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Virginia State...
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Virginia Counties
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Click Image to Enlarge
Virginia Counties
The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties and 39 independent cities, which are
considered county-equivalents for census purposes. |
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Virginia Counties
There are 134 Counties in Virginia including 39 Independent Cities. Virginia is divided into independent cities
and counties, which function in the same manner. According to the US Census Bureau, independent cities are considered
county-equivalent. As of 2006, thirty-nine of the forty-two independent cities in the United States are in Virginia.
Incorporated towns are recognized as part of the 95 counties in Virginia, but are not independent. There are also
hundreds of other unincorporated communities in Virginia. Virginia does not have any further political subdivisions,
such as villages or townships.
Birth of Virginia Counties
The Virginia General Assembly soon found it necessary to create eight shires in which to govern the colony and hold
court. There were six kinds of courts in Virginia: (1) Magistrate's court (2) Parish court (3) Monthly court (4) General
court (5) General Assembly (6) Court of Admiralty. In 1623-1624, courts were kept in Charles City, Elizabeth City, and
James City. In February 1631-162, the Virginia General Assembly added five more shires.
The eight original shires: Charles City; Henrico; James City; Elizabeth City; Warwick River;
Warrosquyoake, later Isle of Wight; Charles River, later York; and Accawmacke (Accomack)
The creation of these shires, which later became known as counties, was to make the administration of justice more
accessible to the colonists.
During the period 1750-1770, 26 new counties were formed. The westward trek of settlers demanded the
government provide courts in their areas. As the westward expansion continued, Virginia created Kentucky county and
Illinois county. Kentucky County was eventually split into 3 counties: Jefferson; Fayette; and Lincoln. Illinois
county (the Northwest Territory) was ceded to the nation and became a territory. This
included all of the Ohio Valley and parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. The counties of Mercer, Madison and Bourbon were
created in 1786, and later became part of the State of Kentucky in 1792 when it was organized as a state. Madison, Woodford
and Fayette Counties were also formed while Kentucky was still a part of Virginia. By the time Kentucky received statehood, it
was comprised of 9 counties. The records of those counties are housed in Kentucky. West Virginia was also a part of
Virginia until it ceded to the Union in 1863 and became a state.
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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