| Independent cities and Counties of Virginia | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Commonwealth of Virginia |
| Number | 95 Counties 38 Independent cities 133 Second-level subdivisions |
| Populations | (Counties): 2,348 (Highland) – 1,160,925 (Fairfax) (Independent cities): 3,478 (Norton) – 454,808 (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 | |
| Subdivisions |
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| Settlements in Virginia |
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TheCommonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 38independent cities that are consideredcounty-equivalents for census purposes, totaling 133 second-level subdivisions, the third most of any state. In Virginia, cities are co-equal levels of government to counties, but towns are part of counties. For some counties, for statistical purposes, theBureau 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).[1]
Many county seats are politically not a part of the counties they serve; under Virginia law, all municipalities incorporated as cities areindependent cities and are not part of any county. Some of the cities in theHampton Roads area, includingVirginia Beach,Chesapeake,Newport News,Hampton, andSuffolk 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 ofFairfax County and is completely surrounded by Fairfax County, but the city is politically independent of the county.
Manytowns are as large as cities but are notincorporated as cities and are situated within a parentcounty or counties. Seven independent cities had 2020 populations of less than 10,000 with the smallest,Norton having a population of only 3,687.[2] 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.[2] For a complete list of these towns, seeList of towns in Virginia. For major unincorporated population centers, seeList of unincorporated communities in Virginia.
Virginia's independent cities were classified by theVirginia General Assembly in 1871 as cities of the first class and cities of the second class.[3] 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.[3] Cities that previously been granted a city charter, but did not have the requisite population, had their status grandfathered in.[3]
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.[3] At least two constitutional officers—treasurer and commissioner of the revenue—were required to be elected solely by the residents of the city.[3] The distinction between first and second class cities was ended with theVirginia Constitution of 1971.[3] 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.[3] As of 2003[update], 14 of Virginia's independent cities retain these features.[3]
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.[4]
Virginia's postal abbreviation isVA and itsFIPS state code is51.
List of the 95counties in theCommonwealth ofVirginia (links shown underFIPS County Code are for the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics Info Page for that county):
| County | FIPS code[5] | County seat[6][7] | Est.[6] | Origin | Etymology | Population[8] | Area[6] | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack County | 001 | Accomac | 1663 | Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the original eightshires 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 acrossChesapeake Bay | 33,411 | 455 sq mi (1,178 km2) |  |
| Albemarle County | 003 | Charlottesville | 1744 | In 1744, theVirginia General Assembly created Albemarle County by taking the northern portion ofGoochland County. | Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, colonial proprietary governor | 117,313 | 723 sq mi (1,873 km2) |  |
| Alleghany County | 005 | Covington | 1822 | Formed from parts ofBath andBotetourt counties as well asMonroe County (now in WV) | Alleghany Mountains | 14,632 | 446 sq mi (1,155 km2) |  |
| Amelia County | 007 | Amelia | 1735 | Formed fromBrunswick andPrince George counties | Princess Amelia Sophia, second daughter ofGeorge II of Great Britain | 13,716 | 357 sq mi (925 km2) |  |
| Amherst County | 009 | Amherst | 1761 | FromAlbemarle county | Jeffery Amherst, British conqueror ofQuebec during theSeven Years' War and colonial governor of Virginia | 31,650 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |  |
| Appomattox County | 011 | Appomattox | 1845 | FromBuckingham,Campbell,Charlotte andPrince Edward counties | Appomattox River | 16,957 | 334 sq mi (865 km2) |  |
| Arlington County | 013 | Arlington | 1846 | Annexed from theDistrict 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 | 239,807 | 26 sq mi (67 km2) |  |
| Augusta County | 015 | Staunton | 1738 | FromOrange County | Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess ofWales | 78,622 | 971 sq mi (2,515 km2) |  |
| Bath County | 017 | Warm Springs | 1791 | From Augusta, Botetourt and Greenbrier counties May 1, 1791 | Bath, England | 4,071 | 532 sq mi (1,378 km2) |  |
| Bedford County | 019 | Bedford | 1754 | FromLunenburg county | John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, British politician and one of the head negotiators of thePeace of Paris | 82,182 | 755 sq mi (1,955 km2) |  |
| Bland County | 021 | Bland | 1861 | FromGiles,Tazewell, andWythe counties | Richard Bland, member of theContinental Congress and publisher of theAmerican Revolutionary War-era tractAn Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies | 6,186 | 359 sq mi (930 km2) |  |
| Botetourt County | 023 | Fincastle | 1770 | FromAugusta county. | Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, colonial governor of Virginia | 34,129 | 543 sq mi (1,406 km2) |  |
| Brunswick County | 025 | Lawrenceville | 1720 | FromPrince George county. Parts ofSurry andIsle 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 | 15,750 | 566 sq mi (1,466 km2) |  |
| Buchanan County | 027 | Grundy | 1858 | FromRussell andTazewell counties | James Buchanan, fifteenth U.S. President | 18,632 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |  |
| Buckingham County | 029 | Buckingham | 1761 | FromAlbemarle county | Duke of Buckingham | 17,115 | 581 sq mi (1,505 km2) |  |
| Campbell County | 031 | Rustburg | 1782 | FromBedford county | William Campbell, Revolutionary War general | 55,342 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |  |
| Caroline County | 033 | Bowling Green | 1728 | FromEssex,King and Queen, andKing William counties | Caroline of Ansbach, wife ofKing George II of Great Britain | 33,477 | 533 sq mi (1,380 km2) |  |
| Carroll County | 035 | Hillsville | 1842 | FromGrayson county | Charles Carroll of Carrollton | 29,242 | 476 sq mi (1,233 km2) |  |
| Charles City County | 036 | Charles City | 1634 | Colonial division before 1635[9] | KingCharles I of England | 6,564 | 182 sq mi (471 km2) |  |
| Charlotte County | 037 | Charlotte Court House | 1765 | FromLunenburg county | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife ofKing George III of Great Britain | 11,258 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |  |
| Chesterfield County | 041 | Chesterfield | 1749 | FromHenrico County | Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British politician andLord of the Bedchamber | 389,793 | 426 sq mi (1,103 km2) |  |
| Clarke County | 043 | Berryville | 1836 | FromFrederick County | George Rogers Clarke, Revolutionary War general | 15,598 | 177 sq mi (458 km2) |  |
| Craig County | 045 | New Castle | 1851 | Formed fromBotetourt,Roanoke,Giles, andMonroe (in present-day West Virginia) Counties | Robert Craig,U.S. Representative from Virginia | 4,829 | 330 sq mi (855 km2) |  |
| Culpeper County | 047 | Culpeper | 1749 | Culpeper County was established in 1749 fromOrange County, Virginia. | Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial proprietary governor | 56,125 | 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 | 10,062 | 298 sq mi (772 km2) |  |
| Dickenson County | 051 | Clintwood | 1880 | Formed from parts ofBuchanan,Russell, andWise Counties | William J. Dickinson (1827-1907), member of theVirginia House of Delegates | 13,411 | 333 sq mi (862 km2) |  |
| Dinwiddie County | 053 | Dinwiddie | 1752 | FromPrince George County | Robert Dinwiddie, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 28,576 | 504 sq mi (1,305 km2) |  |
| Essex County | 057 | Tappahannock | 1692 | From the originalRappahannock County, Virginia, commonly known as Old Rappahannock County, which was split to form Essex and Richmond counties. | Essex,United Kingdom | 10,683 | 258 sq mi (668 km2) |  |
| Fairfax County | 059 | Fairfax | 1742 | FromPrince William County | Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the only British noble resident in Virginia | 1,160,925 | 396 sq mi (1,026 km2) |  |
| Fauquier County | 061 | Warrenton | 1759 | FromPrince William County | Francis Fauquier, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 75,865 | 650 sq mi (1,683 km2) |  |
| Floyd County | 063 | Floyd | 1831 | FromMontgomery County | John Floyd, governor of Virginia | 15,658 | 382 sq mi (989 km2) |  |
| Fluvanna County | 065 | Palmyra | 1777 | FromHenrico County | From the Latin name for theJames River, which itself translates to "Annie's River" in honor ofQueen Anne | 28,746 | 287 sq mi (743 km2) |  |
| Franklin County | 067 | Rocky Mount | 1786 | Formed from parts ofBedford andHenry Counties | Benjamin Franklin, publisher, orator, scholar, and U.S. Founding Father | 55,637 | 692 sq mi (1,792 km2) |  |
| Frederick County | 069 | Winchester | 1738 | FromOrange County | Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II | 98,109 | 415 sq mi (1,075 km2) |  |
| Giles County | 071 | Pearisburg | 1806 | Formed fromMontgomery,Monroe,Wythe, andTazewell Counties | William Branch Giles,U.S. Senator from Virginia | 16,533 | 358 sq mi (927 km2) |  |
| Gloucester County | 073 | Gloucester | 1651 | FromYork County | Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester | 40,154 | 217 sq mi (562 km2) |  |
| Goochland County | 075 | Goochland | 1728 | FromHenrico County | William Gooch, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 28,223 | 284 sq mi (736 km2) |  |
| Grayson County | 077 | Independence | 1793 | FromWythe County | William Grayson, U.S. Senator from Virginia | 15,265 | 443 sq mi (1,147 km2) |  |
| Greene County | 079 | Stanardsville | 1838 | FromOrange County | Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general | 21,744 | 157 sq mi (407 km2) |  |
| Greensville County | 081 | Emporia | 1781 | FromBrunswick County | Richard Grenville, commander of the English expedition to foundRoanoke Colony | 11,150 | 296 sq mi (767 km2) |  |
| Halifax County | 083 | Halifax | 1752 | FromLunenburg County | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax,President of the Board of Trade | 33,448 | 814 sq mi (2,108 km2) |  |
| Hanover County | 085 | Hanover | 1721 | From the area ofNew Kent County called St. Paul's Parish | Electorate of Hanover, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed | 115,309 | 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 ofJames I of England | 338,696 | 238 sq mi (616 km2) |  |
| Henry County | 089 | Martinsville | 1777 | FromPittsylvania County, it was initially namedPatrick Henry County | Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father | 49,385 | 382 sq mi (989 km2) |  |
| Highland County | 091 | Monterey | 1847 | FromBath andPendleton Counties[10] | Mountainous topography | 2,348 | 416 sq mi (1,077 km2) |  |
| Isle of Wight County | 093 | Isle of Wight | 1634 | Original county of the Colony under England, initially namedWarrosquyoake Shire | Isle of Wight, England | 40,942 | 316 sq mi (818 km2) |  |
| James City County | 095 | Williamsburg | 1617 | Original county of the Colony under England | KingJames I of England | 82,797 | 143 sq mi (370 km2) |  |
| King and Queen County | 097 | King and Queen | 1691 | King and Queen County was established in 1691 fromNew Kent County, Virginia. | King William III andQueen Mary II | 6,747 | 316 sq mi (818 km2) |  |
| King George County | 099 | King George | 1721 | FromRichmond County | George I of Great Britain | 28,816 | 180 sq mi (466 km2) |  |
| King William County | 101 | King William | 1702 | English colonists formed King William County in 1702 out ofKing and Queen County, Virginia. | William III of England | 19,232 | 275 sq mi (712 km2) |  |
| Lancaster County | 103 | Lancaster | 1651 | Lancaster County was established in 1651 fromNorthumberland andYork counties. | Lancaster,United Kingdom | 11,062 | 133 sq mi (344 km2) |  |
| Lee County | 105 | Jonesville | 1793 | FromRussell County | Light Horse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War general and governor of Virginia | 21,780 | 437 sq mi (1,132 km2) |  |
| Loudoun County | 107 | Leesburg | 1757 | FromFairfax County | John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, BritishCommander-in-Chief, North America during the Seven Years' War | 443,380 | 520 sq mi (1,347 km2) |  |
| Louisa County | 109 | Louisa | 1742 | FromHanover County | Princess Louise, youngest daughter of George II | 42,109 | 498 sq mi (1,290 km2) |  |
| Lunenburg County | 111 | Lunenburg | 1746 | FromBrunswick County | Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed | 12,060 | 432 sq mi (1,119 km2) |  |
| Madison County | 113 | Madison | 1793 | FromOrange County | James Madison, Congressman from Virginia, principal author of theU.S. Constitution, and future U.S. President | 14,252 | 322 sq mi (834 km2) |  |
| Mathews County | 115 | Mathews | 1791 | FromGloucester County | Thomas Mathews, Revolutionary War general. | 8,602 | 86 sq mi (223 km2) |  |
| Mecklenburg County | 117 | Boydton | 1765 | FromLunenburg County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III | 30,824 | 624 sq mi (1,616 km2) |  |
| Middlesex County | 119 | Saluda | 1673 | FromLancaster County | Middlesex,United Kingdom | 10,949 | 130 sq mi (337 km2) |  |
| Montgomery County | 121 | Christiansburg | 1777 | FromFincastle County | Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War general | 98,998 | 388 sq mi (1,005 km2) |  |
| Nelson County | 125 | Lovingston | 1808 | FromAmherst County | Thomas Nelson Jr., governor of Virginia and signer of theDeclaration of Independence | 14,766 | 472 sq mi (1,222 km2) |  |
| New Kent County | 127 | New Kent | 1654 | New Kent County was established in 1654 fromYork County, Virginia. | Kent County, England | 27,218 | 210 sq mi (544 km2) |  |
| Northampton County | 131 | Eastville | 1634 | Original county of the Colony under England, initially namedAccomac 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 | 12,004 | 207 sq mi (536 km2) |  |
| Northumberland County | 133 | Heathsville | 1648 | The county was created by theVirginia General Assembly in 1648 during a period of rapid population growth and geographic expansion. | Northumberland,United Kingdom | 12,397 | 192 sq mi (497 km2) |  |
| Nottoway County | 135 | Nottoway | 1789 | From the area ofAmelia County called Nottaway Parish | Nodawa tribe | 15,632 | 315 sq mi (816 km2) |  |
| Orange County | 137 | Orange | 1734 | Settlers established the legal entity of Orange County in 1734 from a portion ofSpotsylvania 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 | 38,986 | 342 sq mi (886 km2) |  |
| Page County | 139 | Luray | 1831 | FromShenandoah andRockingham counties | John Page, governor of Virginia | 23,686 | 311 sq mi (805 km2) |  |
| Patrick County | 141 | Stuart | 1791 | FromPatrick Henry County | Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father | 17,308 | 483 sq mi (1,251 km2) |  |
| Pittsylvania County | 143 | Chatham | 1767 | FromHalifax County | William Pitt, British Prime Minister | 59,410 | 978 sq mi (2,533 km2) |  |
| Powhatan County | 145 | Powhatan | 1777 | FromCumberland County | Powhatan tribe | 32,392 | 261 sq mi (676 km2) |  |
| Prince Edward County | 147 | Farmville | 1754 | FromAmelia County | Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, brother of George III | 22,276 | 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 | 43,589 | 266 sq mi (689 km2) |  |
| Prince William County | 153 | Manassas | 1731 | FromStafford andKing George counties | Prince William Augustus, son of George II | 497,003 | 338 sq mi (875 km2) |  |
| Pulaski County | 155 | Pulaski | 1839 | FromMontgomery andWythe counties | Kazimierz Pulaski, Polish-born Revolutionary War general | 33,579 | 321 sq mi (831 km2) |  |
| Rappahannock County | 157 | Washington | 1833 | FromCulpeper 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 | 7,479 | 267 sq mi (692 km2) |  |
| Richmond County | 159 | Warsaw | 1692 | From the originalRappahannock 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 | 9,215 | 192 sq mi (497 km2) |  |
| Roanoke County | 161 | Salem | 1838 | From the southern part ofBotetourt County | Roanoke River | 97,334 | 251 sq mi (650 km2) |  |
| Rockbridge County | 163 | Lexington | 1778 | From parts ofAugusta andBotetourt counties | Natural Bridge | 22,368 | 600 sq mi (1,554 km2) |  |
| Rockingham County | 165 | Harrisonburg | 1778 | FromAugusta County | Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister | 87,674 | 851 sq mi (2,204 km2) |  |
| Russell County | 167 | Lebanon | 1786 | From a section ofWashington County | William Russell, frontiersman and state representative | 25,420 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |  |
| Scott County | 169 | Gate City | 1814 | Formed from parts ofWashington,Lee, andRussell Counties | Winfield Scott,War of 1812 and later Mexican-American War general | 21,388 | 537 sq mi (1,391 km2) |  |
| Shenandoah County | 171 | Woodstock | 1772 | Formed from non-county territory; originally named for GovernorJohn Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, but renamed in 1778. | Shenandoah River | 45,441 | 512 sq mi (1,326 km2) |  |
| Smyth County | 173 | Marion | 1832 | FromWashington andWythe counties | Alexander Smyth, Congressman from Virginia | 29,137 | 452 sq mi (1,171 km2) |  |
| Southampton County | 175 | Courtland | 1749 | Most of it from part ofWarrosquyoake Shire | Disputed; eitherSouthampton,England orHenry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of theVirginia Company | 17,941 | 600 sq mi (1,554 km2) |  |
| Spotsylvania County | 177 | Spotsylvania Courthouse | 1721 | Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 fromEssex,King and Queen, andKing William counties. | Alexander Spotswood, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia | 152,021 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |  |
| Stafford County | 179 | Stafford | 1664 | From part ofWestmoreland County | Stafford, England | 168,919 | 270 sq mi (699 km2) |  |
| Surry County | 181 | Surry | 1652 | From part ofJames City County | Surrey,United Kingdom | 6,579 | 279 sq mi (723 km2) |  |
| Sussex County | 183 | Sussex | 1754 | FromSurry County | Sussex,United Kingdom | 10,753 | 491 sq mi (1,272 km2) |  |
| Tazewell County | 185 | Tazewell | 1800 | From portions ofWythe andRussell counties | Henry Tazewell, U.S. Senator from Virginia | 38,875 | 520 sq mi (1,347 km2) |  |
| Warren County | 187 | Front Royal | 1836 | FromFrederick andShenandoah counties | Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War general | 42,461 | 214 sq mi (554 km2) |  |
| Washington County | 191 | Abingdon | 1777 | FromFincastle County | George Washington, Revolutionary War commander, U.S. Founding Father, and future U.S. President | 54,098 | 564 sq mi (1,461 km2) |  |
| Westmoreland County | 193 | Montross | 1653 | FromNorthumberland County | Westmoreland,United Kingdom | 19,235 | 229 sq mi (593 km2) |  |
| Wise County | 195 | Wise | 1856 | FromLee,Scott, andRussell Counties | Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia | 34,973 | 403 sq mi (1,044 km2) |  |
| Wythe County | 197 | Wytheville | 1790 | FromMontgomery County | George Wythe, legal scholar and signer of the Declaration of Independence | 28,100 | 463 sq mi (1,199 km2) |  |
| York County | 199 | Yorktown | 1634 | Formed in 1634 as one of the eightshires of Virginia. It was originally calledCharles River Shire. | James Stuart,Duke of York, the future King James II | 71,410 | 106 sq mi (275 km2) |  |
| City | FIPS code[5] | Seat[6] | Est.[6] | Origin | Etymology | Population[11] | Area[6] | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 510 | N/A | 1870[12] | FromAlexandria County[13] | Phillip & John Alexander, brothers and area plantation owners | 159,102 | 15 sq mi (39 km2) |  |
| Bristol | 520 | N/A | 1890[13] | From Washington County[13] | Bristol, England | 16,316 | 12 sq mi (31 km2) |  |
| Buena Vista | 530 | N/A | 1892[13] | From Rockbridge County[13] | from the Buena Vista Company, which founded an iron mine in the area and established the town for its laborers | 6,581 | 7 sq mi (18 km2) |  |
| Charlottesville | 540 | N/A | 1888[13] | From Albemarle County[13] | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III | 44,767 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |  |
| Chesapeake | 550 | N/A | 1963 | Formed out of consolidation ofNorfolk County (extinct) and City ofSouth Norfolk (extinct)[14] | Chesapeake tribe | 254,997 | 341 sq mi (883 km2) |  |
| Colonial Heights | 570 | N/A | 1948 | FromChesterfield County | From the actions of Revolutionary War generalGilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette; his soldiers, nicknamed the "Colonials", placed an artillery on high ground overlooking Petersburg | 18,674 | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |  |
| Covington | 580 | N/A | 1952 | FromAlleghany County | Leonard Covington, hero of theSiege of Fort Recovery and Congressman from Maryland | 5,663 | 4 sq mi (10 km2) |  |
| Danville | 590 | N/A | 1870[13] | From Pittsylvania County[13] | Dan River | 41,993 | 43 sq mi (111 km2) |  |
| Emporia | 595 | N/A | 1967 | FromGreensville County | Emporia, Kansas | 5,402 | 7 sq mi (18 km2) |  |
| Fairfax | 600 | N/A | 1961 | FromFairfax County | Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, only British noble resident in colonial Virginia | 26,340 | 6 sq mi (16 km2) |  |
| Falls Church | 610 | N/A | 1948 | FromFairfax County | The Falls Church | 15,034 | 2.1 sq mi (5 km2) |  |
| Franklin | 620 | N/A | 1961 | FromSouthampton County | Benjamin Franklin, publisher, scholar, orator, and U.S. Founding Father | 8,373 | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |  |
| Fredericksburg | 630 | N/A | 1870[13] | From Spotsylvania County[13] | Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II | 29,992 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |  |
| Galax | 640 | N/A | 1953 | FromGrayson County andCarroll County | thegalax shrub | 6,739 | 8 sq mi (21 km2) |  |
| Hampton | 650 | N/A | 1908 | Founded 1610. Current city formed by consolidation ofElizabeth City County andCity of Hampton in 1952[14] | Disputed; eitherSouthampton,England orHenry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of theVirginia Company | 137,596 | 52 sq mi (135 km2) |  |
| Harrisonburg | 660 | N/A | 1916 | From Rockingham County[13] | Thomas Harrison, pioneering settler and town founder | 51,164 | 18 sq mi (47 km2) |  |
| Hopewell | 670 | N/A | 1916 | From Prince George County[13] | The Hopewell, a ship that carried some of the early English settlers to Virginia | 22,970 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |  |
| Lexington | 678 | N/A | 1966 | FromRockbridge County | Revolutionary WarBattle of Lexington | 7,802 | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) |  |
| Lynchburg | 680 | N/A | 1786 | From Campbell County[13] | John Lynch, ferry operator and constructor of the first bridge across the James River in the area | 80,301 | 49 sq mi (127 km2) |  |
| Manassas | 683 | N/A | 1975 | FromPrince William County | Manassas Gap Railroad | 43,616 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |  |
| Manassas Park | 685 | N/A | 1975 | FromPrince William County | Manassas Gap Railroad andManassas National Battlefield Park | 16,611 | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) |  |
| Martinsville | 690 | N/A | 1928 | FromHenry County | Joseph Martin, Revolutionary War general | 13,834 | 11 sq mi (28 km2) |  |
| Newport News | 700 | N/A | 1896[13] | FromWarwick County[13] | Captain Christopher Newport, English privateer[15] | 183,056 | 68 sq mi (176 km2) |  |
| Norfolk | 710 | N/A | 1845[16] | Founded 1682.[17] Incorporated as City in 1845 fromNorfolk County (extinct)[14] | Norfolk, England | 231,105 | 54 sq mi (140 km2) |  |
| Norton | 720 | N/A | 1954 | FromWise County | Eckstein Norton, president of theLouisville and Nashville Railroad | 3,478 | 7 sq mi (18 km2) |  |
| Petersburg | 730 | N/A | 1870[13] | From Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties[13] | Peter Jones, early settler and merchant | 34,058 | 23 sq mi (60 km2) |  |
| Poquoson | 735 | N/A | 1975 | From York County | AnAlgonquin term roughly translating to "great marsh" or "flat land" | 12,854 | 16 sq mi (41 km2) |  |
| Portsmouth | 740 | N/A | 1858[14] | Founded 1752.[18] Incorporated as City in 1858 fromNorfolk County (extinct)[14] | Portsmouth,England | 96,482 | 33 sq mi (85 km2) |  |
| Radford | 750 | N/A | 1892[13] | From Montgomery County[13] | John Blair Radford, owner of a plantation that included that town's lands | 17,273 | 10 sq mi (26 km2) |  |
| Richmond | 760 | N/A | 1870[13] | FromHenrico County[13] | Richmond, Surrey,England | 233,655 | 60 sq mi (155 km2) |  |
| Roanoke | 770 | N/A | 1884[13] | FromRoanoke County[13] | Roanoke River | 97,912 | 43 sq mi (111 km2) |  |
| Salem | 775 | N/A | 1968 | FromRoanoke County | AfterSalem, New Jersey, home of town founder William Bryan | 25,908 | 15 sq mi (39 km2) |  |
| Staunton | 790 | N/A | 1870[13] | From Augusta County[13] | Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of colonial Lieutenant GovernorWilliam Gooch | 26,361 | 20 sq mi (52 km2) |  |
| Suffolk | 800 | N/A | 1910[19] | Founded 1742.[19] Incorporated as City in 1910 fromNansemond County (extinct)[19] | Suffolk, England | 103,105 | 400 sq mi (1,036 km2) |  |
| Virginia Beach | 810 | N/A | 1963 | Founded 1906 around existing community of Seatack. Incorporated as City in 1963 fromPrincess Anne County (extinct)[14] | The city's coastal location | 454,808 | 248 sq mi (642 km2) |  |
| Waynesboro | 820 | N/A | 1948 | FromAugusta County | Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general | 23,498 | 14 sq mi (36 km2) |  |
| Williamsburg | 830 | N/A | 1902[13] | From James City County | William III of England | 16,030 | 9 sq mi (23 km2) |  |
| Winchester | 840 | N/A | 1874[13] | From Frederick County[13] | Winchester,England | 27,800 | 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 |
The counties have the followingSmithsonian trinomial abbreviations:[20]
| 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 |
The counties have the followingSmithsonian trinomial abbreviations:[20]
| Code | City name | Code | County name | Code | County name | Code | County 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 |
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