List of cities and 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 km2) (Arlington) – 978 square miles (2,530 km2) (Pittsylvania) (Independent cities):2 square miles (5.2 km2) (Manassas Park) – 400 square miles (1,000 km2) (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. 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.

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. Eight independent cities—including Bedford, which gave up its city charter in 2013 and became a town—had 2010 populations of less than 10,000 with the smallest, Norton, having a population of only 3,958.^[1] In 2010, the largest towns were Blacksburg (with 42,620 people) and Leesburg (42,616). Four other towns also had populations of over 10,000 people.^[1] For a complete list of these towns, see List of towns in Virginia. For major unincorporated population centers, see List of unincorporated towns 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.^[2] 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.^[2] Cities which previously been granted a city charter, but did not have the requisite population, had their status grandfathered in.^[2] 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.^[2] At least two constitutional officers—treasurer and commissioner of the revenue—were required to be elected solely by the residents of the city.^[2] The distinction between first and second class cities was ended with the Virginia Constitution of 1971.^[2] 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.^[2] As of 2003, 14 of Virginia's independent cities retain these features.^[2]

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.^[3]

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 code[4]	County seat[5][6]	Established[5]	Origin	Etymology	Population[7]	Area[5]	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	7004329730000000000♠32,973	7002455000000000000♠455 sq mi (7003117800000000000♠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	7005105703000000000♠105,703	7002723000000000000♠723 sq mi (7003187300000000000♠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	7004156770000000000♠15,677	7002446000000000000♠446 sq mi (7003115500000000000♠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	7004129030000000000♠12,903	7002357000000000000♠357 sq mi (7002925000000000000♠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	7004319140000000000♠31,914	7002475000000000000♠475 sq mi (7003123000000000000♠1,230 km2)
Appomattox County	011	Appomattox	1845	From Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte and Prince Edward counties	Appomattox River	7004154140000000000♠15,414	7002334000000000000♠334 sq mi (7002865000000000000♠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	7005229164000000000♠229,164	7001260000000000000♠26 sq mi (7001670000000000000♠67 km2)
Augusta County	015	Staunton	1738	From Orange County	Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess of Wales	7004743140000000000♠74,314	7002971000000000000♠971 sq mi (7003251500000000000♠2,515 km2)
Bath County	017	Warm Springs	1791	From Augusta, Botetourt and Greenbrier counties May 1, 1791	Bath, England	7003447000000000000♠4,470	7002532000000000000♠532 sq mi (7003137800000000000♠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	7004777240000000000♠77,724	7002755000000000000♠755 sq mi (7003195500000000000♠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	7003656100000000000♠6,561	7002359000000000000♠359 sq mi (7002930000000000000♠930 km2)
Botetourt County	023	Fincastle	1770	From Augusta county.	Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, colonial governor of Virginia	7004333470000000000♠33,347	7002543000000000000♠543 sq mi (7003140600000000000♠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	7004166980000000000♠16,698	7002566000000000000♠566 sq mi (7003146600000000000♠1,466 km2)
Buchanan County	027	Grundy	1858	From Russell and Tazewell counties	James Buchanan, fifteenth U.S. President	7004227760000000000♠22,776	7002504000000000000♠504 sq mi (7003130500000000000♠1,305 km2)
Buckingham County	029	Buckingham	1761	From Albemarle county	Buckinghamshire, England	7004170320000000000♠17,032	7002581000000000000♠581 sq mi (7003150500000000000♠1,505 km2)
Campbell County	031	Rustburg	1782	From Bedford county	William Campbell, Revolutionary War general	7004550860000000000♠55,086	7002504000000000000♠504 sq mi (7003130500000000000♠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	7004299840000000000♠29,984	7002533000000000000♠533 sq mi (7003138000000000000♠1,380 km2)
Carroll County	035	Hillsville	1842	From Grayson county	Charles Carroll of Carrollton	7004297240000000000♠29,724	7002476000000000000♠476 sq mi (7003123300000000000♠1,233 km2)
Charles City County	036	Charles City	1634	Colonial division before 1635[8]	King Charles I of England	7003704000000000000♠7,040	7002182000000000000♠182 sq mi (7002471000000000000♠471 km2)
Charlotte County	037	Charlotte Court House	1765	From Lunenburg county	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of Great Britain	7004122010000000000♠12,201	7002475000000000000♠475 sq mi (7003123000000000000♠1,230 km2)
Chesterfield County	041	Chesterfield	1749	From Henrico County	Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British politician and Lord of the Bedchamber	7005335687000000000♠335,687	7002426000000000000♠426 sq mi (7003110300000000000♠1,103 km2)
Clarke County	043	Berryville	1836	From Frederick County	George Rogers Clarke, Revolutionary War general	7004143630000000000♠14,363	7002177000000000000♠177 sq mi (7002458000000000000♠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	7003521100000000000♠5,211	7002330000000000000♠330 sq mi (7002855000000000000♠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	7004494320000000000♠49,432	7002381000000000000♠381 sq mi (7002987000000000000♠987 km2)
Cumberland County	049	Cumberland	1749	Goochland County	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, British general, politician, and son of King George II	7003971900000000000♠9,719	7002298000000000000♠298 sq mi (7002772000000000000♠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	7004151150000000000♠15,115	7002333000000000000♠333 sq mi (7002862000000000000♠862 km2)
Dinwiddie County	053	Dinwiddie	1752	From Prince George County	Robert Dinwiddie, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	7004278520000000000♠27,852	7002504000000000000♠504 sq mi (7003130500000000000♠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	7004111300000000000♠11,130	7002258000000000000♠258 sq mi (7002668000000000000♠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	7006114223400000000♠1,142,234	7002396000000000000♠396 sq mi (7003102600000000000♠1,026 km2)
Fauquier County	061	Warrenton	1759	From Prince William County	Francis Fauquier, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	7004687820000000000♠68,782	7002650000000000000♠650 sq mi (7003168300000000000♠1,683 km2)
Floyd County	063	Floyd	1831	From Montgomery County	John Floyd, governor of Virginia	7004156510000000000♠15,651	7002382000000000000♠382 sq mi (7002989000000000000♠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	7004262350000000000♠26,235	7002287000000000000♠287 sq mi (7002743000000000000♠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	7004562640000000000♠56,264	7002692000000000000♠692 sq mi (7003179200000000000♠1,792 km2)
Frederick County	069	Winchester	1738	From Orange County	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II	7004831990000000000♠83,199	7002415000000000000♠415 sq mi (7003107500000000000♠1,075 km2)
Giles County	071	Pearisburg	1806	Formed from Montgomery, Monroe, Wythe, and Tazewell Counties	William Branch Giles, U.S. Senator from Virginia	7004167080000000000♠16,708	7002358000000000000♠358 sq mi (7002927000000000000♠927 km2)
Gloucester County	073	Gloucester	1651	From York County	Gloucestershire, England	7004371430000000000♠37,143	7002217000000000000♠217 sq mi (7002562000000000000♠562 km2)
Goochland County	075	Goochland	1728	From Henrico County	William Gooch, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	7004222530000000000♠22,253	7002284000000000000♠284 sq mi (7002736000000000000♠736 km2)
Grayson County	077	Independence	1793	From Wythe County	William Grayson, U.S. Senator from Virginia	7004160120000000000♠16,012	7002443000000000000♠443 sq mi (7003114700000000000♠1,147 km2)
Greene County	079	Stanardsville	1838	From Orange County	Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general	7004191620000000000♠19,162	7002157000000000000♠157 sq mi (7002407000000000000♠407 km2)
Greensville County	081	Emporia	1781	From Brunswick County	Richard Grenville, commander of the English expedition to found Roanoke Colony	7004118850000000000♠11,885	7002296000000000000♠296 sq mi (7002767000000000000♠767 km2)
Halifax County	083	Halifax	1752	From Lunenburg County	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, President of the Board of Trade	7004351250000000000♠35,125	7002814000000000000♠814 sq mi (7003210800000000000♠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	7005103227000000000♠103,227	7002473000000000000♠473 sq mi (7003122500000000000♠1,225 km2)
Henrico County	087	Henrico	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, oldest son of James I of England	7005325155000000000♠325,155	7002238000000000000♠238 sq mi (7002616000000000000♠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	7004518810000000000♠51,881	7002382000000000000♠382 sq mi (7002989000000000000♠989 km2)
Highland County	091	Monterey	1847	From Bath and Pendleton Counties[9]	Mountainous topography	7003221400000000000♠2,214	7002416000000000000♠416 sq mi (7003107700000000000♠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	7004363140000000000♠36,314	7002316000000000000♠316 sq mi (7002818000000000000♠818 km2)
James City County	095	Williamsburg	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	King James I of England	7004731470000000000♠73,147	7002143000000000000♠143 sq mi (7002370000000000000♠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	7003715800000000000♠7,158	7002316000000000000♠316 sq mi (7002818000000000000♠818 km2)
King George County	099	King George	1721	From Richmond County	George I of Great Britain	7004255150000000000♠25,515	7002180000000000000♠180 sq mi (7002466000000000000♠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	7004162690000000000♠16,269	7002275000000000000♠275 sq mi (7002712000000000000♠712 km2)
Lancaster County	103	Lancaster	1651	Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties.	Lancaster, United Kingdom	7004109650000000000♠10,965	7002133000000000000♠133 sq mi (7002344000000000000♠344 km2)
Lee County	105	Jonesville	1793	From Russell County	Light Horse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War general and governor of Virginia	7004247420000000000♠24,742	7002437000000000000♠437 sq mi (7003113200000000000♠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	7005375629000000000♠375,629	7002520000000000000♠520 sq mi (7003134700000000000♠1,347 km2)
Louisa County	109	Louisa	1742	From Hanover County	Princess Louise, youngest daughter of George II	7004346020000000000♠34,602	7002498000000000000♠498 sq mi (7003129000000000000♠1,290 km2)
Lunenburg County	111	Lunenburg	1746	From Brunswick County	Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	7004122990000000000♠12,299	7002432000000000000♠432 sq mi (7003111900000000000♠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	7004131340000000000♠13,134	7002322000000000000♠322 sq mi (7002834000000000000♠834 km2)
Mathews County	115	Mathews	1791	From Gloucester County	Thomas Mathews, Revolutionary War general.	7003886200000000000♠8,862	7001860000000000000♠86 sq mi (7002223000000000000♠223 km2)
Mecklenburg County	117	Boydton	1765	From Lunenburg County	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	7004310810000000000♠31,081	7002624000000000000♠624 sq mi (7003161600000000000♠1,616 km2)
Middlesex County	119	Saluda	1673	From Lancaster County	Middlesex, United Kingdom	7004106060000000000♠10,606	7002130000000000000♠130 sq mi (7002337000000000000♠337 km2)
Montgomery County	121	Christiansburg	1777	From Fincastle County	Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War general	7004976530000000000♠97,653	7002388000000000000♠388 sq mi (7003100500000000000♠1,005 km2)
Nelson County	125	Lovingston	1808	From Amherst County	Thomas Nelson Jr., governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence	7004147850000000000♠14,785	7002472000000000000♠472 sq mi (7003122200000000000♠1,222 km2)
New Kent County	127	New Kent	1654	New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County, Virginia.	Kent County, England	7004203920000000000♠20,392	7002210000000000000♠210 sq mi (7002544000000000000♠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	7004121550000000000♠12,155	7002207000000000000♠207 sq mi (7002536000000000000♠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	7004122320000000000♠12,232	7002192000000000000♠192 sq mi (7002497000000000000♠497 km2)
Nottoway County	135	Nottoway	1789	From the area of Amelia County called Nottaway Parish	Nodawa tribe	7004156730000000000♠15,673	7002315000000000000♠315 sq mi (7002816000000000000♠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 III of England, widely known as William of Orange	7004353850000000000♠35,385	7002342000000000000♠342 sq mi (7002886000000000000♠886 km2)
Page County	139	Luray	1831	From Shenandoah and Rockingham counties	John Page, governor of Virginia	7004237260000000000♠23,726	7002311000000000000♠311 sq mi (7002805000000000000♠805 km2)
Patrick County	141	Stuart	1791	From Patrick Henry County	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	7004180450000000000♠18,045	7002483000000000000♠483 sq mi (7003125100000000000♠1,251 km2)
Pittsylvania County	143	Chatham	1767	From Halifax County	William Pitt, British Prime Minister	7004621940000000000♠62,194	7002978000000000000♠978 sq mi (7003253300000000000♠2,533 km2)
Powhatan County	145	Powhatan	1777	From Cumberland County	Powhatan tribe	7004280310000000000♠28,031	7002261000000000000♠261 sq mi (7002676000000000000♠676 km2)
Prince Edward County	147	Farmville	1754	From Amelia County	Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, brother of George III	7004229520000000000♠22,952	7002353000000000000♠353 sq mi (7002914000000000000♠914 km2)	The original Rappahannock County, commonly known as Old Rappahannock County, was split to form Richmond and Essex counties
Prince George County	149	Prince George	1703	From Charles City County	Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Queen Anne	7004378620000000000♠37,862	7002266000000000000♠266 sq mi (7002689000000000000♠689 km2)
Prince William County	153	Manassas	1731	From Stafford and King George counties	Prince William Augustus, son of George II	7005451721000000000♠451,721	7002338000000000000♠338 sq mi (7002875000000000000♠875 km2)
Pulaski County	155	Pulaski	1839	From Montgomery and Wythe counties	Kazimierz Pulaski, Polish-born Revolutionary War general	7004343320000000000♠34,332	7002321000000000000♠321 sq mi (7002831000000000000♠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	7003737800000000000♠7,378	7002267000000000000♠267 sq mi (7002692000000000000♠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	7003890800000000000♠8,908	7002192000000000000♠192 sq mi (7002497000000000000♠497 km2)
Roanoke County	161	Salem	1838	From the southern part of Botetourt County	Roanoke River	7004944090000000000♠94,409	7002251000000000000♠251 sq mi (7002650000000000000♠650 km2)
Rockbridge County	163	Lexington	1778	From parts of Augusta and Botetourt counties	Natural Bridge	7004223540000000000♠22,354	7002600000000000000♠600 sq mi (7003155400000000000♠1,554 km2)
Rockingham County	165	Harrisonburg	1778	From Augusta County	Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister	7004785930000000000♠78,593	7002851000000000000♠851 sq mi (7003220400000000000♠2,204 km2)
Russell County	167	Lebanon	1786	From a section of Washington County	William Russell, frontiersman and state representative	7004278910000000000♠27,891	7002475000000000000♠475 sq mi (7003123000000000000♠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	7004221260000000000♠22,126	7002537000000000000♠537 sq mi (7003139100000000000♠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	7004431900000000000♠43,190	7002512000000000000♠512 sq mi (7003132600000000000♠1,326 km2)
Smyth County	173	Marion	1832	From Washington and Wythe counties	Alexander Smyth, Congressman from Virginia	7004314700000000000♠31,470	7002452000000000000♠452 sq mi (7003117100000000000♠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	7004181090000000000♠18,109	7002600000000000000♠600 sq mi (7003155400000000000♠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	7005130475000000000♠130,475	7002401000000000000♠401 sq mi (7003103900000000000♠1,039 km2)
Stafford County	179	Stafford	1664	From part of Westmoreland County	Stafford, England	7005142003000000000♠142,003	7002270000000000000♠270 sq mi (7002699000000000000♠699 km2)
Surry County	181	Surry	1652	From part of James City County	Surrey, United Kingdom	7003670900000000000♠6,709	7002279000000000000♠279 sq mi (7002723000000000000♠723 km2)
Sussex County	183	Sussex	1754	From Surry County	Sussex, United Kingdom	7004117150000000000♠11,715	7002491000000000000♠491 sq mi (7003127200000000000♠1,272 km2)
Tazewell County	185	Tazewell	1800	From portions of Wythe and Russell counties	Henry Tazewell, U.S. Senator from Virginia	7004428990000000000♠42,899	7002520000000000000♠520 sq mi (7003134700000000000♠1,347 km2)
Warren County	187	Front Royal	1836	From Frederick and Shenandoah counties	Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War general	7004390830000000000♠39,083	7002214000000000000♠214 sq mi (7002554000000000000♠554 km2)
Washington County	191	Abingdon	1777	From Fincastle County	George Washington, Revolutionary War commander, U.S. Founding Father, and future U.S. President	7004545910000000000♠54,591	7002564000000000000♠564 sq mi (7003146100000000000♠1,461 km2)
Westmoreland County	193	Montross	1653	From Northumberland County	Westmoreland, United Kingdom	7004176290000000000♠17,629	7002229000000000000♠229 sq mi (7002593000000000000♠593 km2)
Wise County	195	Wise	1856	From Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties	Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia	7004397180000000000♠39,718	7002403000000000000♠403 sq mi (7003104400000000000♠1,044 km2)
Wythe County	197	Wytheville	1790	From Montgomery County	George Wythe, legal scholar and signer of the Declaration of Independence	7004291190000000000♠29,119	7002463000000000000♠463 sq mi (7003119900000000000♠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	7004678370000000000♠67,837	7002106000000000000♠106 sq mi (7002275000000000000♠275 km2)

List of independent cities

City	FIPS code[4]	Seat[5]	Established[5]	Origin	Etymology	Population[5]	Area[5]	Map
Alexandria	510	N/A	1902[10]	From Alexandria County before 1870[11]	Phillip & John Alexander, brothers and area plantation owners	7005147391000000000♠147,391	7001150000000000000♠15 sq mi (7001390000000000000♠39 km2)
Bristol	520	N/A	1902[10]	From Washington County in 1890[11]	Bristol, England	7004173670000000000♠17,367	7001120000000000000♠12 sq mi (7001310000000000000♠31 km2)
Buena Vista	530	N/A	1902[10]	From Rockbridge County in 1892[11]	from the Buena Vista Company, which founded an iron mine in the area and established the town for its laborers	7003634900000000000♠6,349	7000700000000000000♠7 sq mi (7001180000000000000♠18 km2)
Charlottesville	540	N/A	1902[10]	From Albemarle County in 1888[11]	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	7004450490000000000♠45,049	7001100000000000000♠10 sq mi (7001260000000000000♠26 km2)
Chesapeake	550	N/A	1963	Formed out of consolidation of Norfolk County (extinct) and City of South Norfolk (extinct)[12]	Chesapeake tribe	7005222209000000000♠222,209	7002341000000000000♠341 sq mi (7002883000000000000♠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	7004168970000000000♠16,897	7000800000000000000♠8 sq mi (7001210000000000000♠21 km2)
Covington	580	N/A	1952	From Alleghany County	Leonard Covington, hero of the Siege of Fort Recovery and Congressman from Maryland	7003630300000000000♠6,303	7000400000000000000♠4 sq mi (7001100000000000000♠10 km2)
Danville	590	N/A	1902[10]	From Pittsylvania County before 1870[11]	Dan River	7004484110000000000♠48,411	7001430000000000000♠43 sq mi (7002111000000000000♠111 km2)
Emporia	595	N/A	1967	From Greensville County	Emporia, Kansas	7003566500000000000♠5,665	7000700000000000000♠7 sq mi (7001180000000000000♠18 km2)
Fairfax	600	N/A	1961	From Fairfax County	Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, only British noble resident in colonial Virginia	7004214980000000000♠21,498	7000600000000000000♠6 sq mi (7001160000000000000♠16 km2)
Falls Church	610	N/A	1948	From Fairfax County	The Falls Church	7004123320000000000♠12,332	7000210000000000000♠2.1 sq mi (7000500000000000000♠5 km2)
Franklin	620	N/A	1961	From Southampton County	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, scholar, orator, and U.S. Founding Father	7003834600000000000♠8,346	7000800000000000000♠8 sq mi (7001210000000000000♠21 km2)
Fredericksburg	630	N/A	1902[10]	From Spotsylvania County before 1870[11]	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II	7004242860000000000♠24,286	7001100000000000000♠10 sq mi (7001260000000000000♠26 km2)
Galax	640	N/A	1952	From Grayson County and Carroll County	the galax shrub	7003683700000000000♠6,837	7000800000000000000♠8 sq mi (7001210000000000000♠21 km2)
Hampton	650	N/A	1908	Founded 1610. Current city formed by consolidation of Elizabeth City County and City of Hampton in 1952[12]	Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company	7005146437000000000♠146,437	7001520000000000000♠52 sq mi (7002135000000000000♠135 km2)
Harrisonburg	660	N/A	1916	From Rockingham County in 1916[11]	Thomas Harrison, pioneering settler and town founder	7004404680000000000♠40,468	7001180000000000000♠18 sq mi (7001470000000000000♠47 km2)
Hopewell	670	N/A	1916	From Prince George County in 1916[11]	The Hopewell, a ship that carried some of the early English settlers to Virginia	7004223540000000000♠22,354	7001100000000000000♠10 sq mi (7001260000000000000♠26 km2)
Lexington	678	N/A	1966	From Rockbridge County	Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington	7003686700000000000♠6,867	7000250000000000000♠2.5 sq mi (7000600000000000000♠6 km2)
Lynchburg	680	N/A	1902[10]	From Campbell County before 1870[11]	John Lynch, ferry operator and constructor of the first bridge across the James River in the area	7004652690000000000♠65,269	7001490000000000000♠49 sq mi (7002127000000000000♠127 km2)
Manassas	683	N/A	1975	From Prince William County	Manassas Gap Railroad	7004406050000000000♠40,605	7001100000000000000♠10 sq mi (7001260000000000000♠26 km2)
Manassas Park	685	N/A	1975	From Prince William County	Manassas Gap Railroad and Manassas National Battlefield Park	7004142730000000000♠14,273	7000250000000000000♠2.5 sq mi (7000600000000000000♠6 km2)
Martinsville	690	N/A	1928	From Henry County	Joseph Martin, Revolutionary War general	7004154160000000000♠15,416	7001110000000000000♠11 sq mi (7001280000000000000♠28 km2)
Newport News	700	N/A	1902[10]	From Warwick County in 1896[11]	Uncertain—see main city article	7005180726000000000♠180,726	7001680000000000000♠68 sq mi (7002176000000000000♠176 km2)
Norfolk	710	N/A	1845[13]	Founded 1682.[14] Incorporated as City in 1845 from Norfolk County (extinct)[12]	Norfolk, England	7005245782000000000♠245,782	7001540000000000000♠54 sq mi (7002140000000000000♠140 km2)
Norton	720	N/A	1954	From Wise County	Eckstein Norton, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad	7003390400000000000♠3,904	7000700000000000000♠7 sq mi (7001180000000000000♠18 km2)
Petersburg	730	N/A	1902[10]	From Prince George County before 1870[11]	Peter Jones, early settler and merchant	7004337400000000000♠33,740	7001230000000000000♠23 sq mi (7001600000000000000♠60 km2)
Poquoson	735	N/A	1975	From York County	An Algonquin term roughly translating to "great marsh" or "flat land"	7004115660000000000♠11,566	7001160000000000000♠16 sq mi (7001410000000000000♠41 km2)
Portsmouth	740	N/A	1858[12]	Founded 1752.[15] Incorporated as City in 1858 from Norfolk County (extinct)[12]	Portsmouth, England	7004964700000000000♠96,470	7001330000000000000♠33 sq mi (7001850000000000000♠85 km2)
Radford	750	N/A	1902[10]	From Montgomery County in 1892[11]	Dr. John Blair Radford, owner of a plantation that included that town's lands	7004158590000000000♠15,859	7001100000000000000♠10 sq mi (7001260000000000000♠26 km2)
Richmond	760	N/A	1902[10]	From Henrico County before 1870[11]	Richmond, Surrey, England	7005210309000000000♠210,309	7001600000000000000♠60 sq mi (7002155000000000000♠155 km2)
Roanoke	770	N/A	1902[10]	From Roanoke County in 1884[11]	Roanoke River	7004949110000000000♠94,911	7001430000000000000♠43 sq mi (7002111000000000000♠111 km2)
Salem	775	N/A	1968	From Roanoke County	After Salem, New Jersey, home of town founder William Bryan	7004247470000000000♠24,747	7001150000000000000♠15 sq mi (7001390000000000000♠39 km2)
Staunton	790	N/A	1902[10]	From Augusta County before 1870[11]	Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of colonial Lieutenant Governor William Gooch	7004238530000000000♠23,853	7001200000000000000♠20 sq mi (7001520000000000000♠52 km2)
Suffolk	800	N/A	1910[16]	Founded 1742.[16] Incorporated as City in 1910 from Nansemond County (extinct)[16]	Suffolk, England	7004636770000000000♠63,677	7002400000000000000♠400 sq mi (7003103600000000000♠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)[12]	The city's coastal location	7005447021000000000♠447,021	7002248000000000000♠248 sq mi (7002642000000000000♠642 km2)
Waynesboro	820	N/A	1948	From Augusta County	Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general	7004195200000000000♠19,520	7001140000000000000♠14 sq mi (7001360000000000000♠36 km2)
Williamsburg	830	N/A	1902[10]	From James City County	William III of England	7004140680000000000♠14,068	7000900000000000000♠9 sq mi (7001230000000000000♠23 km2)
Winchester	840	N/A	1902[10]	From Frederick County in 1874[11]	Winchester, England	7004235850000000000♠23,585	7000900000000000000♠9 sq mi (7001230000000000000♠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

See also

• List of former counties, cities, and towns of Virginia
• List of counties of Kentucky
• List of counties of West Virginia

References