Virginia: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries

Virginia Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Historical Compiler; Gordon DenBoer, Historical Compiler; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant.

Copyright The Newberry Library 2006

[Note: Chronologies and maps for West Virginia counties (denoted "W.Va."), for years after 1863, are in the Consolidated Chronology for West Virginia.]

10 April 1606

King James I chartered two Virginia Companies, headquartered in different cities, to establish colonies along the coast of North America. The Virginia Company of London was assigned coast between 34 degrees and 41 degrees north latitude, including present Virginia, and the Virginia Company of Plymouth was assigned coast between 38 degrees and 45 degrees north latitude. Colonies of the two companies were to be at least 100 miles apart, even where grants overlapped. First permanent settlement in Virginia was established at Jamestown in 1607. (Paullin, pl. 42; Swindler, 10:17–23; Van Zandt, 92)

2 June 1609

King James I granted a new charter to the Virginia Company of London, expanding its jurisdiction along the coast to 200 miles north and south of Point Comfort (c. 37 degrees north latitude), including islands within 100 miles, and extending westward and northwestward to the Pacific Ocean. (Paullin, pl. 42; Swindler, 10:24–36; Van Zandt, 92)

12 March 1611/1612

King James I granted a new charter to the Virginia Company of London, expanding its jurisdiction to encompass all land between 30 degrees and 41 degrees north latitude, plus offshore islands within 300 leagues, including Bermuda, and by implication still extending to the Pacific Ocean. (Swindler, 10:37–45; Van Zandt, 92–93)

24 May 1624

The Court of the King's Bench revoked the charter of the Virginia Company of London, and Virginia became a royal colony under direct authority of the King and Privy Council. Virginia still claimed boundaries fixed by its 1609 charter. (Morton, Colonial Virginia, 1:106)

20 June 1632

King Charles I created Maryland from earlier range of Virginia territory, granting it as a proprietary colony to Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore. Territory was bounded on the south by the south bank of the Potomac River, a line from the river's mouth across Chesapeake Bay to Watkins Point, and thence a line due east across the Delmarva peninsula to the ocean, and on the west by the meridian of the head of the Potomac. (Swindler, 4:359; Van Zandt, 81, 85)

1634

Eight shires (original counties) created: ACCOMACK (original, now NORTHAMPTON), CHARLES CITY, CHARLES RIVER (now YORK), ELIZABETH CITY (extinct), HENRICO, JAMES CITY, WARROSQUYOAKE (now ISLE OF WIGHT), and WARWICK RIVER (later WARWICK, extinct). (Hening, 1:224; Tyler, 197–198)

1636

NEW NORFOLK (extinct) created from ELIZABETH CITY (extinct). (Robinson, 62, 85–86)

1637

LOWER NORFOLK (extinct) and UPPER NORFOLK (later NANSEMOND, extinct) created from NEW NORFOLK; NEW NORFOLK eliminated. (Robinson, 59, 70, 85)

WARROSQUYOAKE renamed ISLE OF WIGHT. (Robinson, 82)

4 October 1638

Virginia formally acknowledged Maryland's existence and implicitly recognized its 1632 boundaries. In 1658 Virginia renounced any claim to Maryland and reiterated that position in its constitution of 1776. (Bozman, 2:72, 586; Van Zandt, 85)

1640

Boundaries of ISLE OF WIGHT, LOWER NORFOLK (extinct), and UPPER NORFOLK (later NANSEMOND, extinct) redefined [no change]. (Hening, 1:228, 247; Robinson, 197–198)

1642

UPPER NORFOLK renamed NANSEMOND (extinct). (Hening, 1:321; Robinson, 85, 198)

1643

ACCOMACK (original) renamed NORTHAMPTON; CHARLES RIVER renamed YORK; WARWICK RIVER renamed WARWICK (extinct). (Hening, 1:249)

1647

Boundary between ISLE OF WIGHT and NANSEMOND (extinct) clarified [no change]. (Robinson, 198)

1648

NORTHUMBERLAND created from YORK. (Hening, 1:294n., 352, 362; Robinson, 63, 86)

1649

NORTHUMBERLAND boundaries clarified [no change]. (Hening, 1:362)

1651

GLOUCESTER created from YORK. (Hening, 1:371n.; Robinson, 51, 79)

LANCASTER created from NORTHUMBERLAND and YORK. (Hening, 1:374; Robinson, 57, 82–83)

1652

SURRY created from JAMES CITY. (Hening, 1:373n.; Robinson, 68, 87)

1653

WESTMORELAND created from NORTHUMBERLAND. (Hening, 1:381; Robinson, 71)

1654

NEW KENT created from YORK. (Hening, 1:387n., 388; Robinson, 62)

1656

ISLE OF WIGHT gained from NANSEMOND (extinct). (Hening, 1:423)

11 December 1656

RAPPAHANNOCK (original, extinct) created from LANCASTER. (Hening, 1:427; Robinson, 66, 86)

24 March 1662/1663

King Charles II created Carolina from earlier range of Virginia territory and granted it as a proprietary colony to eight of his supporters. Boundary on the north with Virginia was the north end of Lucke Island and the parallel of 36 degrees north latitude. (Swindler, 7:357–358)

1663

ACCOMACK created from NORTHAMPTON. (Robinson, 42, 73)

1664

STAFFORD created from WESTMORELAND. (Robinson, 68, 87; Warner, 21)

30 June 1665

King Charles II granted a new charter to the proprietors of Carolina, expanding its jurisdiction to north and south. New boundary on the north was a line from the north end of the Currituck River westward to "Wyonoak" Creek and thence due west along the parallel of 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude. The new northern line implicitly redefined the southern limit of Virginia as the parallel of 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude, and, although this definition has not changed to the present, attempts at demarcation have produced an unusually irregular boundary. (Swindler, 7:375)

25 June 1668

Commissioners from Maryland and Virginia agreed on the demarcation of their boundary across the southern end of the Delmarva peninsula [no later change]. (Archives of Md., 5:44–45)

1674

MIDDLESEX created from LANCASTER. (Robinson, 60, 84)

12 May 1691

KING AND QUEEN created from NEW KENT. (Hening, 3:94–95; Robinson, 57)

16 May 1691

NORFOLK (extinct) and PRINCESS ANNE (extinct) created from LOWER NORFOLK; LOWER NORFOLK eliminated. (Hening, 3:95–96; Robinson, 63, 65)

26 April 1692

ESSEX and RICHMOND created from RAPPAHANNOCK (original); RAPPAHANNOCK (original) eliminated. (Hening, 3:104–105; Robinson, 49, 66)

6 August 1701

Southern boundaries of ISLE OF WIGHT, SURRY, and CHARLES CITY clarified [no change]. (Winfree, 2–3)

11 April 1702

KING WILLIAM created from KING AND QUEEN. (Hening, 3:211–212)

29 May 1702

Boundaries of ISLE OF WIGHT, SURRY, CHARLES CITY, and NANSEMOND (extinct) clarified [no change]. (Winfree, 8–9)

23 April 1703

PRINCE GEORGE created from CHARLES CITY. (Winfree, 11–12)

17 December 1720

BRUNSWICK created from PRINCE GEORGE; BRUNSWICK not fully organized, attached to PRINCE GEORGE. (Hening, 4:77–79; Robinson, 46, 75–77; Winfree, 179–185)

1 January 1720/1721

CHARLES CITY gained from JAMES CITY. (Winfree, 193–194)

23 April 1721

KING GEORGE created from RICHMOND . (Winfree, 197–198)

1 May 1721

HANOVER created from NEW KENT. (Winfree, 198–199)

SPOTSYLVANIA created from ESSEX, KING AND QUEEN, and KING WILLIAM. (Hening, 4:77–79; Robinson, 77; Winfree, 179–185)

31 October 1723

BRUNSWICK gained from ISLE OF WIGHT and SURRY. (Va. Exec. Jour., 4:56)

1728

The North Carolina–Virginia boundary (defined 1665) was demarcated from the Atlantic coast westward to the Dan River. No later change in this portion of boundary. (Van Zandt, 97)

1 May 1728

CAROLINE created from ESSEX, KING AND QUEEN, and KING WILLIAM. (Winfree, 319–320)

GOOCHLAND created from HENRICO. (Winfree, 321–322)

15 April 1730

Boundary between BRUNSWICK and GOOCHLAND clarified [no change]. (Va. Exec. Jour., 4:216)

25 March 1731

PRINCE WILLIAM created from KING GEORGE and STAFFORD. (Hening, 4:303)

1 January 1732/1733

BRUNSWICK gained from ISLE OF WIGHT and SURRY; BRUNSWICK fully organized, detached from PRINCE GEORGE. (Hening, 4:355–356)

1 January 1734/1735

ORANGE created from SPOTSYLVANIA; ORANGE extended westward to "the utmost limits of Virginia," including all of present Kentucky and West Virginia. (Hening, 4:450–451)

25 March 1735

AMELIA created from BRUNSWICK and PRINCE GEORGE. (Hening, 4:467–468)

15 December 1738

AUGUSTA and FREDERICK created from ORANGE; AUGUSTA and FREDERICK not fully organized, attached to ORANGE. (Hening, 5:78–80; Robinson, 43, 50)

20 December 1738

Boundaries among KING GEORGE, RICHMOND, and WESTMORELAND clarified [no discernible change]. (Eaton, 1–2)

1 December 1742

CAROLINE gained from KING AND QUEEN. (Hening, 5:185)

FAIRFAX created from PRINCE WILLIAM. (Hening, 5:207–208)

LOUISA created from HANOVER. (Hening, 5:208–209)

1743

FREDERICK fully organized, detached from ORANGE. (Robinson, 79)

31 December 1744

ALBEMARLE created from GOOCHLAND. (Hening, 5:266–269)

1745

AUGUSTA fully organized, detached from ORANGE. (Robinson, 74)

1 May 1746

LUNENBURG created from BRUNSWICK. (Hening, 5:383–385)

17 October 1746

Royal commissioners placed a marker, the Fairfax Stone, at the headspring of the north branch of the Potomac River to identify it as the source of the Potomac (officially so designated in 1736) and, therefore, the western limit of Maryland with Virginia. (Paullin, 78; Van Zandt, 88, 94)

1749

The North Carolina–Virginia boundary (defined 1665) was demarcated from the end of the 1728 survey (Dan River) westward to Steep Rock Creek, near the present northwest corner of North Carolina. No later change in this portion of the boundary. (Van Zandt, 97)

17 May 1749

CULPEPER created from ORANGE. (Winfree, 425–426)

20 May 1749

CUMBERLAND created from GOOCHLAND. (Winfree, 426–427)

SOUTHAMPTON created from ISLE OF WIGHT. (Winfree, 432–434)

25 May 1749

CHESTERFIELD created from HENRICO. (Winfree, 446–447)

1 May 1752

DINWIDDIE created from PRINCE GEORGE. (Hening, 6:254–256)

10 May 1752

HALIFAX created from LUNENBURG. (Hening, 6:252–254)

1 January 1754

PRINCE EDWARD created from AMELIA. (Hening, 6:379–380)

1 February 1754

SUSSEX created from SURRY. (Hening, 6:384–385)

1 May 1754

HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from AUGUSTA and FREDERICK; FREDERICK gained from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 6:376–379)

10 May 1754

BEDFORD created from LUNENBURG. (Hening, 6:381–383)

1 January 1755

BEDFORD gained from ALBEMARLE and LUNENBURG. (Hening, 6:441–442)

1 July 1757

LOUDOUN created from FAIRFAX. (Hening, 7:148–149)

1 May 1759

FAUQUIER created from PRINCE WILLIAM. (Hening, 7:311–312)

1 May 1761

AMHERST and BUCKINGHAM created from ALBEMARLE; ALBEMARLE gained from LOUISA. (Hening, 7:419–423)

10 February 1763

The Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War between Great Britain (the victor) and France and Spain, implicitly set the Mississippi River as a new western limit for British colonies, including Virginia, whose charter bounds had technically extended to the Pacific Ocean. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1)

CAROLINE gained from KING AND QUEEN. (Hening, 7:620–621)

1 March 1765

CHARLOTTE and MECKLENBURG created from LUNENBURG. (Hening, 8:41–42)

1 May 1767

JAMES CITY exchanged with NEW KENT. (Hening, 8:208–210)

1 June 1767

PITTSYLVANIA created from HALIFAX. (Hening, 8:205–208)

15 December 1769

Boundary between JAMES CITY and YORK clarified [no change]. (Hening, 8:405–406)

ISLE OF WIGHT gained from NANSEMOND (extinct). (Hening, 8:405–406)

31 January 1770

BOTETOURT created from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 8:395–398)

Islands in the Fluvanna [James] River were assigned to ALBEMARLE and AMHERST [location unknown, not mapped]. (Hening, 8:395–398)

23 June 1770

JAMES CITY gained small area from YORK [not mapped]. (Hening 8:419–420)

13 March 1772

ISLE OF WIGHT gained from NANSEMOND (extinct). (Hening, 8:602–603)

15 May 1772

BERKELEY (W.Va.) and DUNMORE (now SHENANDOAH) created by Virginia from FREDERICK. (Hening, 8:597–599)

1 December 1772

FINCASTLE (extinct) created from BOTETOURT. (Hening, 8:600–601)

11 October 1773

Virginia created West Augusta District (extinct) from AUGUSTA to provide jurisdiction over the Pittsburgh region in present Pennsylvania. Boundaries were not specified at the time (described in detail in 1776 when the District was replaced by three new counties) but were obviously meant to cover area around the head of the Ohio River that Virginia claimed was within its 1609 charter limits and west of Pennsylvania's western limit. This extension of Virginia's jurisdiction conflicted with Pennsylvania, which in February 1773 had created WESTMORELAND County for the region. At this time, Pennsylvania had actual control of the territory. (Abernethy, 94)

April 1774

Virginia took control of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area by force, but permitted Pennsylvania's Westmoreland court at Hannastown (30 miles east of Pittsburgh) to continue to function. Virginia retained control of the Pittsburgh region against the protests of Pennsylvania until near the end of the War of the American Revolution. (Abernethy, 94; Crumrine, Boundary Controversy, 518; Sosin, 228)

22 June 1774

King George III approved the Quebec Act, which added to Quebec all territory west of Pennsylvania, north of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River. This effectively limited the western claim of Virginia to territory south and east of the Ohio River. (Farnham, 8:62)

1775–1776

Settlers in Carters Valley and the North Holston area of North Carolina (now Tennessee), believing they were located in Virginia, put themselves under the authority of FINCASTLE (extinct) and after 31 December 1776, under WASHINGTON [not mapped]. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 16, 89; Folmsbee, 60–61; Williams, Samuel C., 15–18)

29 June 1776

In its state constitution, Virginia gave up all claims to the territory of Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, but asserted its claim to all other American territory within the scope of its 1609 charter, including territory north and west of the Ohio River. Virginia continued to dispute Pennsylvania's claimed western limit and maintained control of the Pittsburgh region. (Swindler, 10:55)

4 July 1776

Virginia became an independent state. (Declaration of Independence)

8 November 1776

OHIO (W.Va.) and YOHOGANIA (extinct) created by Virginia from West Augusta District; both overlapped territory claimed by Pennsylvania. MONONGALIA (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.) and West Augusta District; overlapped territory claimed by Pennsylvania. HAMPSHIRE gained from West Augusta District; West Augusta District eliminated. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 93; Hening, 9:262–274)

31 December 1776

HENRY created from PITTSYLVANIA. (Hening, 9:241–242)

KENTUCKY (extinct), MONTGOMERY, and WASHINGTON created from FINCASTLE; FINCASTLE eliminated. KENTUCKY County encompassed all of the present state of Kentucky. (Hening, 9:257–261)

1 January 1777

STAFFORD exchanged with KING GEORGE. (Hening, 9:244–245)

1 July 1777

FLUVANNA created from ALBEMARLE. (Hening, 9:325–327)

POWHATAN created from CUMBERLAND. (Hening, 9:322–325)

1 September 1777

MONTGOMERY exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Hening, 9:330–331)

1 October 1777

LUNENBURG gained from CHARLOTTE. (Hening, 9:327)

1 February 1778

DUNMORE renamed SHENANDOAH. (Hening, 9:420–424)

1 March 1778

GREENBRIER (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BOTETOURT and MONTGOMERY. (Hening, 9:420–424)

HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.) gained from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 9:420–424)

ROCKBRIDGE created from AUGUSTA and BOTETOURT. (Hening, 9:420–424)

ROCKINGHAM created from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 9:420–424)

20 March 1778

KING GEORGE exchanged with WESTMORELAND. (Hening, 9:432)

October 1778

CUMBERLAND gained from BUCKINGHAM. (Hening, 9:559)

9 December 1778

ILLINOIS (extinct) created by Virginia. Encompassed all territory claimed by Virginia since 1609 east of the Mississippi River and north and west of the Ohio River, including all of present Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. (Hening, 9:552–555, 10:303–304; Robinson, 55)

May 1779

MONONGALIA (W.Va.) gained from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 10:114)

31 August 1779

Virginia and Pennsylvania agreed that the course of Pennsylvania's western line would be a meridian running north from a point on an extension of the Mason-Dixon line 5 degrees of longitude west of the Delaware River. This line was demarcated in 1784 and 1785 and has not changed since. (Crumrine, Boundary Controversy, 521–523; Van Zandt, 83)

10 November 1779

North Carolina took control of the Carters Valley and North Holston settlements in Tennessee, ending efforts by settlers to place themselves under WASHINGTON. Precise location of the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina remained in dispute. (N.C. State Recs., 24:ch.29/pp. 300–301)

1779–1780

Commissioners from North Carolina and Virginia attempted to demarcate their boundary (defined 1665) westward from the end of the 1749 survey (Steep Rock Creek) to the Tennessee River. Difficulty in locating the starting point produced the offset at the present northeast corner of Tennessee. Early disagreement over accuracy led to running two lines to Cumberland Gap, and neither won acceptance. The Virginia team alone marked the boundary from the Cumberland River to the Tennessee River along a line made irregular by imperfect instruments and a willingness to accommodate property owners along the way. (Sames, 14; Van Zandt, 97)

October 1780

MONONGALIA (W.Va.) gained from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 10:351)

WESTMORELAND (Pa.) gained from MONONGALIA (W.Va.), OHIO (W.Va.), and YOHOGANIA (extinct) when Pennsylvania regained effective jurisdiction of the Pittsburgh region from Virginia. (Crumrine, Boundary Controversy, 521–523; Van Zandt, 83)

1 November 1780

JEFFERSON (Ky.), FAYETTE (Ky.), and LINCOLN (Ky.) created by Virginia from KENTUCKY; KENTUCKY County eliminated. (Hening, 10:315–317)

1 February 1781

GREENSVILLE created from BRUNSWICK. (Hening, 10:363–364)

1 February 1782

CAMPBELL created from BEDFORD. (Hening, 10:447–449)

1 August 1782

Kentucky District, a special judicial district, was created by Virginia to serve Virginians living west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its extent was described only in terms of the counties it encompassed: FAYETTE (Ky.), JEFFERSON (Ky.), and LINCOLN (Ky.). This District became the state of Kentucky in 1792. (Hening, 11:85)

3 September 1783

Commissioners from Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (ratifications exchanged 12 May 1784), ending the War of the American Revolution, recognizing American independence, and generally defining U.S. boundaries as including the St. Croix River–Atlantic watershed–45th parallel–St. Lawrence River–Great Lakes–Lake of the Woods line on the north and the Mississippi River on the west. This reopened the possibility of claims by Connecticut and Virginia to territory north and west of the Ohio River where Virginia had created ILLINOIS County in 1778. (Parry, 48:481, 487, 491–492; Van Zandt, 12)

1 March 1784

Virginia ceded to the United States its 1609 charter claims to territory "northwestward of the river Ohio," thereby setting the north bank of the Ohio River as the northern and northwestern limit for present Kentucky and West Virginia. ILLINOIS County eliminated. (Hening, 11:571–575)

20 July 1784

HARRISON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from MONONGALIA (W.Va.). (Hening, 11:366–368)

1 January 1785

NELSON (Ky.) created by Virginia from JEFFERSON (Ky.). (Hening, 11:469–470)

28 March 1785

Commissioners from Maryland and Virginia, concerned with trade and navigation between their states in Chesapeake Bay, defined their mutual boundary across the Bay as running from Smith's Point at the mouth of the Potomac River to "Watkins's Point, near the mouth of Pocomoke River" on the Eastern Shore. This first attempt to specify details of the overwater boundary proved unsatisfactory and was replaced by an informal arrangement in 1868. (Hening, 12:50; Paullin, 85)

October 1785

BOTETOURT gained from ROCKBRIDGE. (Hening, 12:74)

Boundary between FLUVANNA and GOOCHLAND redefined [no change]. (Hening, 12:71)

OHIO (W.Va.) gained all of YOHOGANIA; YOHOGANIA eliminated. (Hening, 12:114)

1 January 1786

FRANKLIN created from BEDFORD and HENRY. (Hening, 12:70–71)

1 February 1786

HARDY (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.). (Hening, 12:86–88)

1 March 1786

SOUTHAMPTON gained from NANSEMOND (extinct). (Hening, 12:69)

1 May 1786

BOURBON (Ky.) created by Virginia from FAYETTE (Ky.). (Hening, 12:89–91)

RUSSELL created from WASHINGTON. (Hening, 12:110–111)

1 August 1786

MADISON (Ky.) and MERCER (Ky.) created by Virginia from LINCOLN (Ky.). (Hening, 12:118–120)

1 May 1787

RANDOLPH (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.). (Hening, 12:393–395)

6 November 1787

GREENSVILLE gained from BRUNSWICK. (Hening, 12:596–597)

4 December 1787

HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.) gained from HARDY (W.Va.). (Hening, 12:597)

1788

Francis Deakins demarcated a line running northward from the Fairfax Stone at the headspring of the Potomac River to Pennsylvania as the western limit of bounty lands he was surveying for Maryland. The Deakins Line has been observed ever since as the western limit of Maryland, first with Virginia, and later with West Virginia. (Paullin, 78; Van Zandt, 88)

1 May 1788

PENDLETON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from AUGUSTA, HARDY (W.Va.), and ROCKINGHAM. (Hening, 12:637–638)

1 November 1788

Boundary between HANOVER and HENRICO redefined [no change]. (Hening, 12:620–621)

1 May 1789

MASON (Ky.) created by Virginia from BOURBON (Ky.). (Hening, 12:658–659)

NOTTOWAY created from AMELIA. (Hening, 12:723–724)

WOODFORD (Ky.) created by Virginia from FAYETTE (Ky.). (Hening, 12:663–665)

1 October 1789

KANAWHA (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GREENBRIER (W.Va.) and MONTGOMERY. (Hening, 12:670–672)

1 May 1790

WYTHE created from MONTGOMERY; MONTGOMERY gained from BOTETOURT. (Hening, 13:76–78)

30 March 1791

The United States created an unnamed federal district (now the District of Columbia) from MONTGOMERY and PRINCE GEORGES in Maryland and from FAIRFAX in Virginia to be the seat of the federal government. The district was a square with each corner at a point of the compass (north, east, south, and west) with each side ten miles long. Until 27 February 1801, when Congress created two counties to provide local government in the district, the laws and county jurisdictions of Maryland and Virginia continued in the ceded areas. (Richardson, 1:102; Van Zandt, 88, 90)

1 May 1791

BATH created from AUGUSTA, BOTETOURT, and GREENBRIER (W.Va.). (Hening, 13:165–167)

MATHEWS created from GLOUCESTER. (Hening, 13:162–163)

PENDLETON (W.Va.) gained from AUGUSTA. (Hening, 13:165–167)

1 June 1791

PATRICK created from HENRY. (Hening, 13:160–162)

30 November 1791

PATRICK gained from HENRY. (Hening, 13:290)

1 June 1792

The state of Kentucky was created from the Kentucky District of Virginia and admitted to the Union. Boundaries were described only as those of the District, which was defined by the counties that composed it: BOURBON, FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, LINCOLN, MADISON, MASON, MERCER, NELSON, and WOODFORD. (Hening, 11:85; U.S. Stat., vol. 1, ch. 4[1791]/p. 189)

1 May 1793

GRAYSON created from WYTHE. (Hening, 13:559–561)

MADISON created from CULPEPER. (Hening, 13:558–559)

13 May 1793

LEE created from RUSSELL. (Hening, 13:556–557)

12 December 1794

GRAYSON gained from WYTHE. (Shepherd, 1:315)

5 December 1795

KANAWHA (W.Va.) gained from GREENBRIER (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 1:388–389)

14 December 1795

BOTETOURT exchanged with MONTGOMERY. (Shepherd, 1:406)

3 December 1796

PENDLETON (W.Va.) gained from BATH. (Shepherd, 2:53)

7 December 1796

BOTETOURT exchanged with MONTGOMERY. (Shepherd, 2:64)

1 May 1797

BROOKE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from OHIO (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 2:54–55)

3 January 1798

FAIRFAX gained from LOUDOUN. (Shepherd, 2:107–108)

1 May 1799

MONROE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GREENBRIER (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 2:168–169)

WOOD (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 2:170–171)

1 January 1800

HARRISON (W.Va.) gained from MONONGALIA (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 2:203)

1 May 1800

TAZEWELL created from RUSSELL and WYTHE. (Shepherd, 2:217–218)

30 December 1800

WOOD (W.Va.) gained from KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 2:263)

27 February 1801

The United States Congress created two counties in the federal District of Columbia: ALEXANDRIA on the south side of the Potomac River for the area acquired from Virginia in 1791 (formerly part of FAIRFAX), and WASHINGTON on the north side of the river. FAIRFAX effectively lost jurisdiction over that part of its former territory that was ceded in 1791. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 15[1801]/pp. 103–108)

26 October 1801

JEFFERSON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BERKELEY (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 2:271–272)

2 January 1802

HARRISON (W.Va.) gained from RANDOLPH (W.Va.); MONROE (W.Va.) gained from BOTETOURT and MONTGOMERY. (Shepherd, 2:345–346)

4 January 1802

GREENSVILLE gained from SUSSEX. (Shepherd, 2:347–348)

January 1803

Tennessee and Virginia accepted the results of a joint survey (October-December 1802) of their boundary from the northeastern corner of Tennessee to Cumberland Gap along a compromise course between the rival lines run in 1779. (Sames, 46; Van Zandt, 95)

1 May 1804

MASON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 3:77–78)

1 May 1805

HARRISON (W.Va.) gained from OHIO (W.Va.). (Shepherd, 3:174–175)

1 May 1806

GILES created from MONROE (W.Va.), MONTGOMERY, and TAZEWELL. (Shepherd, 3:244–245)

1 May 1807

TAZEWELL gained from RUSSELL. (Shepherd, 3:310)

1 March 1808

GILES gained from WYTHE. (Shepherd, 3:389)

1 June 1808

NELSON created from AMHERST. (Shepherd, 3:378–379)

2 January 1809

CABELL (W.Va.) created by Virginia from KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1808–1809, ch. 45, sec. 1/pp. 44–46)

1 January 1810

GRAYSON gained from PATRICK. (Va. Acts 1809–1810, ch. 66, sec. 1/p. 58)

14 January 1813

Boundary between LEE and RUSSELL clarified [no change]. (Va. Acts 1812–1813, ch. 86, sec. 1/pp. 110–111)

24 November 1814

SCOTT created from LEE, RUSSELL, and WASHINGTON. (Va. Acts 1814–1815, ch. 38, sec. 1/pp. 85–87)

6 December 1814

TYLER (W.Va.) created by Virginia from OHIO (W.Va.). (Robinson, 88; Va. Acts 1814–1815, ch. 40, sec. 1/pp. 87–89)

17 December 1814

Boundary between LEE and SCOTT clarified [no change]. (Va. Acts 1814–1815, ch. 39, sec. 1/p. 87)

18 December 1816

LEWIS (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1816–1817, ch. 85, sec. 1/pp. 152–153)

27 January 1817

KANAWHA (W.Va.) exchanged with MASON (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1816–1817, ch. 89, sec. 1/p. 157)

19 January 1818

PRESTON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from MONONGALIA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1817–1818, ch. 32, sec. 1/pp. 32–34)

30 January 1818

NICHOLAS (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GREENBRIER (W.Va.), KANAWHA (W.Va.), and RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1817–1818, ch. 33, sec. 1/pp. 34–35)

4 February 1818

LEWIS (W.Va.) gained from RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1817–1818, ch. 141, sec. 1/p. 184)

1 January 1820

The Ohio River and its islands, previously unassigned to particular counties, were declared to be part of the adjacent Virginia counties of BROOKE (W. Va.), CABELL (W.Va.), MASON (W.Va.), OHIO (W.Va.), TYLER (W.Va.), and WOOD (W.Va.) [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1819–1820, ch. 74, sec. 1/p. 66)

29 January 1820

NICHOLAS (W.Va.) gained from RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1819–1820, ch. 114, sec. 1/p. 91)

9 February 1820

MORGAN (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BERKELEY (W.Va.) and HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1819–1820, ch. 34, sec. 1/pp. 27–28)

1 March 1821

Boundary between HAMPSHIRE (W.Va.) and MORGAN (W.Va.) clarified [no change]. (Va. Acts 1820–1821, ch. 102, sec. 1/pp. 120–121)

21 December 1821

POCAHONTAS (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BATH, PENDLETON (W.Va.), and RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1821–1822, ch. 27, sec. 1/pp. 27–28)

5 January 1822

ALLEGHANY created from BATH, BOTETOURT, and MONROE (W.Va.); MONROE (W.Va.) gained small area from BOTETOURT. (Va. Acts 1821–1822, ch. 28, sec. 1/pp. 28–30)

26 December 1822

LEE gained from SCOTT. (Va. Acts 1822–1823, ch. 71, sec. 1/pp. 90–91)

17 February 1823

BATH gained from ALLEGHANY. (Va. Acts 1822–1823, ch. 65, sec. 1/p. 88)

7 January 1824

Boundary between KANAWHA (W.Va.) and MASON (W.Va.) clarified [no discernible change]. (Va. Acts 1823–1824, ch. 75, sec. 1/p. 81)

12 January 1824

LOGAN (W.Va.) created by Virginia from CABELL (W.Va.), GILES, KANAWHA (W.Va.), and TAZEWELL. (Va. Acts 1823–1824, ch. 11, sec. 1/pp. 20–21)

23 January 1824

NICHOLAS (W.Va.) gained from KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1823–1824, ch. 74, sec. 1/p. 80)

28 December 1824

POCAHONTAS (W.Va.) gained from GREENBRIER (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1824–1825, ch. 63, sec. 1/pp. 73–74)

10 January 1825

WYTHE gained from GRAYSON. (Va. Acts 1824–1825, ch. 66, secs. 1–2/p. 75)

4 January 1826

TAZEWELL gained from WASHINGTON and WYTHE. (Va. Acts 1825–1826, ch. 41, sec. 1/p. 40)

9 January 1826

GILES gained from TAZEWELL. (Va. Acts 1825–1826, ch. 40, sec. 1/p. 39)

29 January 1827

GILES gained from MONROE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1826–1827, ch. 51/p. 42)

GREENBRIER (W.Va.) gained from MONROE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1826–1827, ch. 50/p. 41)

29 February 1828

PRESTON (W.Va.) gained from RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1827–1828, ch. 82, sec. 1/pp. 53–54)

2 February 1829

GILES gained from MONROE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1828–1829, ch. 121, sec. 1/pp. 119–120)

26 January 1830

LOGAN (W.Va.) gained from CABELL (W.Va.) and KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1829–1830, ch. 118, sec. 1/p. 117)

1 February 1831

FLOYD created from MONTGOMERY. (Va. Acts 1830–1831, ch. 72, secs. 1, 12/pp. 137–138)

28 February 1831

FAYETTE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GREENBRIER (W.Va.), KANAWHA (W.Va.), LOGAN (W.Va.), and NICHOLAS (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1830–1831, ch. 70, sec. 1/pp. 134–136)

1 March 1831

JACKSON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from KANAWHA (W.Va.), MASON (W.Va.), and WOOD (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1830–1831, ch. 73, sec. 1/pp. 138–140)

30 March 1831

PAGE created from ROCKINGHAM and SHENANDOAH. (Va. Acts 1830–1831, ch. 74, sec. 1/pp. 140–142)

4 April 1831

FAYETTE (W.Va.) exchanged with GREENBRIER (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1830–1831, ch. 71, sec. 1/p. 136)

23 February 1832

SMYTH created from WASHINGTON and WYTHE. (Va. Acts 1831–1832, ch. 67, sec. 1/pp. 47–49)

18 February 1833

RAPPAHANNOCK created from CULPEPER. (Robinson, 66, 87; Va. Acts 1832–1833, ch. 73, sec. 1/pp. 44–46)

23 February 1833

GREENBRIER (W.Va.) gained from FAYETTE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1832–1833, ch. 75, sec. 1/pp. 47–48)

12 March 1834

TAZEWELL gained from LOGAN (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1833–1834, ch. 58, sec. 1/p. 73)

3 February 1835

RUSSELL exchanged with TAZEWELL. (Va. Acts 1834–1835, ch. 58, sec. 1/p. 40)

1 May 1835

MARSHALL (W.Va.) created by Virginia from OHIO (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1834–1835, ch. 57, secs. 1, 16/pp. 38–40)

15 January 1836

BRAXTON (W.Va.) created by Virginia from KANAWHA (W.Va.), LEWIS (W.Va.), NICHOLAS (W.Va.), and RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1835–1836, ch. 18, sec. 1/pp. 18–20)

8 March 1836

CLARKE created from FREDERICK. (Va. Acts 1835–1836, ch. 19, sec. 1/pp. 20–22)

9 March 1836

WARREN created from FREDERICK and SHENANDOAH. (Va. Acts 1835–1836, ch. 20, sec. 1/pp. 22–24)

18 March 1836

GILES gained small area from TAZEWELL to accommodate local landowner [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1835–1836, ch. 21, sec. 1/p. 24)

17 March 1837

MERCER (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GILES and TAZEWELL. (Va. Acts 1836–1837, ch. 53, sec. 1/pp. 31–33)

24 January 1838

GREENE created from ORANGE. (Va. Acts 1838, ch. 59, sec. 1/pp. 52–54)

4 April 1838

PRESTON (W.Va.) gained from RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1838, ch. 62, sec. 1/pp. 57–58)

1 May 1838

ROANOKE created from BOTETOURT. (Va. Acts 1838, ch. 60, secs. 1, 15/pp. 54–57)

29 March 1839

KANAWHA (W.Va.) gained from FAYETTE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1839, Jan. sess., ch. 51, sec. 1/p. 33)

30 March 1839

PULASKI created from MONTGOMERY and WYTHE. (Va. Acts 1839, Jan. sess., ch. 50, sec. 1/pp. 30–33)

7 January 1840

Boundary between MONTGOMERY and PULASKI clarified [no change]. (Va. Acts 1839–1840, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 35–36)

5 March 1841

GILES gained from MERCER (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1840–1841, ch. 45, sec. 1/pp. 61–62)

15 March 1841

PRESTON (W.Va.) gained from MONONGALIA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1840–1841, ch. 44, sec. 1/p. 61)

14 January 1842

MARION (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.) and MONONGALIA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1841–1842, ch. 59, sec. 1/pp. 34–36)

17 January 1842

CARROLL created from GRAYSON. (Va. Acts 1841–1842, ch. 58, sec. 1/pp. 32–34)

18 January 1842

WAYNE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from CABELL (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1841–1842, ch. 60, sec. 1/pp. 36–38)

14 February 1842

MONTGOMERY gained from PULASKI. (Va. Acts 1841–1842, ch. 62, sec. 1/pp. 39–40)

11 January 1843

ALLEGHANY gained from MONROE (W.Va.) [change too small to map]. (Va. Acts 1842–1843, ch. 56, sec. 1/pp. 40–41)

18 February 1843

RITCHIE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.), LEWIS (W.Va.), and WOOD (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1842–1843, ch. 52, sec. 1/pp. 35–37)

3 March 1843

BARBOUR (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.), LEWIS (W.Va.), and RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1842–1843, ch. 53, sec. 1/pp. 37–40)

24 March 1843

Boundaries of MARION (W.Va.) clarified [no discernible change]. (Va. Acts 1842–1843, ch. 55, sec. 1/p. 40)

19 January 1844

TAYLOR (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BARBOUR (W.Va.), HARRISON (W.Va.), and MARION (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1843–1844, ch. 44, sec. 1/pp. 34–37)

3 February 1845

GILMER (W.Va.) created by Virginia from KANAWHA (W.Va.) and LEWIS (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1844–1845, ch. 43, sec. 1/pp. 45–49)

4 February 1845

DODDRIDGE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from HARRISON (W.Va.), LEWIS (W.Va.), and RITCHIE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1844–1845, ch. 42, sec. 1/pp. 42–45)

1 May 1845

APPOMATTOX created from BUCKINGHAM, CAMPBELL, CHARLOTTE, and PRINCE EDWARD. (Va. Acts 1844–1845, ch. 41, secs. 1, 16/pp. 38–42)

10 January 1846

WETZEL (W.Va.) created by Virginia from TYLER (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1845–1846, ch. 65, sec. 1/pp. 51–54)

7 September 1846

The District of Columbia ceded ALEXANDRIA (now ARLINGTON) to Virginia [see 20 March 1847]. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 35[1846]/pp. 35–37 and appendix 3/p. 1000)

11 March 1847

BOONE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from CABELL (W.Va.), KANAWHA (W.Va.), and LOGAN (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1846–1847, ch. 55, sec. 1/pp. 49–52)

13 March 1847

ALLEGHANY gained from BATH. Boundaries of MERCER (W.Va.) clarified [no discernible change]. (Va. Acts 1846–1847, ch. 59, secs. 1–2/pp. 57–58)

15 March 1847

Boundary between MARION (W.Va.) and MONONGALIA (W.Va.) clarified [no change]. (Va. Acts 1846–1847, ch. 58, sec. 1/p. 57)

20 March 1847

Virginia officially extended its jurisdiction over ALEXANDRIA (now ARLINGTON), which had been ceded to Virginia by the District of Columbia on 7 September 1846. Despite disputes over details of the D.C.–Virginia line in the Potomac River, there has been no mappable change in the boundary with the District to present. (Va. Acts 1846–1847, ch. 53/pp. 41–48)

1 May 1847

HIGHLAND created from BATH and PENDLETON (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1846–1847, ch. 56, secs. 1, 13/pp. 52–55)

15 January 1848

HANCOCK (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BROOKE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1847–1848, ch. 58, sec. 1/pp. 30–34)

19 January 1848

WIRT (W.Va.) created by Virginia from JACKSON (W.Va.) and WOOD (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1847–1848, ch. 60, sec. 1/pp. 38–41)

11 March 1848

PUTNAM (W.Va.) created by Virginia from CABELL (W.Va.), KANAWHA (W.Va.), and MASON (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1847–1848, ch. 59, sec. 1/pp. 34–38)

28 March 1848

APPOMATTOX gained from CAMPBELL. (Va. Acts 1847–1848, ch. 61, sec. 1/pp. 41–42)

1 October 1848

FRANKLIN gained from PATRICK. (Va. Acts 1847–1848, ch. 62, secs. 1, 3/p. 42)

2 February 1849

ROANOKE gained from MONTGOMERY. (Va. Acts 1848–1849, ch. 63, sec. 1/pp. 28–30)

16 March 1849

BRAXTON (W.Va.) gained from RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1848–1849, ch. 64, sec. 1/p. 30)

23 January 1850

RALEIGH (W.Va.) created by Virginia from FAYETTE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1849–1850, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 24, sec. 1/pp. 19–21)

26 January 1850

WYOMING (W.Va.) created by Virginia from LOGAN (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1849–1850, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 25, sec. 1/pp. 21–24)

12 March 1850

PUTNAM (W.Va.) gained from CABELL (W.Va.) and KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1849–1850, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 26, sec. 1/pp. 24–25)

16 March 1850

POWHATAN gained from CHESTERFIELD. (Va. Acts 1849–1850, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 28, sec. 1/p. 26)

21 March 1850

FAYETTE (W.Va.) gained from KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1849–1850, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 27, sec. 1/pp. 25–26)

21 March 1851

CRAIG created from BOTETOURT, GILES, MONROE (W.Va.), and ROANOKE. (Va. Acts 1850–1851, ch. 25, sec. 1/pp. 21–23)

26 March 1851

UPSHUR (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BARBOUR (W.Va.), LEWIS (W.Va.), and RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Robinson, 88; Va. Acts 1850–1851, ch. 26, sec. 1/pp. 23–25)

29 March 1851

PLEASANTS (W.Va.) created by Virginia from TYLER (W.Va.) and WOOD (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1850–1851, ch. 27, sec. 1/pp. 25–26)

28 April 1852

JAMES CITY gained small area from YORK to accommodate local landowner [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1852, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 41, sec. 1/p. 31)

16 February 1853

JACKSON (W.Va.) gained from WIRT (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1852–1853, ch. 151, sec. 1/p. 130)

CRAIG gained from MONROE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1852–1853, ch. 152, sec. 1/p. 130)

1 March 1853

CRAIG gained from MONTGOMERY. (Va. Acts 1852–1853, ch. 153, secs. 1, 3/pp. 130–131)

10 January 1856

CRAIG gained from MONROE (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 112, sec. 1/pp. 97–98)

16 February 1856

WISE created from LEE, RUSSELL, and SCOTT. (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 107, sec. 1/pp. 87–90)

20 February 1856

CRAIG gained small area from ALLEGHANY to accommodate local landowner [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 111, sec. 1/p. 97)

TAYLOR (W.Va.) gained from MARION (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 113, sec. 1/p. 98)

26 February 1856

CARROLL gained from PATRICK. (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 114, sec. 1/p. 98)

5 March 1856

CALHOUN (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GILMER (W.Va.); GILMER temporarily divided into two parts. (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 108, sec. 1/pp. 90–91)

7 March 1856

TUCKER (W.Va.) created by Virginia from RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 110, sec. 1/pp. 95–97)

11 March 1856

ROANE (W.Va.) created by Virginia from GILMER (W.Va.), JACKSON (W.Va.), and KANAWHA (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1855–1856, ch. 109, sec. 1/pp. 91–94)

13 February 1858

BUCHANAN created from RUSSELL and TAZEWELL. (Robinson, 77; Va. Acts 1857–1858, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 156, sec. 1/pp. 108–110)

19 February 1858

HENRY gained from PATRICK. (Va. Acts 1857–1858, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 159, sec. 1/pp. 113–114)

20 February 1858

McDOWELL (W.Va.) created by Virginia from TAZEWELL and WYOMING (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1857–1858, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 155, sec. 1/pp. 106–108)

29 March 1858

CLAY (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BRAXTON (W.Va.), NICHOLAS (W.Va.), and a small part of KANAWHA (W.Va.) [KANAWHA not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1857–1858, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 158, sec. 1/pp. 111–113; W.Va. Acts 1863, ch. 64, sec. 1/p. 61)

7 April 1858

CRAIG gained small area from GILES [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1857–1858, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 160, sec. 1/p. 114)

10 January 1860

WEBSTER (W.Va.) created by Virginia from BRAXTON (W.Va.), NICHOLAS (W.Va.), and RANDOLPH (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1859–1860, ch. 47, sec. 1/pp. 151–157)

12 January 1860

Legislature authorized CLARKE to gain small area from WARREN to accommodate local landowner; change did not take effect [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1859–1860, ch. 286, sec. 1/p. 496)

21 March 1860

BUCKINGHAM gained small area from APPOMATTOX to accommodate local landowner [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1859–1860, ch. 62, sec. 1/p. 171)

14 February 1861

WEBSTER (W.Va.) gained from NICHOLAS (W.Va.). (Va. Acts 1861, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 24, sec. 1/p. 50)

30 March 1861

BLAND created from GILES, TAZEWELL, and WYTHE. (Va. Acts 1861, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 23, sec. 1/pp. 45–49)

10 March 1862

PULASKI gained small area from WYTHE to accommodate local landowner [location unknown, not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1861–1862, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 91, sec. 1/pp. 106–107)

20 June 1863

The State of West Virginia was formally separated from Virginia and admitted to the Union. Most of West Virginia had been effectively independent of Virginia since June 1861. West Virginia was defined only in terms of the counties it included: BARBOUR, BOONE, BRAXTON, BROOKE, CABELL, CALHOUN, CLAY, DODDRIDGE, FAYETTE, GILMER, GREENBRIER, HAMPSHIRE, HANCOCK, HARDY, HARRISON, JACKSON, KANAWHA, LEWIS, LOGAN, McDOWELL, MARION, MARSHALL, MASON, MERCER, MONONGALIA, MONROE, MORGAN, NICHOLAS, OHIO, PENDLETON, PLEASANTS, POCAHONTAS, PRESTON, PUTNAM, RALEIGH, RANDOLPH, RITCHIE, ROANE, TAYLOR, TUCKER, TYLER, UPSHUR, WAYNE, WEBSTER, WETZEL, WIRT, WOOD, and WYOMING. (Swindler, 10:363)

5 August 1863

Virginia lost BERKELEY (W.Va.) to West Virginia. (U.S. Rpts., 78:39 [Wallace, vol. 11]; U.S. Stat., vol. 14, res. 12[1866]/p. 350; W.Va. Acts 1863, 1st sess., ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 33–35)

2 November 1863

Virginia lost JEFFERSON (W.Va.) to West Virginia. (U.S. Rpts., 78:39 [Wallace, vol. 11]; U.S. Stat., vol. 14, res. 12[1866]/p. 350; W.Va. Acts 1863, 1st sess., ch. 90, sec. 1/pp. 103–105)

11 December 1868

Oyster inspectors for Maryland and Virginia agreed on a de facto boundary across Chesapeake Bay from the mouth of the Potomac River to the southern tip of Watkins Point on the Eastern Shore [not mapped]. (Paullin, 85)

26 February 1873

FLOYD gained small area from FRANKLIN [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1872–1873, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 103, sec. 1/p. 85)

3 March 1879

ACCOMACK gained a small portion of the southern end of Smith's Island from SOMERSET (Md.) when the United States approved the Maryland-Virginia boundary down the south side of the Potomac River and across Chesapeake Bay, as settled in 1877 by arbitration [not mapped]. (Paullin, 85; Van Zandt, 87)

25 February 1880

GILES gained small area from CRAIG to accommodate local landowner [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1879–1880, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 194, sec. 1/p. 183)

3 March 1880

DICKENSON created from BUCHANAN, WISE, and a small area of RUSSELL [RUSSELL not mapped]. (Robinson, 48; Va. Acts 1879–1880, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 140, sec. 1/pp. 125–129)

9 March 1880

JAMES CITY gained remainder of Williamsburg from YORK [not mapped]. (Va. Acts 1879–1880, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 265, sec. 1/pp. 257–258)

28 January 1882

Boundary between ELIZABETH CITY (extinct) and WARWICK (extinct) redefined [no discernible change]. (Va. Acts 1881–1882, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 46, sec. 1/p. 43)

1 April 1888

ROCKBRIDGE gained from BOTETOURT. (Va. Acts 1887–1888, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 488, secs. 1, 5/pp. 556–557)

April 1892

Boundary between BLAND and GILES redefined [no discernible change]. (Va. Acts 1899–1900, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 617/pp. 665–666)

5 March 1900

BLAND gained from GILES. (Va. Acts 1899–1900, Dec. reg. sess., ch. 617, sec. 1/pp. 665–666)

3 March 1901

WASHINGTON gained from SULLIVAN (Tenn.) when the Tennessee-Virginia line through the town of Bristol was adjusted [not mapped]. (Van Zandt, 110)

10 July 1902

The new Virginia state constitution created a system of independent cities, separate from the counties; initially, eighteen cities became independent. (Bain, "Body Incorporate," 18–21; Swindler, 10:166, 169)

19 May 1905

Independent city of Staunton gained from AUGUSTA. (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Staunton Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

5 June 1905

Independent city of Winchester gained small area from FREDERICK. (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Winchester Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

9 January 1906

Independent city of Norfolk gained small area from NORFOLK (extinct). (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Norfolk City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

28 March 1906

Independent city of Staunton's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Dodson, Cities, "Staunton")

15 June 1906

Clifton Forge made an independent city (2d class) from ALLEGHANY. (Dodson, Cities, "Clifton Forge")

6 December 1906

Independent city of Richmond gained from HENRICO. (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Richmond Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; "Henrico County v. City of Richmond" in Va. Rpts., 106:282–287)

1 June 1907

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990)

1 January 1908

Independent city of Lynchburg gained from CAMPBELL. (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989)

30 March 1908

Hampton made an independent city (2d class) from ELIZABETH CITY (extinct). (Dodson, Cities, "Hampton")

21 November 1908

Independent city of Portsmouth gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Portsmouth City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [240])

15 April 1910

Independent city of Richmond absorbed the independent city of Manchester; Manchester eliminated. (Bain, "Body Incorporate," 117)

1 October 1910

Suffolk made an independent city (2d class) from NANSEMOND (extinct). (Dodson, Cities, "Suffolk")

2 January 1911

Independent city of Norfolk gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Bain, Annexation, [240]; Norfolk City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

5 November 1914

Independent city of Richmond gained from CHESTERFIELD and HENRICO. (Bain, Annexation, [241]; Richmond Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

1 April 1915

Independent city of Alexandria gained small areas from ALEXANDRIA (now ARLINGTON) and FAIRFAX. (Bain, Annexation, p. [240]; Alexandria Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

Independent city of Williamsburg gained small areas from JAMES CITY and YORK. (Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990)

16 December 1915

Independent city of Roanoke gained from ROANOKE. (Bain, Annexation, [241]; Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

6 May 1916

Harrisonburg made an independent city (2d class) from ROCKINGHAM. (Harrisonburg Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

1 July 1916

Hopewell made an independent city (1st class) from PRINCE GEORGE.; Hopewell was divided into two parts. (Va. Acts 1916, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 65/pp. 89–102)

19 July 1916

Independent city of Suffolk gained small area from NANSEMOND (extinct) [not mapped]. (Bain, Annexation, [241])

1 August 1916

Independent city of Charlottesville gained from ALBEMARLE. Charlottesville's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Charlottesville Community Development Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Dodson, Cities, "Charlottesville")

17 January 1917

Independent city of Newport News gained from WARWICK (extinct). (Newport News Public Library, correspondence, February 1990; Brown, Alexander C., 12; "Warwick County v. Newport News" in Va. Rpts., 120:182)

26 June 1918

Independent city of Portsmouth gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Portsmouth City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [241])

28 November 1919

Independent city of Roanoke gained from ROANOKE. (Bain, Annexation, [241]; Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

16 March 1920

ALEXANDRIA renamed ARLINGTON. (Va. Acts 1920, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 241, sec. 1/p. 343)

1 January 1921

Independent city of Newport News gained small areas from ELIZABETH CITY (extinct) and WARWICK (extinct). (Newport News Public Library, correspondence, February 1990; Brown, Alexander C., 12)

5 January 1921

South Norfolk (extinct) made an independent city (2d class) from NORFOLK (extinct). (Dodson, Cities, "South Norfolk;" Chesapeake Public Library, correspondence, September 2003)

1 June 1921

Independent city of Newport News gained from WARWICK (extinct). (Brown, Alexander C., 12)

1 December 1921

Independent city of Petersburg gained small areas from DINWIDDIE and PRINCE GEORGE. (Petersburg Assessor's Office, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [242])

12 December 1921

Independent city of Winchester gained from FREDERICK. (Winchester Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [242])

17 February 1922

CHESTERFIELD gained from HENRICO. (Va. Acts 1922, Jan. reg. sess., ch. 22, sec. 1/pp. 26–27)

1 January 1923

Independent city of Norfolk gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Norfolk City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [242])

1 July 1923

Independent city of Hopewell gained from PRINCE GEORGE. (Hopewell Housing and Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [242])

31 December 1924

Independent city of Williamsburg gained small areas from JAMES CITY and YORK. (Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [242])

1 January 1926

Independent city of Lynchburg gained from CAMPBELL. (Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [242])

Independent city of Roanoke gained from ROANOKE. (Bain, Annexation, [242]; Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

1 August 1926

Independent city of Suffolk gained small area from NANSEMOND (extinct) [change too small to map]. (Bain, Annexation, [242])

1 January 1927

Independent city of Newport News gained from ELIZABETH CITY (extinct). A minor correction was made in this line on 27 February 1927. (Newport News Public Library, correspondence, February 1990; Brown, Alexander C., 12–13)

5 December 1928

Martinsville made an independent city (2d class) from HENRY. (Dodson, Cities, "Martinsville")

31 December 1928

Independent city of Suffolk gained small area from NANSEMOND (extinct) [change too small to map]. (Bain, Annexation, [243])

1 January 1930

Independent city of Alexandria gained from ARLINGTON and FAIRFAX. (Alexandria Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243])

1 January 1932

Independent city of Petersburg gained from DINWIDDIE. (Petersburg Assessor's Office, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243])

21 January 1932

Independent city of Winchester's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Dodson, Cities, "Winchester")

1 January 1933

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243])

15 January 1937

Independent city of Staunton gained small area from AUGUSTA. (Staunton Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243])

1 July 1937

Independent city of Harrisonburg gained small area from ROCKINGHAM. (Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243])

1 July 1938

Independent city of Harrisonburg gained small area from ROCKINGHAM [change too small to map]. (Bain, Annexation, [243])

1 January 1939

Independent city of Charlottesville gained from ALBEMARLE. (Charlottesville Community Development Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243])

31 December 1939

Independent city of Martinsville gained small area from HENRY. (Martinsville Public Works Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243])

Independent city of Fredericksburg gained small area from SPOTSYLVANIA. (Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243])

21 March 1940

Independent city of Lynchburg gained small area from CAMPBELL. (Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243])

5 December 1940

Independent city of Newport News gained from WARWICK (extinct). (Newport News Public Library, correspondence, February 1990; Brown, Alexander C., 13)

10 February 1941

Independent city of Fredericksburg's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Dodson, Cities, "Fredericksburg")

2 August 1941

Independent city of Martinsville's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Dodson, Cities, "Martinsville")

1 January 1942

Independent city of Williamsburg gained from JAMES CITY and YORK. (Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243])

Independent city of Richmond gained from CHESTERFIELD and HENRICO. (Richmond Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [243]; "Henrico County v. City of Richmond" in Va. Rpts., 177:768–769)

15 October 1942

Independent city of Bristol gained from WASHINGTON. Bristol's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Bristol Community Development and Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Dodson, Cities, "Bristol")

1 January 1943

Independent city of Roanoke gained from ROANOKE. (Bain, Annexation, [244]; Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

29 February 1944

Independent city of Suffolk's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Dodson, Cities, "Suffolk")

1 January 1945

Independent city of Petersburg gained from PRINCE GEORGE. (Petersburg Assessor's Office, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [244])

1 September 1946

Independent city of Martinsville gained from HENRY. (Martinsville Public Works Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [244])

1 August 1947

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [244])

1 January 1948

Waynesboro made an independent city (2d class) from AUGUSTA. (Waynesboro Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, "Body Incorporate," 63–64)

Independent city of Portsmouth gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Portsmouth City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [244])

Independent city of Staunton gained from AUGUSTA. (Staunton Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [244])

11 February 1948

Independent city of Waynesboro's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Bain, "Body Incorporate," 63–64; Waynesboro Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

19 March 1948

Colonial Heights made an independent city (2d class) from CHESTERFIELD. (Virginia Commission on Local Government, correspondence, February 1990)

16 August 1948

Falls Church made an independent city (2d class) from FAIRFAX. (Falls Church Public Library, correspondence, March 1990)

1 January 1949

Independent city of Roanoke gained from ROANOKE. (Bain, Annexation, [245]; Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

10 March 1950

Boundary between NEW KENT and HENRICO clarified [no change]. (Va. Acts 1950, ch. 155, sec. 1/pp. 226–227)

19 December 1950

Independent city of Harrisonburg gained small area from ROCKINGHAM. (Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [245])

1 January 1951

Independent city of South Norfolk (extinct) gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Bain, Annexation, [245])

Independent city of Fredericksburg gained small area from SPOTSYLVANIA. (Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [245])

1 July 1951

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [245])

1 January 1952

Independent city of Alexandria gained from FAIRFAX. (Alexandria Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [245])

Independent city of Hopewell gained from PRINCE GEORGE. (Hopewell Housing and Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [245])

14 February 1952

Virginia Beach made an independent city (2d class) from PRINCESS ANNE (extinct). (Va. Acts 1952, ext. sess., ch. 33/pp. 42–48)

1 July 1952

ELIZABETH CITY, the independent city of Hampton (2d class), and the town of Phoebus were consolidated to form the independent city of Hampton (1st class); ELIZABETH CITY County eliminated. (Va. Acts 1952, ext. sess., ch. 9/pp. 21–39)

16 July 1952

Warwick (extinct) made an independent city (1st class) from WARWICK; WARWICK County eliminated. (Va. Acts 1952, reg. sess., ch. 706/pp. 1151–1167)

20 December 1952

Covington made an independent city (2d class) from ALLEGHANY. (Virginia Commission on Local Government, correspondence, February 1990)

1 February 1953

Status of South Norfolk (extinct) changed from 2d class to 1st class. (City of Chesapeake Circuit Court, correspondence, April 1990; Va. Acts 1952, reg. sess., ch. 215/pp. 236–258)

30 November 1953

Galax made an independent city (2d class) from CARROLL and GRAYSON. (Va. Sec. Rpt., 522)

1 January 1954

Norton made an independent city (2d class) from WISE. (Virginia Commission on Local Government, correspondence, February 1990)

Independent city of Colonial Heights gained from CHESTERFIELD. (Colonial Heights Office of the City Planner, correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [245])

1 January 1955

Independent city of Fredericksburg gained from SPOTSYLVANIA. (Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [246])

Independent city of Norfolk gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Norfolk City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [245])

Independent city of Waynesboro gained from AUGUSTA. (Augusta County Law Order Book, vol. 33: 357–361; Waynesboro Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [245])

1 January 1956

Independent city of Danville gained small area from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [246])

Independent city of Petersburg gained small areas from DINWIDDIE and PRINCE GEORGE. (Petersburg Assessor's Office, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [246])

Independent city of Staunton gained small area from AUGUSTA. (Staunton Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [246])

1 January 1957

Independent city of Waynesboro gained from AUGUSTA. (Augusta County Law Order Book, vol. 34: 170–176; Waynesboro Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [246])

1 January 1958

Independent city of Colonial Heights gained from CHESTERFIELD. (Colonial Heights Office of the City Planner, correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [246])

Independent city of Lynchburg gained from BEDFORD and CAMPBELL. (Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989 and August 1992; Bain, Annexation, [246])

1 July 1958

Independent cities of Newport News and Warwick were consolidated to form the independent city of Newport News (1st class); Warwick eliminated. (Va. Acts 1958, ch. 141/pp. 147–190)

1 January 1959

Independent city of Norfolk gained from PRINCESS ANNE (extinct). (Bain, Annexation, [246]; Norfolk City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; "City of Norfolk v. County of Princess Anne" in Va. Rpts., 200:105–106)

24 April 1959

Boundary between ALLEGHANY and MONROE (W.Va.) redefined [no change]. (Va. Acts 1959, ext. sess., ch. 44, secs. 1–2/pp. 122–123)

1 January 1960

South Boston made an independent city (2d class) from HALIFAX. (South Boston Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990)

Independent city of Martinsville gained small area from HENRY. (Martinsville Public Works Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [246])

Independent city of Portsmouth gained from NORFOLK (extinct). (Portsmouth City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [247])

Independent city of Danville gained small area from PITTSYLVANIA [change too small to map]. (Bain, Annexation, [246])

Independent city of Galax gained small area from CARROLL [change too small to map]. (Bain, Annexation, [246])

29 December 1960

Independent city of Colonial Heights's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Va. Acts 1960, ch. 213/pp. 220–278; Va. Acts 1962, p. 1452)

1 July 1961

Fairfax made an independent city (2d class) from FAIRFAX. (Fairfax Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990)

22 December 1961

Franklin made an independent city (2d class) from SOUTHAMPTON. (Va. Sec. Rpt., 521)

1 January 1962

Independent city of Harrisonburg gained from ROCKINGHAM. (Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247])

1 January 1963

Independent city of Norton gained from WISE. (Norton City Manager, correspondence, April 1994; Bain, Annexation, [247])

Independent city of Virginia Beach (2d class) and PRINCESS ANNE were consolidated to form the independent city of Virginia Beach (1st class); PRINCESS ANNE County eliminated. (Va. Acts 1962, ch. 147/pp. 204–216)

Chesapeake made an independent city (1st class) from NORFOLK and the independent city of South Norfolk; NORFOLK County and South Norfolk both eliminated. (Va. Acts 1962, ch. 211/pp. 301–316)

Independent city of Charlottesville gained from ALBEMARLE. (Charlottesville Community Development Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [243])

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247])

Independent city of Clifton Forge gained from ALLEGHANY. Clifton Forge reverted to town status on 1 July 2001. (Clifton Forge City Manager's Office, correspondence, April 1994; Bain, Annexation, [247])

1964

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990)

1 January 1964

Independent city of Lynchburg gained small area from BEDFORD. (Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [247])

Independent city of Richmond gained from CHESTERFIELD [change too small to map]. (Richmond Community Development Dept., correspondence., Jan. 1990)

Independent city of Williamsburg gained from JAMES CITY and YORK. (Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [247])

1 January 1965

Independent city of Martinsville gained from HENRY. (Martinsville Public Works Dept., correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [248])

Independent city of Roanoke gained small area from ROANOKE. (Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

Independent city of South Boston gained from HALIFAX. (South Boston City Manager's Office, correspondence, February 1990; Bain, Annexation, [248])

Independent city of Harrisonburg gained small area from ROCKINGHAM [change too small to map]. (Bain, Annexation, [248])

1966

Independent city of Radford gained from MONTGOMERY. (Bain, Annexation, [248]; Radford Zoning Dept., correspondence, March 1994)

1 January 1966

Lexington made an independent city (2d class) from ROCKBRIDGE. (Va. Sec. Rpt., 526)

1 January 1967

Independent city of Roanoke gained small area from ROANOKE. (Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

1968

Independent city of Portsmouth gained from the independent city of Chesapeake. (Portsmouth City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

1 January 1968

Salem made an independent city (2d class) from ROANOKE. (Middleton, 2–12)

Independent city of Charlottesville gained small area from ALBEMARLE. (Charlottesville Community Development Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

Independent city of Roanoke gained small area from ROANOKE. (Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

2 January 1968

Independent city of Salem's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Middleton, 2–12)

28 February 1968

Emporia made an independent city (2d class) from GREENSVILLE. (Emporia Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990)

1 September 1968

Bedford made an independent city (2d class) from BEDFORD. (Bedford Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

1969

Independent city of Hopewell gained from PRINCE GEORGE. (Hopewell Housing and Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

1970

Independent city of Richmond gained from CHESTERFIELD. (Richmond Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

1971

Independent city of Danville gained small area from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990)

Independent city of Winchester gained from FREDERICK. (Winchester Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

31 December 1971

Independent city of Petersburg gained from DINWIDDIE and PRINCE GEORGE. (Petersburg Assessor's Office, correspondence, February 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

1972

Independent city of Galax gained from CARROLL. (Galax City Engineer, correspondence, April 1994)

9 March 1972

Independent city of Radford's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Va. Acts 1968, ch. 209/pp. 288–311; Va. Acts 1972, p. 1664)

1 July 1972

Nansemond (extinct) made an independent city (1st class) from NANSEMOND and the towns of Holland and Whaleyville; NANSEMOND County eliminated. (Va. Acts 1973, ch. 31/pp. 61–74)

1973

Independent city of Alexandria gained small area from FAIRFAX. (Alexandria Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

Independent city of Danville gained small area from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990)

31 December 1973

Independent city of Bristol gained from WASHINGTON. (Community Development and Planning Dept., email, February 2003)

1974

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990)

1 January 1974

Independent cities of Suffolk and Nansemond were consolidated to form the independent city of Suffolk (1st class); Nansemond eliminated. (Va. Acts 1973, ch. 367/pp. 516–533)

28 December 1974

Independent city of Norton gained from WISE. (Norton City Manager, correspondence, April 1994; Norton City Charter, ch. 1)

1 May 1975

Manassas made an independent city (2d class) from PRINCE WILLIAM. (Manassas Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Va. Sec. Rpt., 527)

Poquoson made an independent city (2d class) from YORK. (Va. Sec. Rpt., 533)

1 June 1975

Manassas Park made an independent city (2d class) from PRINCE WILLIAM. (Va. Sec. Rpt., 528)

31 December 1975

Independent city of Lynchburg gained from BEDFORD and CAMPBELL. (Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

1976

Independent city of Galax gained from CARROLL. (Galax City Engineer, correspondence, April 1994)

1 January 1976

Independent city of Roanoke gained from ROANOKE. (Roanoke City Engineer, correspondence, December 1989)

1977

Independent city of Radford gained from MONTGOMERY. (Radford Zoning Dept., correspondence, March 1994)

1978

Independent city of Danville gained small area from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Division, correspondence, February 1990)

1980

Independent city of Chesapeake gained small area from the independent city of Virginia Beach. (Virginia Beach Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

Independent city of Radford gained from MONTGOMERY. (Radford Zoning Dept., correspondence, March 1994)

31 December 1980

FAIRFAX exchanged with the independent city of Fairfax. (Fairfax City Clerk's Office, correspondence, February 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

1 January 1983

Independent city of Harrisonburg gained from ROCKINGHAM. (Harrisonburg Community Development Dept., correspondence, January 1990; Map of the City of Harrisonburg, January 1983)

31 December 1983

Independent city of Manassas exchanged with PRINCE WILLIAM. (Manassas Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

Independent city of Buena Vista gained from ROCKBRIDGE. (Buena Vista City Manager, correspondence, January 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

Independent city of Fredericksburg gained from SPOTSYLVANIA. (Fredericksburg Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

Independent city of Williamsburg gained from JAMES CITY. (Williamsburg Planning Dept., correspondence, February 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

19 April 1984

Independent city of Norton gained from WISE. (Norton City Manager, correspondence, April 1994; Norton City Charter, ch. 1)

9 May 1985

Independent city of Manassas gained small area from PRINCE WILLIAM. (Manassas Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990)

31 December 1985

Independent city of Waynesboro gained from AUGUSTA. (Waynesboro Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

1986

Independent city of Radford gained from MONTGOMERY. (Radford City Cartographer, correspondence, December 2002)

1 January 1986

Independent city of Salem gained from ROANOKE. (Salem City Engineer, correspondence, March 1994)

Independent city of Franklin gained from SOUTHAMPTON. (Franklin Office of the City Attorney, correspondence, October 2002; Circuit Court of Southampton County, Book 27, Page 16, 20 December 1985)

31 December 1986

Independent city of Staunton gained small area from AUGUSTA. (Staunton Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

31 December 1987

Independent city of Salem gained from ROANOKE. (Salem City Engineer, correspondence, March 1994)

1988

Independent city of Norfolk gained small area from the independent city of Virginia Beach. (Norfolk City Planning Dept., correspondence, December 1989)

1 January 1988

Independent city of Danville gained from PITTSYLVANIA. (Danville Planning Div., correspondence, February 1990; Danville Dept. of Community Development, correspondence, December 2002; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

Independent city of Emporia gained from GREENSVILLE. (Emporia City Manager's Office, correspondence, February 1990; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

9 February 1988

Independent city of Charlottesville gained small area from ALBEMARLE. (Charlottesville Community Development Dept., correspondence, December 1989; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

1 July 1989

Independent city of Salem gained from ROANOKE. (Salem City Engineer, correspondence, March 1994)

13 December 1989

Independent city of Harrisonburg's status changed from 2d class to 1st class. (Va. Commission on Local Government, correspondence, March 1990)

31 December 1990

Independent city of Manassas Park gained from PRINCE WILLIAM. (Manassas Park Planning Director, correspondence, March 1994; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

Independent city of Covington gained from ALLEGHANY. (U.S. Census Bureau, "Geographic Change Notes: Virginia," http://eire.census.gov/popest/geonotes/51.php, 10 June 2003)

1 January 1991

Independent city of Galax gained small area from CARROLL. (Galax City Engineer, correspondence, April 1994)

20 March 1991

Legislature authorized the consolidation of ALLEGHANY and the independent city of Clifton Forge into a new independent city of Alleghany; change did not take effect. (Va. Acts 1991, ch. 401/pp. 600–609)

1 July 1992

Independent city of Galax gained from CARROLL. (Galax City Engineer, correspondence, April 1994; U.S. Census Bureau, "Geographic Change Notes: Virginia," http://eire.census.gov/popest/geonotes/51.php, 10 June 2003)

1 July 1993

Independent city of Bedford gained from BEDFORD. (U.S. Census Bureau, "Geographic Change Notes: Virginia," http://eire.census.gov/popest/geonotes/51.php, 10 June 2003)

1 January 1994

Independent city of Fairfax exchanged with FAIRFAX. (U.S. Census Bureau, "Geographic Change Notes: Virginia," http://eire.census.gov/popest/geonotes/51.php, 10 June 2003)

1 July 1994

Independent city of Waynesboro gained from AUGUSTA. (U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

30 June 1995

HALIFAX gained all of South Boston when South Boston reverted to town status and was eliminated as an independent city. (U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003)

1 January 1996

Independent city of Franklin gained from SOUTHAMPTON. (Franklin Office of the City Attorney, correspondence, October 2002; Circuit Court of Southampton County, Book 27, Page 19, 20 December 1985)

13 March 1998

Boundary between LOUDOUN and JEFFERSON (W. Va.) clarified [no discernible change]. (Va. Acts 1993, ch. 141/p. 146; Va. Acts 1998, ch. 123/pp. 213–214; W. Va. Acts 1998, ch. 74/pp. 338–339)

10 March 2000

Independent city of Harrisonburg exchanged small areas with ROCKINGHAM [change too small to map]. (City of Harrisonburg, Planning and Community Development Department, email, 12 November 2002; Commission on Local Government, "Municipal Boundary Change Actions in Virginia: 2000," http://www.clg.state.va.us/annexations.2000.pdf, 8 October 2003)

25 July 2000

Independent city of Manassas Park gained small area from PRINCE WILLIAM [change too small to map]. (Commission on Local Government, "Municipal Boundary Change Actions in Virginia: 2000," http://www.clg.state.va.us/annexations.2000.pdf, 8 October 2003)