were classified by the Virginia General Assembly in 1871 as cities of the first class and cities of the second class. The Virginia Constitution of 1902 defined first class cities as those having a population of 10,000 or more based upon the last census enumeration while second class cities were those that had a population of less than 10,000. Cities that previously been granted a city charter, but did not have the requisite population, had their status grandfathered in.
Second class did not have a court of record and were required to share the cost of that court with their adjacent county and also shared the cost for three constitutional officers of that court—generally, the clerk, commonwealth attorney and sheriff—and those shared officers stood for election in both the city and the county. At least two constitutional officers—treasurer and commissioner of the revenue—were required to be elected solely by the residents of the city. The distinction between first and second class cities was ended with the Virginia Constitution of 1971. However, cities that were classified as second class cities at the time of the adoption of the 1971 Virginia Constitution were authorized to continue sharing their court system and three constitutional officers with the adjacent county. As of 2003[update], 14 of Virginia's independent cities retain these features.
There are several counties and cities that 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.
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):
Contents
Clickable map
List of counties
| County |
FIPS code | County seat | Est. | Origin | Etymology | Population | Area | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack County | 001 | Accomac | 1663 | Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the original eight shires of Virginia. In 1642, it was renamed Northampton County. Then in 1663, Northampton County was divided into two counties. The southern half remained Northampton County while the northern half became Accomac County -- later renamed Accomack with a "k." | From the Native American word Accawmack, meaning "on the other side", referencing the county's position across Chesapeake Bay | 33,239 | 455 sq mi (1,178 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 115,676 | 723 sq mi (1,873 km2) |
 |
| Alleghany County | 005 | Covington | 1822 | Formed from parts of Bath and Botetourt counties as well as Monroe County (now in WV) | Alleghany Mountains | 14,595 | 446 sq mi (1,155 km2) |
 |
| Amelia County | 007 | Amelia | 1735 | Formed from Brunswick and Prince George counties | Princess Amelia Sophia, second daughter of George II of Great Britain | 13,480 | 357 sq mi (925 km2) |
 |
| Amherst County | 009 | Amherst | 1761 | From Albemarle county | Jeffery Amherst, British conqueror of Quebec during the Seven Years' War and colonial governor of Virginia | 31,396 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |
 |
| Appomattox County | 011 | Appomattox | 1845 | From Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte and Prince Edward counties | Appomattox River | 16,864 | 334 sq mi (865 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 234,162 | 26 sq mi (67 km2) |
 |
| Augusta County | 015 | Staunton | 1738 | From Orange County | Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess of Wales | 78,247 | 971 sq mi (2,515 km2) |
 |
| Bath County | 017 | Warm Springs | 1791 | From Augusta, Botetourt and Greenbrier counties May 1, 1791 | Bath, England | 4,051 | 532 sq mi (1,378 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 81,525 | 755 sq mi (1,955 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 6,179 | 359 sq mi (930 km2) |
 |
| Botetourt County | 023 | Fincastle | 1770 | From Augusta county. | Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, colonial governor of Virginia | 34,125 | 543 sq mi (1,406 km2) |
 |
| Brunswick County | 025 | Lawrenceville | 1720 | From Prince George county. Parts of Surry and Isle of Wight counties were added in 1732 (when the county's government was established.) | Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed | 15,749 | 566 sq mi (1,466 km2) |
 |
| Buchanan County | 027 | Grundy | 1858 | From Russell and Tazewell counties | James Buchanan, fifteenth U.S. President | 19,087 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |
 |
| Buckingham County | 029 | Buckingham | 1761 | From Albemarle county | Duke of Buckingham | 16,978 | 581 sq mi (1,505 km2) |
 |
| Campbell County | 031 | Rustburg | 1782 | From Bedford county | William Campbell, Revolutionary War general | 55,270 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 32,640 | 533 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
 |
| Carroll County | 035 | Hillsville | 1842 | From Grayson county | Charles Carroll of Carrollton | 29,239 | 476 sq mi (1,233 km2) |
 |
| Charles City County | 036 | Charles City | 1634 | Colonial division before 1635 | King Charles I of England | 6,610 | 182 sq mi (471 km2) |
 |
| Charlotte County | 037 | Charlotte Court House | 1765 | From Lunenburg county | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of Great Britain | 11,336 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |
 |
| Chesterfield County | 041 | Chesterfield | 1749 | From Henrico County | Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British politician and Lord of the Bedchamber | 383,876 | 426 sq mi (1,103 km2) |
 |
| Clarke County | 043 | Berryville | 1836 | From Frederick County | George Rogers Clarke, Revolutionary War general | 15,466 | 177 sq mi (458 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 4,843 | 330 sq mi (855 km2) |
 |
| Culpeper County | 047 | Culpeper | 1749 | Culpeper County was established in 1749 from Orange County, Virginia. | Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial proprietary governor | 54,973 | 381 sq mi (987 km2) |
 |
| Cumberland County | 049 | Cumberland | 1749 | Goochland County | Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, British general, politician, and son of King George II | 9,878 | 298 sq mi (772 km2) |
 |
| Dickenson County | 051 | Clintwood | 1880 | Formed from parts of Buchanan, Russell, and Wise Counties | William J. Dickinson, member of the Virginia House of Delegates | 13,640 | 333 sq mi (862 km2) |
 |
| Dinwiddie County | 053 | Dinwiddie | 1752 | From Prince George County | Robert Dinwiddie, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 28,343 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |
 |
| Essex County | 057 | Tappahannock | 1692 | From the original Rappahannock County, Virginia, commonly known as Old Rappahannock County, which was split to form Essex and Richmond counties. | Essex, United Kingdom | 10,598 | 258 sq mi (668 km2) |
 |
| Fairfax County | 059 | Fairfax | 1742 | From Prince William County | Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the only British noble resident in Virginia | 1,141,878 | 396 sq mi (1,026 km2) |
 |
| Fauquier County | 061 | Warrenton | 1759 | From Prince William County | Francis Fauquier, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 75,165 | 650 sq mi (1,683 km2) |
 |
| Floyd County | 063 | Floyd | 1831 | From Montgomery County | John Floyd, governor of Virginia | 15,679 | 382 sq mi (989 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 28,462 | 287 sq mi (743 km2) |
 |
| Franklin County | 067 | Rocky Mount | 1786 | Formed from parts of Bedford and Henry Counties | Benjamin Franklin, publisher, orator, scholar, and U.S. Founding Father | 55,549 | 692 sq mi (1,792 km2) |
 |
| Frederick County | 069 | Winchester | 1738 | From Orange County | Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II | 95,994 | 415 sq mi (1,075 km2) |
 |
| Giles County | 071 | Pearisburg | 1806 | Formed from Montgomery, Monroe, Wythe, and Tazewell Counties | William Branch Giles, U.S. Senator from Virginia | 16,457 | 358 sq mi (927 km2) |
 |
| Gloucester County | 073 | Gloucester | 1651 | From York County | Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester | 40,057 | 217 sq mi (562 km2) |
 |
| Goochland County | 075 | Goochland | 1728 | From Henrico County | William Gooch, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 27,197 | 284 sq mi (736 km2) |
 |
| Grayson County | 077 | Independence | 1793 | From Wythe County | William Grayson, U.S. Senator from Virginia | 15,285 | 443 sq mi (1,147 km2) |
 |
| Greene County | 079 | Stanardsville | 1838 | From Orange County | Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general | 21,301 | 157 sq mi (407 km2) |
 |
| Greensville County | 081 | Emporia | 1781 | From Brunswick County | Richard Grenville, commander of the English expedition to found Roanoke Colony | 11,133 | 296 sq mi (767 km2) |
 |
| Halifax County | 083 | Halifax | 1752 | From Lunenburg County | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, President of the Board of Trade | 33,432 | 814 sq mi (2,108 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 114,148 | 473 sq mi (1,225 km2) |
 |
| Henrico County | 087 | Laurel | 1617 | Original county of the Colony under England | Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, oldest son of James I of England | 334,760 | 238 sq mi (616 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 49,702 | 382 sq mi (989 km2) |
 |
| Highland County | 091 | Monterey | 1847 | From Bath and Pendleton Counties | Mountainous topography | 2,339 | 416 sq mi (1,077 km2) |
 |
| Isle of Wight County | 093 | Isle of Wight | 1634 | Original county of the Colony under England, initially named Warrosquyoake Shire | Isle of Wight, England | 40,711 | 316 sq mi (818 km2) |
 |
| James City County | 095 | Williamsburg | 1617 | Original county of the Colony under England | King James I of England | 82,654 | 143 sq mi (370 km2) |
 |
| King and Queen County | 097 | King and Queen | 1691 | King and Queen County was established in 1691 from New Kent County, Virginia. | King William III and Queen Mary II | 6,720 | 316 sq mi (818 km2) |
 |
| King George County | 099 | King George | 1721 | From Richmond County | George I of Great Britain | 28,568 | 180 sq mi (466 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 19,030 | 275 sq mi (712 km2) |
 |
| Lancaster County | 103 | Lancaster | 1651 | Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties. | Lancaster, United Kingdom | 10,859 | 133 sq mi (344 km2) |
 |
| Lee County | 105 | Jonesville | 1793 | From Russell County | Light Horse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War general and governor of Virginia | 21,745 | 437 sq mi (1,132 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 436,347 | 520 sq mi (1,347 km2) |
 |
| Louisa County | 109 | Louisa | 1742 | From Hanover County | Princess Louise, youngest daughter of George II | 41,037 | 498 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
 |
| Lunenburg County | 111 | Lunenburg | 1746 | From Brunswick County | Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed | 12,038 | 432 sq mi (1,119 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 14,128 | 322 sq mi (834 km2) |
 |
| Mathews County | 115 | Mathews | 1791 | From Gloucester County | Thomas Mathews, Revolutionary War general. | 8,514 | 86 sq mi (223 km2) |
 |
| Mecklenburg County | 117 | Boydton | 1765 | From Lunenburg County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III | 30,648 | 624 sq mi (1,616 km2) |
 |
| Middlesex County | 119 | Saluda | 1673 | From Lancaster County | Middlesex, United Kingdom | 10,924 | 130 sq mi (337 km2) |
 |
| Montgomery County | 121 | Christiansburg | 1777 | From Fincastle County | Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War general | 98,666 | 388 sq mi (1,005 km2) |
 |
| Nelson County | 125 | Lovingston | 1808 | From Amherst County | Thomas Nelson Jr., governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence | 14,705 | 472 sq mi (1,222 km2) |
 |
| New Kent County | 127 | New Kent | 1654 | New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County, Virginia. | Kent County, England | 26,134 | 210 sq mi (544 km2) |
 |
| Northampton County | 131 | Eastville | 1634 | Original county of the Colony under England, initially named Accomac Shire. In 1642, it was renamed Northampton County. However, in 1663, Northampton County was divided into two counties. The southern half remained Northampton County while the northern half once again became Accomac County -- later spelled Accomack. | Northamptonshire, England | 12,021 | 207 sq mi (536 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 12,391 | 192 sq mi (497 km2) |
 |
| Nottoway County | 135 | Nottoway | 1789 | From the area of Amelia County called Nottaway Parish | Nodawa tribe | 15,566 | 315 sq mi (816 km2) |
 |
| Orange County | 137 | Orange | 1734 | Settlers established the legal entity of Orange County in 1734 from a portion of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. | William IV, Prince of Orange, to celebrate his marriage to the Royal Princess Anne of the House of Hanover, England on March 25, 1734. The county was formed on August 8, 1734 | 38,574 | 342 sq mi (886 km2) |
 |
| Page County | 139 | Luray | 1831 | From Shenandoah and Rockingham counties | John Page, governor of Virginia | 23,741 | 311 sq mi (805 km2) |
 |
| Patrick County | 141 | Stuart | 1791 | From Patrick Henry County | Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father | 17,509 | 483 sq mi (1,251 km2) |
 |
| Pittsylvania County | 143 | Chatham | 1767 | From Halifax County | William Pitt, British Prime Minister | 59,571 | 978 sq mi (2,533 km2) |
 |
| Powhatan County | 145 | Powhatan | 1777 | From Cumberland County | Powhatan tribe | 32,105 | 261 sq mi (676 km2) |
 |
| Prince Edward County | 147 | Farmville | 1754 | From Amelia County | Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, brother of George III | 22,049 | 353 sq mi (914 km2) |
 |
| Prince George County | 149 | Prince George | 1703 | From Charles City County | Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Queen Anne | 42,871 | 266 sq mi (689 km2) |
 |
| Prince William County | 153 | Manassas | 1731 | From Stafford and King George counties | Prince William Augustus, son of George II | 489,640 | 338 sq mi (875 km2) |
 |
| Pulaski County | 155 | Pulaski | 1839 | From Montgomery and Wythe counties | Kazimierz Pulaski, Polish-born Revolutionary War general | 33,655 | 321 sq mi (831 km2) |
 |
| Rappahannock County | 157 | Washington | 1833 | From Culpeper County. The original Rappahannock County, known as Old Rappahannock County, was created in 1656 from part of Lancaster County. Old Rappahannock County became extinct in 1692 when it was split to create Essex and Richmond counties. | Rappahannock River | 7,414 | 267 sq mi (692 km2) |
 |
| Richmond County | 159 | Warsaw | 1692 | From the original Rappahannock County, better known as Old Rappahannock County, which was split to form Richmond and Essex counties. | Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, illegitimate son of King Charles II | 9,184 | 192 sq mi (497 km2) |
 |
| Roanoke County | 161 | Salem | 1838 | From the southern part of Botetourt County | Roanoke River | 97,026 | 251 sq mi (650 km2) |
 |
| Rockbridge County | 163 | Lexington | 1778 | From parts of Augusta and Botetourt counties | Natural Bridge | 22,358 | 600 sq mi (1,554 km2) |
 |
| Rockingham County | 165 | Harrisonburg | 1778 | From Augusta County | Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister | 86,568 | 851 sq mi (2,204 km2) |
 |
| Russell County | 167 | Lebanon | 1786 | From a section of Washington County | William Russell, frontiersman and state representative | 25,477 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 21,433 | 537 sq mi (1,391 km2) |
 |
| Shenandoah County | 171 | Woodstock | 1772 | Formed from non-county territory; originally named for Governor John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, but renamed in 1778. | Shenandoah River | 45,228 | 512 sq mi (1,326 km2) |
 |
| Smyth County | 173 | Marion | 1832 | From Washington and Wythe counties | Alexander Smyth, Congressman from Virginia | 29,216 | 452 sq mi (1,171 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 17,975 | 600 sq mi (1,554 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 149,588 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |
 |
| Stafford County | 179 | Stafford | 1664 | From part of Westmoreland County | Stafford, England | 165,428 | 270 sq mi (699 km2) |
 |
| Surry County | 181 | Surry | 1652 | From part of James City County | Surrey, United Kingdom | 6,593 | 279 sq mi (723 km2) |
 |
| Sussex County | 183 | Sussex | 1754 | From Surry County | Sussex, United Kingdom | 10,757 | 491 sq mi (1,272 km2) |
 |
| Tazewell County | 185 | Tazewell | 1800 | From portions of Wythe and Russell counties | Henry Tazewell, U.S. Senator from Virginia | 39,120 | 520 sq mi (1,347 km2) |
 |
| Warren County | 187 | Front Royal | 1836 | From Frederick and Shenandoah counties | Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War general | 41,843 | 214 sq mi (554 km2) |
 |
| Washington County | 191 | Abingdon | 1777 | From Fincastle County | George Washington, Revolutionary War commander, U.S. Founding Father, and future U.S. President | 54,050 | 564 sq mi (1,461 km2) |
 |
| Westmoreland County | 193 | Montross | 1653 | From Northumberland County | Westmoreland, United Kingdom | 19,013 | 229 sq mi (593 km2) |
 |
| Wise County | 195 | Wise | 1856 | From Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties | Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia | 35,174 | 403 sq mi (1,044 km2) |
 |
| Wythe County | 197 | Wytheville | 1790 | From Montgomery County | George Wythe, legal scholar and signer of the Declaration of Independence | 28,104 | 463 sq mi (1,199 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 70,952 | 106 sq mi (275 km2) |
 |
List of independent cities
| City |
FIPS code | Seat | Est. | Origin | Etymology | Population | Area | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 510 | N/A | 1870 | From Alexandria County | Phillip & John Alexander, brothers and area plantation owners | 155,230 | 15 sq mi (39 km2) |
 |
| Bristol | 520 | N/A | 1890 | From Washington County | Bristol, England | 16,807 | 12 sq mi (31 km2) |
 |
| Buena Vista | 530 | N/A | 1892 | From Rockbridge County | from the Buena Vista Company, which founded an iron mine in the area and established the town for its laborers | 6,566 | 7 sq mi (18 km2) |
 |
| Charlottesville | 540 | N/A | 1888 | From Albemarle County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III | 44,983 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |
 |
| Chesapeake | 550 | N/A | 1963 | Formed out of consolidation of Norfolk County (extinct) and City of South Norfolk (extinct) | Chesapeake tribe | 253,886 | 341 sq mi (883 km2) |
 |
| 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 | 18,393 | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |
 |
| Covington | 580 | N/A | 1952 | From Alleghany County | Leonard Covington, hero of the Siege of Fort Recovery and Congressman from Maryland | 5,545 | 4 sq mi (10 km2) |
 |
| Danville | 590 | N/A | 1870 | From Pittsylvania County | Dan River | 41,837 | 43 sq mi (111 km2) |
 |
| Emporia | 595 | N/A | 1967 | From Greensville County | Emporia, Kansas | 5,463 | 7 sq mi (18 km2) |
 |
| Fairfax | 600 | N/A | 1961 | From Fairfax County | Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, only British noble resident in colonial Virginia | 25,144 | 6 sq mi (16 km2) |
 |
| Falls Church | 610 | N/A | 1948 | From Fairfax County | The Falls Church | 14,685 | 2.1 sq mi (5 km2) |
 |
| Franklin | 620 | N/A | 1961 | From Southampton County | Benjamin Franklin, publisher, scholar, orator, and U.S. Founding Father | 8,339 | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |
 |
| Fredericksburg | 630 | N/A | 1870 | From Spotsylvania County | Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II | 28,928 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |
 |
| Galax | 640 | N/A | 1953 | From Grayson County and Carroll County | the galax shrub | 6,717 | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |
 |
| Hampton | 650 | N/A | 1908 | Founded 1610. Current city formed by consolidation of Elizabeth City County and City of Hampton in 1952 | Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company | 137,098 | 52 sq mi (135 km2) |
 |
| Harrisonburg | 660 | N/A | 1916 | From Rockingham County | Thomas Harrison, pioneering settler and town founder | 51,082 | 18 sq mi (47 km2) |
 |
| Hopewell | 670 | N/A | 1916 | From Prince George County | The Hopewell, a ship that carried some of the early English settlers to Virginia | 22,752 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |
 |
| Lexington | 678 | N/A | 1966 | From Rockbridge County | Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington | 7,528 | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) |
 |
| Lynchburg | 680 | N/A | 1786 | From Campbell County | John Lynch, ferry operator and constructor of the first bridge across the James River in the area | 79,535 | 49 sq mi (127 km2) |
 |
| Manassas | 683 | N/A | 1975 | From Prince William County | Manassas Gap Railroad | 42,696 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |
 |
| Manassas Park | 685 | N/A | 1975 | From Prince William County | Manassas Gap Railroad and Manassas National Battlefield Park | 16,361 | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) |
 |
| Martinsville | 690 | N/A | 1928 | From Henry County | Joseph Martin, Revolutionary War general | 13,763 | 11 sq mi (28 km2) |
 |
| Newport News | 700 | N/A | 1896 | From Warwick County | Captain Christopher Newport, English privateer | 183,118 | 68 sq mi (176 km2) |
 |
| Norfolk | 710 | N/A | 1845 | Founded 1682. Incorporated as City in 1845 from Norfolk County (extinct) | Norfolk, England | 230,930 | 54 sq mi (140 km2) |
 |
| Norton | 720 | N/A | 1954 | From Wise County | Eckstein Norton, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad | 3,492 | 7 sq mi (18 km2) |
 |
| Petersburg | 730 | N/A | 1870 | From Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties | Peter Jones, early settler and merchant | 33,309 | 23 sq mi (60 km2) |
 |
| Poquoson | 735 | N/A | 1975 | From York County | An Algonquin term roughly translating to "great marsh" or "flat land" | 12,635 | 16 sq mi (41 km2) |
 |
| Portsmouth | 740 | N/A | 1858 | Founded 1752. Incorporated as City in 1858 from Norfolk County (extinct) | Portsmouth, England | 96,793 | 33 sq mi (85 km2) |
 |
| Radford | 750 | N/A | 1892 | From Montgomery County | John Blair Radford, owner of a plantation that included that town's lands | 16,971 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |
 |
| Richmond | 760 | N/A | 1870 | From Henrico County | Richmond, Surrey, England | 229,247 | 60 sq mi (155 km2) |
 |
| Roanoke | 770 | N/A | 1884 | From Roanoke County | Roanoke River | 97,171 | 43 sq mi (111 km2) |
 |
| Salem | 775 | N/A | 1968 | From Roanoke County | After Salem, New Jersey, home of town founder William Bryan | 25,600 | 15 sq mi (39 km2) |
 |
| Staunton | 790 | N/A | 1870 | From Augusta County | Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of colonial Lieutenant Governor William Gooch | 25,915 | 20 sq mi (52 km2) |
 |
| Suffolk | 800 | N/A | 1910 | Founded 1742. Incorporated as City in 1910 from Nansemond County (extinct) | Suffolk, England | 100,659 | 400 sq mi (1,036 km2) |
 |
| Virginia Beach | 810 | N/A | 1963 | Founded 1906 around existing community of Seatack. Incorporated as City in 1963 from Princess Anne County (extinct) | The city's coastal location | 453,649 | 248 sq mi (642 km2) |
 |
| Waynesboro | 820 | N/A | 1948 | From Augusta County | Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general | 23,182 | 14 sq mi (36 km2) |
 |
| Williamsburg | 830 | N/A | 1902 | From James City County | William III of England | 15,847 | 9 sq mi (23 km2) |
 |
| Winchester | 840 | N/A | 1874 | From Frederick County | Winchester, England | 27,617 | 9 sq mi (23 km2) |
 |
 Top 10 most populated cities in Virginia (2010) |
 Virginia counties and cities by population density (population/ square mile) in 2015 |
 Virginia counties and cities by population in 2010 |
Smithsonian trinomial abbreviations
List of county abbreviations
The counties have the following Smithsonian trinomial abbreviations:
| Code | County name | Code | County name | Code | County name | Code | County name | |||
| AC | Accomack | CU | Cumberland | KQ | King and Queen | PU | Pulaski | |||
| AG | Alleghany | DK | Dickenson | KW | King William | PW | Prince William | |||
| AH | Amherst | DW | Dinwiddie | LA | Lancaster | RA | Rappahannock | |||
| AL | Albemarle | ES | Essex | LE | Lee | RB | Rockbridge | |||
| AM | Amelia | FD | Frederick | LD | Loudoun | RC | Richmond | |||
| AP | Appomattox | FL | Floyd | LO | Louisa | RH | Rockingham | |||
| AR | Arlington County | FQ | Fauquier | LU | Lunenburg | RO | Roanoke | |||
| AU | Augusta | FR | Franklin | MA | Madison | RU | Russell | |||
| BA | Bath | FV | Fluvanna | MI | Middlesex | SC | Scott | |||
| BD | Bedford | FX | Fairfax | MK | Mecklenburg | SH | Shenandoah | |||
| BK | Buckingham | GI | Giles | MO | Montgomery | SM | Smyth | |||
| BL | Bland | GL | Gloucester | MT | Mathews | SO | Southampton | |||
| BO | Botetourt | GO | Goochland | NK | New Kent | SP | Spotsylvania | |||
| BR | Brunswick | GR | Greene | NL | Nelson | ST | Stafford | |||
| BU | Buchanan | GV | Greensville | NO | Northampton | SU | Surry | |||
| CA | Carroll | GY | Grayson | NT | Nottoway | SX | Sussex | |||
| CB | Campbell | HE | Henry | NU | Northumberland | TZ | Tazewell | |||
| CC | Charles City | HI | Highland | OR | Orange | WA | Washington | |||
| CG | Craig | HN | Hanover | PA | Page | WE | Westmoreland | |||
| CH | Chesterfield | HR | Henrico | PE | Prince Edward | WI | Wise | |||
| CK | Clarke | HX | Halifax | PG | Prince George | WR | Warren | |||
| CL | Caroline | IW | Isle of Wight | PK | Patrick | WY | Wythe | |||
| CP | Culpeper | JC | James City | PO | Powhatan | YO | York | |||
| CR | Charlotte | KG | King George | PT | Pittsylvania |
List of independent city abbreviations
The counties have the following Smithsonian trinomial abbreviations:
| Code | City name | Code | City name | Code | City name | Code | City name | |||
| ALX | Alexandria | BRI | Bristol | BVA | Buena Vista | CHA | Charlottesville | |||
| CHE | Chesapeake | CHS | Colonial Heights | COV | Covington | DAN | Danville | |||
| EMP | Emporia | FAX | Fairfax | FAL | Falls Church | FRK | Franklin | |||
| FRD | Fredericksburg | GAL | Galax | HAM | Hampton | HAR | Harrisonburg | |||
| HOP | Hopewell | LEX | Lexington | LYN | Lynchburg | MAN | Manassas | |||
| MAP | Manassas Park | MAR | Martinsville | NN | Newport News | NOR | Norfolk | |||
| NRT | Norton | PET | Petersburg | POQ | Poquoson | POR | Portsmouth | |||
| RAD | Radford | RIC | Richmond | ROA | Roanoke | SAL | Salem | |||
| STA | Staunton | SUF | Suffolk | VAB | Virginia Beach | WAY | Waynesboro | |||
| WIL | Williamsburg | WIN | Winchester |
Largest cities
-
Virginia Beach, the largest city in Virginia
-
Chesapeake, the second-largest city
-
Norfolk, the third-largest city
-
Richmond, the capital and fourth-largest city
-
Newport News, the fifth-largest
-
Alexandria, the sixth-largest
-
Hampton, the seventh-largest city
-
Roanoke, the eighth-largest city
-
Portsmouth, the ninth-largest city
-
Suffolk, the tenth-largest city
.jpg)
_from_Mill_Mountain_Star_at_Dusk.jpg)
_up_the_Elizabeth_River,_past_Portsmouth_landmarks.jpg)
Fictional counties
- The 2016 supernatural horror film The Autopsy of Jane Doe is set in Grantham County, located close to the city of Richmond.
- The Netflix drama miniseries Echoes takes place in Easton County and the county seat of Mt. Echo.
- The historical drama TV series The Waltons is set in Jefferson County, specifically in the fictional community of Walton's Mountain.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Condados de Virginia para niños
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of cities and counties in Virginia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.