List of counties in Virginia

For a list of Virginia independent cities, which are county-equivalent for census purposes, see List of cities in Virginia

See also: List of United States counties and county-equivalents

The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties, along with 39 independent cities that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes. Note that the map in this article, taken from the official United States Census Bureau site, includes Clifton Forge as an independent city. This reflected the political reality at the time of the 2000 Census. However, in 2001, Clifton Forge relinquished its city charter and reincorporated as a town in Alleghany County, as in Virginia all municipalities incorporated as towns are included within 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.

It is also worthy of note that there are several counties and cities which have the same name, but are separate politically. These currently include Bedford, Fairfax, Franklin, Richmond, and Roanoke, and in the past included Norfolk and Alexandria, whose counties changed their names, ostensibly to end some of the confusion. Similarity in their names does not necessarily mean that the current counties and cities which share names are close geographically. Richmond County is nowhere near the City of Richmond, and Franklin County is even farther from the City of Franklin.

The map below may be clicked upon to go to any of the counties (or named Independent cities) shown.

Virginia's postal abbreviation is VA and its FIPS state code is 51.

List of 95 counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia (link shown under Fips County Code are for the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics Info Page for that county):

List

County	FIPS code	County seat	Established	Origin	Etymology	Population	Area	Map
Accomack County	001	Accomac	1663	Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the original eight shires of Virginia.	From the Native American word Accawmack, meaning "on the other side", referencing the county's position across Chesapeake Bay	700433164000000000033,164	7002455000000000000455 sq mi (70031178000000000001,178 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	700498970000000000098,970	7002723000000000000723 sq mi (70031873000000000001,873 km2)
Alleghany County	005	Covington	1822	?	Alleghany Mountains	700412926000000000012,926	7002446000000000000446 sq mi (70031155000000000001,155 km2)
Amelia County	007	Amelia Court House	1734	?	Princess Amelia Sophia, second daughter of George II of Great Britain	700411400000000000011,400	7002357000000000000357 sq mi (7002925000000000000925 km2)
Amherst County	009	Amherst	1761	?	Jeffery Amherst, British conqueror of Quebec during the Seven Years War and colonial governor of Virginia	700431894000000000031,894	7002475000000000000475 sq mi (70031230000000000001,230 km2)
Appomattox County	011	Appomattox	1845	?	Appomattox River	700413705000000000013,705	7002334000000000000334 sq mi (7002865000000000000865 km2)
Arlington County	013	Arlington	1801	?	Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington, colonial proprietary landowner	7005207627000000000207,627	700126000000000000026 sq mi (700167000000000000067 km2)
Augusta County	015	Staunton	1745	Augusta country was formed in 1738 from Orange County, Virginia, although the government was not organized until 1745.	Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess of Wales	700465615000000000065,615	7002971000000000000971 sq mi (70032515000000000002,515 km2)
Bath County	017	Warm Springs	1790	From Augusta, Botetourt and Greenbrier counties December 14, 1790	Bath, England	70035048000000000005,048	7002532000000000000532 sq mi (70031378000000000001,378 km2)
Bedford County	019	Bedford	1753	?	John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, British politician and one of the head negotiators of the Peace of Paris	700460371000000000060,371	7002755000000000000755 sq mi (70031955000000000001,955 km2)
Bland County	021	Bland	1861	?	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	70036871000000000006,871	7002359000000000000359 sq mi (7002930000000000000930 km2)
Botetourt County	023	Fincastle	1796	?	Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, colonial governor of Virginia	700430496000000000030,496	7002543000000000000543 sq mi (70031406000000000001,406 km2)
Brunswick County	025	Lawrenceville	1732	?	Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	700418419000000000018,419	7002566000000000000566 sq mi (70031466000000000001,466 km2)
Buchanan County	027	Grundy	1858	?	James Buchanan, fifteenth U.S. President	700426978000000000026,978	7002504000000000000504 sq mi (70031305000000000001,305 km2)
Buckingham County	029	Buckingham	1785	?	Buckinghamshire, England	700415623000000000015,623	7002581000000000000581 sq mi (70031505000000000001,505 km2)
Campbell County	031	Rustburg	1782	?	William Campbell, Revolutionary War general	700451078000000000051,078	7002504000000000000504 sq mi (70031305000000000001,305 km2)
Caroline County	033	Bowling Green	1728	?	Caroline of Ansbach, wife of King George II of Great Britain	700428545000000000028,545	7002533000000000000533 sq mi (70031380000000000001,380 km2)
Carroll County	035	Hillsville	1842	?	Charles Carroll of Carrollton	700430042000000000030,042	7002476000000000000476 sq mi (70031233000000000001,233 km2)
Charles City County	036	Charles City	1634	Colonial division before 1635	King Charles I of England	70036926000000000006,926	7002182000000000000182 sq mi (7002471000000000000471 km2)
Charlotte County	037	Charlotte Court House	1765	?	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III of Great Britain	700412472000000000012,472	7002475000000000000475 sq mi (70031230000000000001,230 km2)
Chesterfield County	041	Chesterfield	1749	?	Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British politician and Lord of the Bedchamber	7005316236000000000316,236	7002426000000000000426 sq mi (70031103000000000001,103 km2)
Clarke County	043	Berryville	1836	?	George Rogers Clarke, Revolutionary War general	700412652000000000012,652	7002177000000000000177 sq mi (7002458000000000000458 km2)
Craig County	045	New Castle	1851	?	Robert Craig, U.S. Representative from Virginia	70035091000000000005,091	7002330000000000000330 sq mi (7002855000000000000855 km2)
Culpeper County	047	Culpeper	1748	Culpeper County was established in 1749 from Orange County, Virginia.	Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial proprietary governor	700446689000000000046,689	7002381000000000000381 sq mi (7002987000000000000987 km2)
Cumberland County	049	Cumberland	1749	?	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, British general, politician, and son of King George II	70039017000000000009,017	7002298000000000000298 sq mi (7002772000000000000772 km2)
Dickenson County	051	Clintwood	1880	?	William J. Dickinson, member of the Virginia House of Delegates	700416395000000000016,395	7002333000000000000333 sq mi (7002862000000000000862 km2)
Dinwiddie County	053	Dinwiddie	1752	?	Robert Dinwiddie, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	700424533000000000024,533	7002504000000000000504 sq mi (70031305000000000001,305 km2)
Essex County	057	Tappahannock	1692	Essex County was established in 1692 from Rappahannock County, Virginia.	Essex, United Kingdom	70039989000000000009,989	7002258000000000000258 sq mi (7002668000000000000668 km2)
Fairfax County	059	Fairfax	1742	?	Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the only resident British noble in Virginia	70061081726000000001,081,726	7002396000000000000396 sq mi (70031026000000000001,026 km2)
Fauquier County	061	Warrenton	1759	?	Francis Fauquier, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	700468010000000000068,010	7002650000000000000650 sq mi (70031683000000000001,683 km2)
Floyd County	063	Floyd	1831	?	John Floyd, governor of Virginia	700413874000000000013,874	7002382000000000000382 sq mi (7002989000000000000989 km2)
Fluvanna County	065	Palmyra	1777	?	From the Latin name for the James River, which itself translates to "Annie's River" in honor of Queen Anne	700420047000000000020,047	7002287000000000000287 sq mi (7002743000000000000743 km2)
Franklin County	067	Rocky Mount	1785	?	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, orator, scholar, and U.S. Founding Father	700447286000000000047,286	7002692000000000000692 sq mi (70031792000000000001,792 km2)
Frederick County	069	Winchester	1743	?	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II	700459209000000000059,209	7002415000000000000415 sq mi (70031075000000000001,075 km2)
Giles County	071	Pearisburg	1806	?	William Branch Giles, U.S. Senator from Virginia	700416657000000000016,657	7002358000000000000358 sq mi (7002927000000000000927 km2)
Gloucester County	073	Gloucester	1651	?	Gloucestershire, England	700434780000000000034,780	7002217000000000000217 sq mi (7002562000000000000562 km2)
Goochland County	075	Goochland	1727	?	William Gooch, colonial lieutenant governor of Virginia	700416863000000000016,863	7002284000000000000284 sq mi (7002736000000000000736 km2)
Grayson County	077	Independence	1793	?	William Grayson, U.S. Senator from Virginia	700417917000000000017,917	7002443000000000000443 sq mi (70031147000000000001,147 km2)
Greene County	079	Stanardsville	1838	?	Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general	700415244000000000015,244	7002157000000000000157 sq mi (7002407000000000000407 km2)
Greensville County	081	Emporia	1780	?	Richard Grenville, commander of the English expedition to found Roanoke Colony	700411560000000000011,560	7002296000000000000296 sq mi (7002767000000000000767 km2)
Halifax County	083	Halifax	1752	?	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, President of the Board of Trade	700437355000000000037,355	7002814000000000000814 sq mi (70032108000000000002,108 km2)
Hanover County	085	Hanover	1720	?	Electorate of Hanover, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	700499863000000000099,863	7002473000000000000473 sq mi (70031225000000000001,225 km2)
Henrico County	087	Richmond	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, oldest son of James I of England	7005306935000000000306,935	7002238000000000000238 sq mi (7002616000000000000616 km2)
Henry County	089	Martinsville	1777	?	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	700457930000000000057,930	7002382000000000000382 sq mi (7002989000000000000989 km2)
Highland County	091	Monterey	1847	?	Mountainous topography	70032536000000000002,536	7002416000000000000416 sq mi (70031077000000000001,077 km2)
Isle of Wight County	093	Isle of Wight	1634	?	Isle of Wight, England	700429728000000000029,728	7002316000000000000316 sq mi (7002818000000000000818 km2)
James City County	095	Williamsburg	1617	Original county of the Colony under England	King James I of England	700467009000000000067,009	7002143000000000000143 sq mi (7002370000000000000370 km2)
King and Queen County	097	King and Queen Court House	1691	King and Queen County was established in 1691 from New Kent County, Virginia.	King William III and Queen Mary II	70036630000000000006,630	7002316000000000000316 sq mi (7002818000000000000818 km2)
King George County	099	King George	1721	?	George I of Great Britain	700416803000000000016,803	7002180000000000000180 sq mi (7002466000000000000466 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	700413146000000000013,146	7002275000000000000275 sq mi (7002712000000000000712 km2)
Lancaster County	103	Lancaster	1651	Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties.	Lancaster, United Kingdom	700411567000000000011,567	7002133000000000000133 sq mi (7002344000000000000344 km2)
Lee County	105	Jonesville	1793	?	Light Horse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War general and governor of Virginia	700423589000000000023,589	7002437000000000000437 sq mi (70031132000000000001,132 km2)
Loudoun County	107	Leesburg	1757	?	John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, British Commander-in-Chief, North America during the Seven Years War	7005312311000000000312,311	7002520000000000000520 sq mi (70031347000000000001,347 km2)
Louisa County	109	Louisa	1742	?	Princess Louise, youngest daughter of George II	700425627000000000025,627	7002498000000000000498 sq mi (70031290000000000001,290 km2)
Lunenburg County	111	Lunenburg	1746	?	Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from which the current line of British monarchs hailed	700413146000000000013,146	7002432000000000000432 sq mi (70031119000000000001,119 km2)
Madison County	113	Madison	1793	?	James Madison, Congressman from Virginia, principal author of the U.S. Constitution, and future U.S. President	700412520000000000012,520	7002322000000000000322 sq mi (7002834000000000000834 km2)
Mathews County	115	Mathews	1791	From Gloucester County	Thomas Mathews, British commander in the War of the Austrian Succession	70039207000000000009,207	700186000000000000086 sq mi (7002223000000000000223 km2)
Mecklenburg County	117	Boydton	1765	?	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	700432380000000000032,380	7002624000000000000624 sq mi (70031616000000000001,616 km2)
Middlesex County	119	Saluda	1673	?	Middlesex, United Kingdom	70039932000000000009,932	7002130000000000000130 sq mi (7002337000000000000337 km2)
Montgomery County	121	Christiansburg	1777	?	Richard Montgomery, Revolutionary War general	700483629000000000083,629	7002388000000000000388 sq mi (70031005000000000001,005 km2)
Nelson County	125	Lovingston	1808	?	Thomas Nelson Jr., governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence	700414445000000000014,445	7002472000000000000472 sq mi (70031222000000000001,222 km2)
New Kent County	127	New Kent	1654	New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County, Virginia.	Kent County, England	700413462000000000013,462	7002210000000000000210 sq mi (7002544000000000000544 km2)
Northampton County	131	Eastville	1634	?	Northamptonshire, England	700413093000000000013,093	7002207000000000000207 sq mi (7002536000000000000536 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	700412259000000000012,259	7002192000000000000192 sq mi (7002497000000000000497 km2)
Nottoway County	135	Nottoway	1789	?	Nodawa tribe	700415725000000000015,725	7002315000000000000315 sq mi (7002816000000000000816 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	700425881000000000025,881	7002342000000000000342 sq mi (7002886000000000000886 km2)
Page County	139	Luray	1831	?	John Page, governor of Virginia	700423177000000000023,177	7002311000000000000311 sq mi (7002805000000000000805 km2)
Patrick County	141	Stuart	1791	?	Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and U.S. Founding Father	700419407000000000019,407	7002483000000000000483 sq mi (70031251000000000001,251 km2)
Pittsylvania County	143	Chatham	1767	?	William Pitt, British Prime Minister	700461745000000000061,745	7002978000000000000978 sq mi (70032533000000000002,533 km2)
Powhatan County	145	Powhatan	1777	?	Powhatan tribe	700422377000000000022,377	7002261000000000000261 sq mi (7002676000000000000676 km2)
Prince Edward County	147	Farmville	1754	?	Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, brother of George III	700419720000000000019,720	7002353000000000000353 sq mi (7002914000000000000914 km2)
Prince George County	149	Prince George	1703	From Charles City County	Prince George of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne	700433047000000000033,047	7002266000000000000266 sq mi (7002689000000000000689 km2)
Prince William County	153	Manassas	1731	?	Prince William Augustus, son of George II	7005402002000000000402,002	7002338000000000000338 sq mi (7002875000000000000875 km2)
Pulaski County	155	Pulaski	1839	?	Kazimierz Pulaski, Polish-born Revolutionary War general	700435127000000000035,127	7002321000000000000321 sq mi (7002831000000000000831 km2)
Rappahannock County	157	Washington	1833	At first Rappahannock County was founded 1656 from part of Lancaster County, and became extinct in 1692 when it was separated to form Essex County and Richmond County. The currently existing Rappahannock County was founded by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1833, based on the growing population's need to have better access to a county seat. The county's land was carved from Culpeper County.	Rappahannock River	70036983000000000006,983	7002267000000000000267 sq mi (7002692000000000000692 km2)
Richmond County	159	Warsaw	1692	?	Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, illegitimate son of King Charles II	70038809000000000008,809	7002192000000000000192 sq mi (7002497000000000000497 km2)
Roanoke County	161	Salem	1838	?	Roanoke River	700485778000000000085,778	7002251000000000000251 sq mi (7002650000000000000650 km2)
Rockbridge County	163	Lexington	1778	?	Natural Bridge	700420808000000000020,808	7002600000000000000600 sq mi (70031554000000000001,554 km2)
Rockingham County	165	Harrisonburg	1778	?	Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister	700467725000000000067,725	7002851000000000000851 sq mi (70032204000000000002,204 km2)
Russell County	167	Lebanon	1786	?	William Russell, frontiersman and state representative	700430308000000000030,308	7002475000000000000475 sq mi (70031230000000000001,230 km2)
Scott County	169	Gate City	1814	?	Winfield Scott, War of 1812 and later Mexican-American War general	700423403000000000023,403	7002537000000000000537 sq mi (70031391000000000001,391 km2)
Shenandoah County	171	Woodstock	1772	?	Shenandoah River	700435075000000000035,075	7002512000000000000512 sq mi (70031326000000000001,326 km2)
Smyth County	173	Marion	1832	?	Alexander Smyth, Congressman from Virginia	700433081000000000033,081	7002452000000000000452 sq mi (70031171000000000001,171 km2)
Southampton County	175	Courtland	1749	?	Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company	700417482000000000017,482	7002600000000000000600 sq mi (70031554000000000001,554 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	7005122397000000000122,397	7002401000000000000401 sq mi (70031039000000000001,039 km2)
Stafford County	179	Stafford	1664	?	Stafford, England	7005128961000000000128,961	7002270000000000000270 sq mi (7002699000000000000699 km2)
Surry County	181	Surry	1652	?	Surrey, United Kingdom	70036829000000000006,829	7002279000000000000279 sq mi (7002723000000000000723 km2)
Sussex County	183	Sussex	1754	?	Sussex, United Kingdom	700412504000000000012,504	7002491000000000000491 sq mi (70031272000000000001,272 km2)
Tazewell County	185	Tazewell	1800	?	Henry Tazewell, U.S. Senator from Virginia	700444598000000000044,598	7002520000000000000520 sq mi (70031347000000000001,347 km2)
Warren County	187	Front Royal	1836	?	Joseph Warren, Revolutionary War general	700431584000000000031,584	7002214000000000000214 sq mi (7002554000000000000554 km2)
Washington County	191	Abingdon	1777	?	George Washington, Revolutionary War commander, U.S. Founding Father, and future U.S. President	700451103000000000051,103	7002564000000000000564 sq mi (70031461000000000001,461 km2)
Westmoreland County	193	Montross	1653	?	Westmoreland, United Kingdom	700416718000000000016,718	7002229000000000000229 sq mi (7002593000000000000593 km2)
Wise County	195	Wise	1856	?	Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia	700440123000000000040,123	7002403000000000000403 sq mi (70031044000000000001,044 km2)
Wythe County	197	Wytheville	1790	?	George Wythe, legal scholar and signer of the Declaration of Independence	700427599000000000027,599	7002463000000000000463 sq mi (70031199000000000001,199 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	700465464000000000065,464	7002106000000000000106 sq mi (7002275000000000000275 km2)
Alexandria	510	N/A	1902	From Alexandria County before 1870	Phillip & John Alexander, brothers and area plantation owners	7005139966000000000139,966	700115000000000000015 sq mi (700139000000000000039 km2)
Bedford	515	N/A	1968	?	John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, British politician and negotiator of the Peace of Paris	70036299000000000006,299	70007000000000000007 sq mi (700118000000000000018 km2)
Bristol	520	N/A	1902	From Washington County in 1890	Bristol, England	700417367000000000017,367	700112000000000000012 sq mi (700131000000000000031 km2)
Buena Vista	530	N/A	1902	From Rockbridge County in 1892	from the Buena Vista Company, which founded an iron mine in the area and established the town for its laborers	70036349000000000006,349	70007000000000000007 sq mi (700118000000000000018 km2)
Charlottesville	540	N/A	1902	From Albemarle County in 1888	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III	700445049000000000045,049	700110000000000000010 sq mi (700126000000000000026 km2)
Chesapeake	550	N/A	1963	Formed out of consolidation of Norfolk County (extinct) and City of South Norfolk (extinct)	Chesapeake tribe	7005222209000000000222,209	7002341000000000000341 sq mi (7002883000000000000883 km2)
Colonial Heights	570	N/A	1948	?	From the actions of Revolutionary War general Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette; his soldiers, nicknamed the "Colonials," placed a artillery on high ground overlooking Petersburg	700416897000000000016,897	70008000000000000008 sq mi (700121000000000000021 km2)
Covington	580	N/A	1952	?	Leonard Covington, hero of the Siege of Fort Recovery and Congressman from Maryland	70036303000000000006,303	70004000000000000004 sq mi (700110000000000000010 km2)
Danville	590	N/A	1902	From Pittsylvania County before 1870	Dan River	700448411000000000048,411	700143000000000000043 sq mi (7002111000000000000111 km2)
Emporia	595	N/A	1967	?	Emporia, Kansas	70035665000000000005,665	70007000000000000007 sq mi (700118000000000000018 km2)
Fairfax	600	N/A	1961	?	Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, only resident British noble in colonial Virginia	700421498000000000021,498	70006000000000000006 sq mi (700116000000000000016 km2)
Falls Church	610	N/A	1948	?	The Falls Church	700412332000000000012,332	70002000000000000002 sq mi (70005000000000000005 km2)
Franklin	620	N/A	1961	?	Benjamin Franklin, publisher, scholar, orator, and U.S. Founding Father	70038346000000000008,346	70008000000000000008 sq mi (700121000000000000021 km2)
Fredericksburg	630	N/A	1902	From Spotsylvania County before 1870	Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II	700424286000000000024,286	700110000000000000010 sq mi (700126000000000000026 km2)
Galax	640	N/A	1952	?	the galax shrub	70036837000000000006,837	70008000000000000008 sq mi (700121000000000000021 km2)
Hampton	650	N/A	1908	Founded 1610. Current city formed by consolidation of Elizabeth City County and City of Hampton in 1952	Disputed; either Southampton, England or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company	7005146437000000000146,437	700152000000000000052 sq mi (7002135000000000000135 km2)
Harrisonburg	660	N/A	1916	From Rockingham County in 1916	Thomas Harrison, pioneering settler and town founder	700440468000000000040,468	700118000000000000018 sq mi (700147000000000000047 km2)
Hopewell	670	N/A	1916	From Prince George County in 1916	The Hopewell, a ship that carried some of the early English settlers to Virginia	700422354000000000022,354	700110000000000000010 sq mi (700126000000000000026 km2)
Lexington	678	N/A	1966	?	Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington	70036867000000000006,867	70002000000000000002 sq mi (70005000000000000005 km2)
Lynchburg	680	N/A	1902	From Campbell County before 1870	John Lynch, ferry operator and constructor of the first bridge across the James River in the area	700465269000000000065,269	700149000000000000049 sq mi (7002127000000000000127 km2)
Manassas	683	N/A	1975	?	Manassas Gap Railroad	700437821000000000037,821	700110000000000000010 sq mi (700126000000000000026 km2)
Manassas Park	685	N/A	1975	?	Manassas Gap Railroad and Manassas National Battlefield Park	700414273000000000014,273	70002000000000000002 sq mi (70005000000000000005 km2)
Martinsville	690	N/A	1928	?	Joseph Martin, Revolutionary War general	700415416000000000015,416	700111000000000000011 sq mi (700128000000000000028 km2)
Newport News	700	N/A	1902	From Warwick County in 1896	Uncertain—see main city article	7005180150000000000180,150	700168000000000000068 sq mi (7002176000000000000176 km2)
Norfolk	710	N/A	1845	Founded 1682. Incorporated as City in 1845 from Lower Norfolk County (extinct)	Norfolk, England	7005242803000000000242,803	700154000000000000054 sq mi (7002140000000000000140 km2)
Norton	720	N/A	1954	?	Eckstein Norton, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad	70033904000000000003,904	70007000000000000007 sq mi (700118000000000000018 km2)
Petersburg	730	N/A	1902	From Prince George County before 1870	Peter Jones, early settler and merchant	700433740000000000033,740	700123000000000000023 sq mi (700160000000000000060 km2)
Poquoson	735	N/A	1975	From York County	An Algonquin term roughly translating to "great marsh" or "flat land"	700411566000000000011,566	700116000000000000016 sq mi (700141000000000000041 km2)
Portsmouth	740	N/A	1858	Founded 1752. Incorporated as City in 1858 from Norfolk County (extinct)	Portsmouth, England	7005100565000000000100,565	700133000000000000033 sq mi (700185000000000000085 km2)
Radford	750	N/A	1902	From Montgomery County in 1892	Dr. John Blair Radford, owner of a plantation that included that town's lands	700415859000000000015,859	700110000000000000010 sq mi (700126000000000000026 km2)
Richmond	760	N/A	1902	From Henrico County before 1870	Richmond, Surrey, England	7005204214000000000204,214	700160000000000000060 sq mi (7002155000000000000155 km2)
Roanoke	770	N/A	1902	From Roanoke County in 1884	Roanoke River	700494911000000000094,911	700143000000000000043 sq mi (7002111000000000000111 km2)
Salem	775	N/A	1968	?	After Salem, New Jersey, home of town founder William Bryan	700424747000000000024,747	700115000000000000015 sq mi (700139000000000000039 km2)
Staunton	790	N/A	1902	From Augusta County before 1870	Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of colonial Lieutenant Governor William Gooch	700423853000000000023,853	700120000000000000020 sq mi (700152000000000000052 km2)
Suffolk	800	N/A	1910	Founded 1742. Incorporated as City in 1910 from Nansemond County (extinct)	Suffolk, England	700463677000000000063,677	7002400000000000000400 sq mi (70031036000000000001,036 km2)
Virginia Beach	810	N/A	1963	Founded 1906 around existing community of Seatack. Incorporated as City in 1963 from Princess Anne County (extinct)	The city's coastal location	7005437994000000000437,994	7002248000000000000248 sq mi (7002642000000000000642 km2)
Waynesboro	820	N/A	1948	?	Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War general	700419520000000000019,520	700114000000000000014 sq mi (700136000000000000036 km2)
Williamsburg	830	N/A	1902	From James City County	William III of England	700414068000000000014,068	70009000000000000009 sq mi (700123000000000000023 km2)
Winchester	840	N/A	1902	From Frederick County in 1874	Winchester, England	700423585000000000023,585	70009000000000000009 sq mi (700123000000000000023 km2)

Former counties of Virginia:

• Bermuda Hundred (1617–?) Original county of the Colony under England
• Kecoughtan (1617–?) Original county of the Colony under England

See also

• List of West Virginia counties, as West Virginia was, until June 1863, part of Virginia