List of cities and counties in Virginia

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 km^2) (Arlington) – 978 square miles (2,530 km^2) (Pittsylvania) (Independent cities): 2 square miles (5.2 km^2) (Falls Church) – 400 square miles (1,000 km^2) (Suffolk)
Government	County government
Subdivisions	(Counties): cities, towns, unincorporated communities, census designated place (Independent cities): Borough, Neighborhood

Virginia counties and cities by year of establishment

The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 38 independent cities that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes, 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). ^[1]

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

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.^[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, 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.^[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 the Virginia 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 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

Virginia counties and independent cities

List of counties

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 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 km^2)
Albemarle County	003	Charlottesville	1744	In 1744, the Virginia General Assembly created Albemarle County by taking the northern portion of Goochland County.	Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, colonial proprietary governor	115,676	723 sq mi (1,873 km^2)
Alleghany County	005	Covington	1822	Formed from parts of Bath and Botetourt counties as well as Monroe County (now in WV)	Alleghany Mountains	14,595	446 sq mi (1,155 km^2)
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 km^2)
Amherst County	009	Amherst	1761	From Albemarle county	Jeffery Amherst, British conqueror of Quebec during the Seven Years' War and colonial governor of Virginia	31,396	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Appomattox County	011	Appomattox	1845	From Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte and Prince Edward counties	Appomattox River	16,864	334 sq mi (865 km^2)
Arlington County	013	Arlington	1846	Annexed from the District of Columbia, having previously been part of Fairfax County prior to the district's formation	Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, originally called Alexandria County; renamed in 1920	234,162	26 sq mi (67 km^2)
Augusta County	015	Staunton	1738	From Orange County	Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess of Wales	78,247	971 sq mi (2,515 km^2)
Bath County	017	Warm Springs	1791	From Augusta, Botetourt and Greenbrier counties May 1, 1791	Bath, England	4,051	532 sq mi (1,378 km^2)
Bedford County	019	Bedford	1754	From Lunenburg county	John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, British politician and one of the head negotiators of the Peace of Paris	81,525	755 sq mi (1,955 km^2)
Bland County	021	Bland	1861	From Giles, Tazewell, and Wythe counties	Richard Bland, member of the Continental Congress and publisher of the American Revolutionary War-era tract An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies	6,179	359 sq mi (930 km^2)
Botetourt County	023	Fincastle	1770	From Augusta county.	Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, colonial governor of Virginia	34,125	543 sq mi (1,406 km^2)
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 km^2)
Buchanan County	027	Grundy	1858	From Russell and Tazewell counties	James Buchanan, fifteenth U.S. President	19,087	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
Buckingham County	029	Buckingham	1761	From Albemarle county	Duke of Buckingham	16,978	581 sq mi (1,505 km^2)
Campbell County	031	Rustburg	1782	From Bedford county	William Campbell, Revolutionary War general	55,270	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
Caroline County	033	Bowling Green	1728	From Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties	Caroline of Ansbach, wife of King George II of Great Britain	32,640	533 sq mi (1,380 km^2)
Carroll County	035	Hillsville	1842	From Grayson county	Charles Carroll of Carrollton	29,239	476 sq mi (1,233 km^2)
Charles City County	036	Charles City	1634	Colonial division before 1635[9]	King Charles I of England	6,610	182 sq mi (471 km^2)
Charlotte County	037	Charlotte Court House	1765	From Lunenburg county	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of Great Britain	11,336	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Chesterfield County	041	Chesterfield	1749	From Henrico County	Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British politician and Lord of the Bedchamber	383,876	426 sq mi (1,103 km^2)
Clarke County	043	Berryville	1836	From Frederick County	George Rogers Clarke, Revolutionary War general	15,466	177 sq mi (458 km^2)
Craig County	045	New Castle	1851	Formed from Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, and Monroe (in present-day West Virginia) Counties	Robert Craig, U.S. Representative from Virginia	4,843	330 sq mi (855 km^2)
Culpeper County	047	Culpeper	1749	Culpeper County was established in 1749 from Orange County, Virginia.	Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial proprietary governor	54,973	381 sq mi (987 km^2)
Cumberland County	049	Cumberland	1749	Goochland County	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, British general, politician, and son of King George II	9,878	298 sq mi (772 km^2)
Dickenson County	051	Clintwood	1880	Formed from parts of Buchanan, Russell, and Wise Counties	William J. Dickinson, member of the Virginia House of Delegates	13,640	333 sq mi (862 km^2)
Dinwiddie County	053	Dinwiddie	1752	From Prince George County	Robert Dinwiddie, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	28,343	504 sq mi (1,305 km^2)
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 km^2)
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 km^2)
Fauquier County	061	Warrenton	1759	From Prince William County	Francis Fauquier, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	75,165	650 sq mi (1,683 km^2)
Floyd County	063	Floyd	1831	From Montgomery County	John Floyd, governor of Virginia	15,679	382 sq mi (989 km^2)
Fluvanna County	065	Palmyra	1777	From Henrico County	From the Latin name for the James River, which itself translates to "Annie's River" in honor of Queen Anne	28,462	287 sq mi (743 km^2)
Franklin County	067	Rocky Mount	1786	Formed from parts of Bedford and Henry Counties	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, orator, scholar, and U.S. Founding Father	55,549	692 sq mi (1,792 km^2)
Frederick County	069	Winchester	1738	From Orange County	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II	95,994	415 sq mi (1,075 km^2)
Giles County	071	Pearisburg	1806	Formed from Montgomery, Monroe, Wythe, and Tazewell Counties	William Branch Giles, U.S. Senator from Virginia	16,457	358 sq mi (927 km^2)
Gloucester County	073	Gloucester	1651	From York County	Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester	40,057	217 sq mi (562 km^2)
Goochland County	075	Goochland	1728	From Henrico County	William Gooch, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	27,197	284 sq mi (736 km^2)
Grayson County	077	Independence	1793	From Wythe County	William Grayson, U.S. Senator from Virginia	15,285	443 sq mi (1,147 km^2)
Greene County	079	Stanardsville	1838	From Orange County	Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general	21,301	157 sq mi (407 km^2)
Greensville County	081	Emporia	1781	From Brunswick County	Richard Grenville, commander of the English expedition to found Roanoke Colony	11,133	296 sq mi (767 km^2)
Halifax County	083	Halifax	1752	From Lunenburg County	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, President of the Board of Trade	33,432	814 sq mi (2,108 km^2)
Hanover County	085	Hanover	1721	From the area of New Kent County called St. Paul's Parish	Electorate of Hanover, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	114,148	473 sq mi (1,225 km^2)
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 km^2)
Henry County	089	Martinsville	1777	From Pittsylvania County, it was initially named Patrick Henry County	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	49,702	382 sq mi (989 km^2)
Highland County	091	Monterey	1847	From Bath and Pendleton Counties[10]	Mountainous topography	2,339	416 sq mi (1,077 km^2)
Isle of Wight County	093	Isle of Wight	1634	Original county of the Colony under England, initially named Warrosquyoake Shire	Isle of Wight, England	40,711	316 sq mi (818 km^2)
James City County	095	Williamsburg	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	King James I of England	82,654	143 sq mi (370 km^2)
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 km^2)
King George County	099	King George	1721	From Richmond County	George I of Great Britain	28,568	180 sq mi (466 km^2)
King William County	101	King William	1702	English colonists formed King William County in 1702 out of King and Queen County, Virginia.	William III of England	19,030	275 sq mi (712 km^2)
Lancaster County	103	Lancaster	1651	Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties.	Lancaster, United Kingdom	10,859	133 sq mi (344 km^2)
Lee County	105	Jonesville	1793	From Russell County	Light Horse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War general and governor of Virginia	21,745	437 sq mi (1,132 km^2)
Loudoun County	107	Leesburg	1757	From Fairfax County	John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, British Commander-in-Chief, North America during the Seven Years' War	436,347	520 sq mi (1,347 km^2)
Louisa County	109	Louisa	1742	From Hanover County	Princess Louise, youngest daughter of George II	41,037	498 sq mi (1,290 km^2)
Lunenburg County	111	Lunenburg	1746	From Brunswick County	Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	12,038	432 sq mi (1,119 km^2)
Madison County	113	Madison	1793	From Orange County	James Madison, Congressman from Virginia, principal author of the U.S. Constitution, and future U.S. President	14,128	322 sq mi (834 km^2)
Mathews County	115	Mathews	1791	From Gloucester County	Thomas Mathews, Revolutionary War general.	8,514	86 sq mi (223 km^2)
Mecklenburg County	117	Boydton	1765	From Lunenburg County	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	30,648	624 sq mi (1,616 km^2)
Middlesex County	119	Saluda	1673	From Lancaster County	Middlesex, United Kingdom	10,924	130 sq mi (337 km^2)
Montgomery County	121	Christiansburg	1777	From Fincastle County	Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War general	98,666	388 sq mi (1,005 km^2)
Nelson County	125	Lovingston	1808	From Amherst County	Thomas Nelson Jr., governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence	14,705	472 sq mi (1,222 km^2)
New Kent County	127	New Kent	1654	New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County, Virginia.	Kent County, England	26,134	210 sq mi (544 km^2)
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 km^2)
Northumberland County	133	Heathsville	1648	The county was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1648 during a period of rapid population growth and geographic expansion.	Northumberland, United Kingdom	12,391	192 sq mi (497 km^2)
Nottoway County	135	Nottoway	1789	From the area of Amelia County called Nottaway Parish	Nodawa tribe	15,566	315 sq mi (816 km^2)
Orange County	137	Orange	1734	Settlers established the legal entity of Orange County in 1734 from a portion of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.	William 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 km^2)
Page County	139	Luray	1831	From Shenandoah and Rockingham counties	John Page, governor of Virginia	23,741	311 sq mi (805 km^2)
Patrick County	141	Stuart	1791	From Patrick Henry County	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	17,509	483 sq mi (1,251 km^2)
Pittsylvania County	143	Chatham	1767	From Halifax County	William Pitt, British Prime Minister	59,571	978 sq mi (2,533 km^2)
Powhatan County	145	Powhatan	1777	From Cumberland County	Powhatan tribe	32,105	261 sq mi (676 km^2)
Prince Edward County	147	Farmville	1754	From Amelia County	Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, brother of George III	22,049	353 sq mi (914 km^2)
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 km^2)
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 km^2)
Pulaski County	155	Pulaski	1839	From Montgomery and Wythe counties	Kazimierz Pulaski, Polish-born Revolutionary War general	33,655	321 sq mi (831 km^2)
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 km^2)
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 km^2)
Roanoke County	161	Salem	1838	From the southern part of Botetourt County	Roanoke River	97,026	251 sq mi (650 km^2)
Rockbridge County	163	Lexington	1778	From parts of Augusta and Botetourt counties	Natural Bridge	22,358	600 sq mi (1,554 km^2)
Rockingham County	165	Harrisonburg	1778	From Augusta County	Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister	86,568	851 sq mi (2,204 km^2)
Russell County	167	Lebanon	1786	From a section of Washington County	William Russell, frontiersman and state representative	25,477	475 sq mi (1,230 km^2)
Scott County	169	Gate City	1814	Formed from parts of Washington, Lee, and Russell Counties	Winfield Scott, War of 1812 and later Mexican-American War general	21,433	537 sq mi (1,391 km^2)
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 km^2)
Smyth County	173	Marion	1832	From Washington and Wythe counties	Alexander Smyth, Congressman from Virginia	29,216	452 sq mi (1,171 km^2)
Southampton County	175	Courtland	1749	Most of it from part of Warrosquyoake Shire	Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company	17,975	600 sq mi (1,554 km^2)
Spotsylvania County	177	Spotsylvania Courthouse	1721	Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties.	Alexander Spotswood, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	149,588	401 sq mi (1,039 km^2)
Stafford County	179	Stafford	1664	From part of Westmoreland County	Stafford, England	165,428	270 sq mi (699 km^2)
Surry County	181	Surry	1652	From part of James City County	Surrey, United Kingdom	6,593	279 sq mi (723 km^2)
Sussex County	183	Sussex	1754	From Surry County	Sussex, United Kingdom	10,757	491 sq mi (1,272 km^2)
Tazewell County	185	Tazewell	1800	From portions of Wythe and Russell counties	Henry Tazewell, U.S. Senator from Virginia	39,120	520 sq mi (1,347 km^2)
Warren County	187	Front Royal	1836	From Frederick and Shenandoah counties	Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War general	41,843	214 sq mi (554 km^2)
Washington County	191	Abingdon	1777	From Fincastle County	George Washington, Revolutionary War commander, U.S. Founding Father, and future U.S. President	54,050	564 sq mi (1,461 km^2)
Westmoreland County	193	Montross	1653	From Northumberland County	Westmoreland, United Kingdom	19,013	229 sq mi (593 km^2)
Wise County	195	Wise	1856	From Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties	Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia	35,174	403 sq mi (1,044 km^2)
Wythe County	197	Wytheville	1790	From Montgomery County	George Wythe, legal scholar and signer of the Declaration of Independence	28,104	463 sq mi (1,199 km^2)
York County	199	Yorktown	1634	Formed in 1634 as one of the eight shires of Virginia. It was originally called Charles River Shire.	James Stuart, Duke of York, the future King James II	70,952	106 sq mi (275 km^2)

List of independent cities

City	FIPS code[5]	Seat[6]	Est.[6]	Origin	Etymology	Population[11]	Area[6]	Map
Alexandria	510	N/A	1870[12]	From Alexandria County[13]	Phillip & John Alexander, brothers and area plantation owners	155,230	15 sq mi (39 km^2)
Bristol	520	N/A	1890[13]	From Washington County[13]	Bristol, England	16,807	12 sq mi (31 km^2)
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	6,566	7 sq mi (18 km^2)
Charlottesville	540	N/A	1888[13]	From Albemarle County[13]	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	44,983	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
Chesapeake	550	N/A	1963	Formed out of consolidation of Norfolk County (extinct) and City of South Norfolk (extinct)[14]	Chesapeake tribe	253,886	341 sq mi (883 km^2)
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 km^2)
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 km^2)
Danville	590	N/A	1870[13]	From Pittsylvania County[13]	Dan River	41,837	43 sq mi (111 km^2)
Emporia	595	N/A	1967	From Greensville County	Emporia, Kansas	5,463	7 sq mi (18 km^2)
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 km^2)
Falls Church	610	N/A	1948	From Fairfax County	The Falls Church	14,685	2.1 sq mi (5 km^2)
Franklin	620	N/A	1961	From Southampton County	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, scholar, orator, and U.S. Founding Father	8,339	8 sq mi (21 km^2)
Fredericksburg	630	N/A	1870[13]	From Spotsylvania County[13]	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II	28,928	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
Galax	640	N/A	1953	From Grayson County and Carroll County	the galax shrub	6,717	8 sq mi (21 km^2)
Hampton	650	N/A	1908	Founded 1610. Current city formed by consolidation of Elizabeth City County and City of Hampton in 1952[14]	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 km^2)
Harrisonburg	660	N/A	1916	From Rockingham County[13]	Thomas Harrison, pioneering settler and town founder	51,082	18 sq mi (47 km^2)
Hopewell	670	N/A	1916	From Prince George County[13]	The Hopewell, a ship that carried some of the early English settlers to Virginia	22,752	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
Lexington	678	N/A	1966	From Rockbridge County	Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington	7,528	2.5 sq mi (6 km^2)
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	79,535	49 sq mi (127 km^2)
Manassas	683	N/A	1975	From Prince William County	Manassas Gap Railroad	42,696	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
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 km^2)
Martinsville	690	N/A	1928	From Henry County	Joseph Martin, Revolutionary War general	13,763	11 sq mi (28 km^2)
Newport News	700	N/A	1896[13]	From Warwick County[13]	Captain Christopher Newport, English privateer[15]	183,118	68 sq mi (176 km^2)
Norfolk	710	N/A	1845[16]	Founded 1682.[17] Incorporated as City in 1845 from Norfolk County (extinct)[14]	Norfolk, England	230,930	54 sq mi (140 km^2)
Norton	720	N/A	1954	From Wise County	Eckstein Norton, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad	3,492	7 sq mi (18 km^2)
Petersburg	730	N/A	1870[13]	From Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties[13]	Peter Jones, early settler and merchant	33,309	23 sq mi (60 km^2)
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 km^2)
Portsmouth	740	N/A	1858[14]	Founded 1752.[18] Incorporated as City in 1858 from Norfolk County (extinct)[14]	Portsmouth, England	96,793	33 sq mi (85 km^2)
Radford	750	N/A	1892[13]	From Montgomery County[13]	John Blair Radford, owner of a plantation that included that town's lands	16,971	10 sq mi (26 km^2)
Richmond	760	N/A	1870[13]	From Henrico County[13]	Richmond, Surrey, England	229,247	60 sq mi (155 km^2)
Roanoke	770	N/A	1884[13]	From Roanoke County[13]	Roanoke River	97,171	43 sq mi (111 km^2)
Salem	775	N/A	1968	From Roanoke County	After Salem, New Jersey, home of town founder William Bryan	25,600	15 sq mi (39 km^2)
Staunton	790	N/A	1870[13]	From Augusta County [13]	Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of colonial Lieutenant Governor William Gooch	25,915	20 sq mi (52 km^2)
Suffolk	800	N/A	1910[19]	Founded 1742.[19] Incorporated as City in 1910 from Nansemond County (extinct)[19]	Suffolk, England	100,659	400 sq mi (1,036 km^2)
Virginia Beach	810	N/A	1963	Founded 1906 around existing community of Seatack. Incorporated as City in 1963 from Princess Anne County (extinct)[14]	The city's coastal location	453,649	248 sq mi (642 km^2)
Waynesboro	820	N/A	1948	From Augusta County	Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general	23,182	14 sq mi (36 km^2)
Williamsburg	830	N/A	1902[13]	From James City County	William III of England	15,847	9 sq mi (23 km^2)
Winchester	840	N/A	1874[13]	From Frederick County [13]	Winchester, England	27,617	9 sq mi (23 km^2)

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:^[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

List of independent city abbreviations

The counties have the following Smithsonian 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

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

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

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

References

1. "Cities of Virginia". encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
2. "Population and Area of All Virginia Local Governments, 1790-2010". Archived May 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website. April 19, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
3. "Former Second Class Cities in Virginia". Archived October 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website. April 19, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
4. Kane, Joseph Nathan; Aiken, Charles Curry (2005). The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000. Scarecrow Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-8108-5036-1.
5. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
6. National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Retrieved April 26, 2007.
7. Virginia Commission on Local Government. "County Seats" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
8. "U.S. Census 2023 population estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
9. "Virginia Historical Counties" Archived August 4, 2004, at the Wayback Machine. Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: Newberry Library. Retrieved July 10, 2010. Select the map for December 31, 1634 (the earliest date available).
10. "About Us: History". Highland County. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
11. "2022 U.S. Census Quickfacts website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
12. "Virginia Historical Counties" Archived August 4, 2004, at the Wayback Machine. Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: Newberry Library. Retrieved July 9, 2010. Compare the maps for July 9 and 10, 1902.
13. Census Office (1920), Fourteenth Census of the United States
14. Durman, George W. "Current Virginia Counties & Independent Cities". Germanna Colonies. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
15. King, Lauren. "What's in a name? | Newport News". pilotonline.com.
16. City of Norfolk. "19th Century History". City of Norfolk History. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
17. City of Norfolk. "17th Century History". City of Norfolk History. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
18. City of Portsmouth. "City of Portsmouth, Virginia - History". City of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
19. City of Suffolk. "All About Suffolk: History". Suffolk: Community. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
20. "County List". www.vahighways.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.