Virginia State Facts & Information

Virginia County Listings

As the population of Virginia grew during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the General Assembly created new counties on the western fringes of the most heavily settled areas, and during the nineteenth century the General Assembly divided some counties into two or three smaller counties for the convenience of the people who lived there. These frequent changes in county boundary lines need to be kept in mind when doing research using public records. It is often stated that a particular Virginia county included all of Virginia to the west of it, and while that is legally true, there were often so few residents far to the west that few or no county records will contain documentary evidence for the region beyond the frontier. Knowledge of settlement patterns and of westward migration is necessary to guide researchers to the record groups that are most likely to contain the information that they need.

Virginia's Independent Cities:

Virginia has a unique system of local government in that independent cities are politically and administratively separate from the county or counties in which they are geographically situated. Independent cities operate their own court system. Virginia's towns exercise only limited functions of self-government and are subordinate in most respects to the counties in which they are located. There are currently 39 independent cities in the Commonwealth. See Virginia's Independent Cities Page for more details.

As you conduct your research in the records of a specific area, remember that when a new locality county was formed or incorporated, the records for the area encompassed within the new locality were not moved but stayed in the parent locality; likewise, many county and city records remain within the locality today and are not housed at the Library of Virginia.

Virginia State History

Virginia (state), in full Commonwealth of Virginia, state in the eastern United States and one of the original 13 colonies. Named for the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I of England, Virginia was England’s first successful overseas colony and the site of the first permanent English settlement in America. At one time it held territory from which several other states were later formed. West Virginia was part of Virginia until 1863. Virginia’s rich political heritage helped shape the democratic principles on which the United States was founded. Virginia played an important role in the American Revolution (1775-1783), and it entered the Union as the tenth of the original 13 states on June 25, 1788. During the American Civil War (1861-1865) the state’s capital, Richmond, was also capital of the Confederacy. The state has long been nicknamed Old Dominion. The Official State website is at http://www.virginia.gov/

Although evidence suggests that some form of county government existed in Virginia by 1622, the Commonwealth's present structure of local government was begun in 1634, with the formation of eight shires or counties. These jurisdictions became the units of representation in the colonial legislature. The eight original shires were: Accawmack, Charles City, Charles River, Elizabeth City, Henrico, James City, Warrosquyoake, and Warwick River.

Virginia was established as an economic venture that got off to a very shaky start. In 1584 Queen Elizabeth I of England gave Sir Walter Ralegh (commonly misspelled Raleigh) permission to establish colonies in the New World. Gallantly, Ralegh named the area for the Virgin Queen, but undersupplied his colonies, which disappeared between one supply ship's arrival and the next.

The second attempt began twenty years later. English entrepreneurs were looking for a financial opportunity that would return their investment on the fabulous scale of the six-year-old British East India Company. The endless lands of the new world appeared to contain such a golden promise.

In 1606 King James I chartered the Virginia Company of London (often called the London Company). In April 1607 the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery, commanded by Capt. Christopher Newport, made landfall at Point Comfort. Sealed orders appointing seven men to the Council were opened, and the Council elected Edward Maria Wingfield president. Under his direction, “gentlemen,” craftsmen, and laborers founded the first permanent English settlement on James Isle. Long on expectations but short on experience, they were struck with disaster.

The struggle and hardships that decimated and discouraged the colonists are well known. So few of those who arrived on the first three ships survived that not many Americans living today can trace their ancestry to an original Jamestown settler. The Colony was nearly abandoned in 1610 and might not have survived but for one man—John Rolfe.

In 1612, John Rolfe began experiments in growing and processing tobacco. His export of tobacco to a London merchant in 1614 began a trade that made Virginia viable economically. Then he married Pocahontas, daughter of the great werowance, or sub-chief, Powhatan, which helped assure a few years of peaceful coexistence with the native tribes of Virginia.

The London Company was reorganized under the Great Charter of 1618, and by the end of 1619, several events occurred that had far-reaching impact. Free settlers were granted land, establishing property ownership. The House of Burgesses, America's first representative assembly, was organized, setting an example for representative democracy. A program encouraging emigration of “Maides to make Wives” began in England, ensuring that the population of Virginia would be self-sustaining. Unexpectedly, a Dutch trader from the West Indies arrived in August 1619 with a cargo of black colonists who were sold into indentured servitude (slavery did not yet exist in Virginia). This event helped foreshadow slavery and the Civil War.

On Friday, 22 March 1622, disaster struck. The natives, led by Powhatan's successor, Opechancanough, attacked the English settlements, massacred a quarter of the population, and nearly succeeded in driving the English out. However, disaster then struck the natives, for the English established policies that eventually led to the near-total extermination of the Indian people and forceful removal of the survivors to reservations.

In 1624 James I revoked the charter and made Virginia a royal colony, henceforth under the direction—not always peaceable—of crown-appointed governors. Between 1652 and 1660, while Oliver Cromwell was ruling in England, Virginia experimented with what amounted to self government and was not pleased to relinquish that control again to a royal governor.

The colony had an urgent need of merchants, skilled artisans, woodsmen, and a large labor force to cultivate the tobacco crops. Luring laborers to insect-ridden and swampy regions was a challenge. The English law of primogeniture preserved the estates of the landed gentry by transmitting the titles and property intact from eldest son to eldest son. Many younger sons saw Virginia as a prime opportunity. The London Company lured these people to Virginia with land.

The Company agreed to give anyone who paid his way to Virginia fifty acres “for his owne personal adventure.” Another fifty acres was offered for each person the adventurer transported “at his owne cost.” When Virginia became a royal colony, the headright system continued. Over the next century, thousands of settlers came because of Virginia's headright system. See Nell Marion Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 3 vols. (1934; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983).

As the young colony expanded, it experienced growing pains. The difficulty of providing a labor force led to the formal establishment of slavery (1660), disagreements with crown-appointed governors led to Bacon's Rebellion (1676), and a precipitous decline in tobacco prices resulted in the Plant-Cutting Revolt (1682). The end of the century was marked by the removal of the colony's capital to Williamsburg in 1699.

Ironically, the eighteenth century saw both the establishment of the infamous Slave Code of 1705 and the headlong rush toward the American Revolution; each embodied different views of human rights. Even as the slaves' plight grew worse, George Mason penned the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Adopted by the revolutionary convention on 12 June 1776, the Declaration was a model for the United States Bill of Rights.

It is perhaps appropriate that the first President of the United States was a native son of the first permanent English colony in North America. George Washington epitomized the upper-class Virginians of his time: a tobacco farmer, an ardent lover of freedom, and a slaveholder

The eighteenth century also saw explosive expansion. The Shenandoah Valley and the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were opened, and settlers poured down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania. In the second half of the century, the Cumberland Gap was discovered and settlers began filling what would become Kentucky and West Virginia. Both were initially part of Virginia; Kentucky became a separate state in 1792, and West Virginia in 1863.

Many of Virginia's records have been lost to fire, war, and time. Jamestown, the original capital, was destroyed three times, and some counties lost records during the Revolutionary War. However, the greatest destruction of Virginia's records occurred during the Civil War. Many courthouses were destroyed, but the most significant loss of records resulted from the burning of Richmond in 1865. Even with the loss of records, research in most Virginia counties remains richly rewarding.

Virginia Discontinued Counties

• Accawmack County: Created in 1634. Renamed Northampton in 1642/43
• Charles River County: Formed in 1634, renamed York County in 1642
• Dunmore County: Formed in 1772 from Frederick County, renamed Shenandoah County in 1778Elizabeth City:Originally created in 1634 as Elizabeth River Shire, it was one of eight shires created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. In 1636, it was subdivided, and the portion north of the harbor of Hampton Roads became known as Elizabeth City Shire. It was renamed Elizabeth City County a short time later. The town of Hampton, established in 1680, became the largest town in Elizabeth City County, and was the county seat. In 1908, Hampton was incorporated as an independent city, and in 1952, the county and the former town of Phoebus in the county were merged into the independent city of Hampton. Elizabeth City is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties.  Its records were damaged and/or destroyed during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.  A few early deeds, wills, orders, and guardian's accounts survive.
• Fincastle County: Formed in 1772 from Botetourt County. Fincastle County (extinct) was named either for George, Lord Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, Viscount Fincastle; or for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, and named after Lord Botetourt's home in England.  It became extinct in 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties.  See Kentucky, Montgomery, and Washington Counties. Some Fincastle records may be found in the Montgomery Co. Courthouse in Christiansburg.
  Historic Fincastle, Inc., James Early Cabin, 121 East Murray Street; Fincastle, VA 24090; (540) 473-3077
• Kentucky County: Formed in 1777 from Fincastle, abolished in 1780
• Lower Norfolk County: Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk, abolished in 1691, Record are in the City of Chesapeake
• Nansemond County: Formed as Upper Norfolk in 1637 from New Norfolk County, renamed in 1642. Records were destroyed in 1866. Incorporated as the City of Nansemond in 1972. Merged with the City of Suffolk in 1974. All records transferred to City of Suffolk. Records include: Marr fr. 1866, Land fr. 1734, Probate fr. 1866 and Court Records fr. 1774. County court records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866. A few fee books have been found in the records of Sussex County.
• New Norfolk County:Formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City, abolished in 1637 and divided into Lower and Upper Norfolk Counties
• Norfolk County:Formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk, merged with the City of Chesapeake in 1963. All record were transfered to the City of Chesapeake. Some records may also be located in the City of Portsmouth. Records include: Marr fr. 1866, Land fr. 1734, Probate fr. 1866 and Court Records fr. 1774 Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, from his native county in England. The county seat was Portsmouth.
• Princess Anne County:Formed from Lower Norfolk County Merged with and records transferred to the City of Virginia Beach in 1963. They include Marr fr. 1724, Death fr. 1853, Land, Probate and Court Records fr. 1691. Princess Anne County (extinct) was named for Anne, daughter of James II, who became queen of England in 1702.  The county seat was Princess Anne. See Virginia Beach.
• Old Rappahannock County:Formed in 1656 from Lancaster County, abolished in 1692, the records transferred to Essex County. Records include Land, Probate and Court Records fr. 1656. It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties.
• Upper Norfolk County:Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk County, In 1646, it was renamed Nansemond County for the area's Nansemond Indians. The county seat was Suffolk. The county became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, and in 1974, Nansemond merged with the city of Suffolk. The entire area is now known as Suffolk.
• Warrosquyoake County:Formed in in 1634 as one of the original eight shires, renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637. Records transferred there. Warrosquyoake County was named for the Indian tribe.
• Warwick River County: Formed in 1634 as One of 8 orginal shires, renamed Warwick County in 1643. It was named either for Robert Rich, earl of Warwick, a prominent member of the London Company, or for the county of Warwick in England. Warwick County became extinct in 1952, when it became city of Warwick. Consolidated with Newport News in 1958, and took latter's name. Denbigh was the county seat. Warwick is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. County court records were destroyed at several times with most destruction occurring during the Civil War. A seventeenth-century livestock registry, one order book, and one minute book from the eighteenth century survive, it has earliest records for , Land from 1662 , Probate from 1648 and Court from 1646 (Records missing from pre-Civil War times. Records are located with the City Clerk in the City of Newport News.
• Yohogania County:Created from the West Augusta territory in 1776. The county was ceded to Pennsylvania in 1785

Virginia Burned Courthouses

Several Virginia counties, most of them in the eastern part of the state, have suffered tremendous loss of their early records during the intense military activity that occurred during the Civil War, and others lost records in fires. At some point, almost everyone conducting genealogical or historical research will face the problem of finding information from a so-called "Burned Record county."

  If you are working with a county that has suffered a loss of court records, you must devote all your genealogical energy and historical knowledge to the project. First, survey any extant records as well as all existing indexes; second, read every surviving record page by page; third, consult the records of the surrounding counties; finally, seek out other types of records, such as church, business, private, and government documents. Previously lost records are still turning up; some are returned by descendants of Union soldiers who took souvenirs. As new information surfaces from the counties and independent cities, and “new” records are discovered, the beginning dates of record categories may change.

  Within the colonial period, the major source available are the patents that were recorded in the Secretary's Office between 1623 and 1774. Determine also if any church records are extant for the county of your interest. A few more resources are available during the statehood period.

  Title to virgin land issued from the governor in a record now called a grant; petitions to the legislature date from 1775 into the 1850s; tax records, both land and personal, date from 1782 into the twentieth century; militia fines date from 1795 to 1860. 

  Researchers should also consult the federal census schedules that were taken every ten years and for Virginia survive from 1810 onward, excepting 1890, which was almost entirely burned. Realize, however, that most of these records are simply lists and do not give family information. The record can locate a particular name within a specific county.

  Burned record counties might be grouped into three basic categories: Hopeless, Almost Hopeless, and Difficult.

Included in the Hopeless category are:

• Appomattox: created in 1845, county court records were destroyed by fire in 1892.
• Buchanan: created in 1858, county court records were destroyed by fire in 1885; records created after that date suffered extreme damage in a flood in 1977. A few re-recorded deeds exist.
• Buckingham: created in 1761, county court records were destroyed by fire in 1869. One plat book survived and some wills and deeds were later recorded.
• Dinwiddie: created in 1752, county court records prior to 1833 were destroyed in 1865. One plat book, one order book, and one judgment book survive.
• Henrico: created in 1634 as an original shire, all county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing; additionally, many isolated records were destroyed during the Revolutionary War, and almost all Circuit Court records were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865.
• James City: created in 1634 as an original shire, all county court records were lost in 1865.
• King and Queen: created in 1691, county court records were lost in fires in 1828 and 1865. One plat book and three mid-nineteenth century Superior Court record books survive.
• Nansemond: created in 1652, county court records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866. A few fee books have been found in the records of Sussex County.
• New Kent: created in 1654, county court records were destroyed when John Posey burned the courthouse on 15 July 1787, and records created after that date were lost to fire in 1865.
• Warwick: created in 1643, county court records were destroyed at several times with most destruction occurring during the Civil War. A seventeenth century livestock registry, one order book, and one minute book from the eighteenth century survive.

Included in the Almost Hopeless category are:

• Prince George: created in 1703, most county court records were burned during the Civil War. A few record books survived and, proving that there is always hope, the volume in which deeds and wills were recorded between 1710 and 1713 was found within the last decade. 
• Elizabeth City: created in 1634 as an original shire, records were damaged and/or destroyed during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Civil War. A few early deeds, wills, orders, and guardian's accounts survive.
• Gloucester: created in 1651, all county court records were destroyed by an 1820 fire, and most of the records created after that date were destroyed in Richmond on 3 April 1865. Six minute books from the nineteenth century and two surveyor's record books survive.
• Hanover: created in 1721, most county court records were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865. A few isolated record books that were not sent to Richmond and various scraps of loose papers survive.

Included in the Difficult category are Twenty-five other Virginia counties have suffered some loss of county court records, some to a greater degree than others :

• Albemarle: created in 1744, all order books except the first and all loose papers were destroyed in Tarleton's raid on Charlottesville in 1781.
• Bland: created in 1861, all but a few record books and some chancery papers were destroyed by fire in 1888.
• Brunswick: created in 1732, the first pages of a number of early record books damaged by time.
• Caroline: created in 1728, most records prior to 1836 were destroyed during the Civil War. Some deeds and wills are recorded in extant Chancery Papers, and a considerable number of order books and loose papers survive.
• Charles City: created in 1634 as an original shire, records have been destroyed at various times. The most damage occurred during the Civil War when the records were strewn through woods in a rainstorm. Many fragments of records exist, so many, in fact, that there is something for almost every year.
• Chesterfield: created in 1749, lost one marriage register and some loose court papers during the Civil War.
• Clarke: created in 1836, had pages cut from several record books during the Civil War.
• Craig: created in 1851, lost the first deed book and most of the loose papers during the Civil War.
• Fairfax: created in 1742, original wills and deeds as well as many other loose papers were destroyed during the Civil War; deed books for twenty-six of the fifty-six years between 1763 and 1819 are missing.
• Greene: created in 1838, lost the first deed book during the Civil War when it was removed from the courthouse; no records were lost, but some suffered extreme water damage in efforts to put out a fire in the 1970s.
• King George: created in 1721, had one will book, an early marriage register, and an order book "carried away during the Civil War." A few years ago the will book was deposited in the Virginia Historical Society.
• King William: created in 1702, all county court records prior to 1885 (except for seventeen will books) were destroyed in a fire in that year.
• Lee: created in 1793, lost the oldest marriage register in an 1863 fire.
• Louisa: created in 1742, lost one order book in Richmond in 1865.
• Mathews: created in 1791, all county court records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865. At least two bond books, one plat book, and a number of fee books survive.
• Northumberland: created in 1645, suffered some loss in a fire in the clerk's office on 25 October 1710.
• Nottoway: created in 1789, many county court records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865.
• Prince William: created in 1731, many county court records have been lost, destroyed, or stolen at various times. Scattered years of deeds, wills, and orders, as well as various bond books and a plat book, survive.
• Richmond: created in 1692, has some record books damaged and mutilated due to unknown causes; additionally, the will books prior to 1699 were missing as early as 1793, and order books for the period 1794-1816 are also missing.
• Rockingham: created in 1778, many pre-Civil War records were lost during the Valley Campaign of 1864. In an effort to safeguard the records, they were loaded onto a wagon that was subsequently set afire by Union troops. Records that were saved include: administrators, executors, and guardians bonds.
• Russell: created in 1786, the first marriage register and all loose files were lost in a fire in the clerk's office in 1872.
• Stafford: created in 1664, many pre-Civil War county court records were lost to vandalism during the war. Scattered years of deeds, wills, and orders have survived as has an old General Index.
• Surry: created in 1652, has lost deeds for 1835-1838 and order books for 1718-1741 and various other early record books are fragmentary. Court house fires in 1906 and 1922 did not result in loss of records which were then housed in a separate clerk's office.
• Washington: created in 1777, lost a minute book for the period 1787-1819 and many loose papers in a fire in the clerk's office on 15 December 1864.
• Westmoreland: created in 1653, lost an order book for the period 1764-1776 to theft, and many loose papers were damaged during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.