Virginia County Record Description & Facts

Most pre-Civil War county records are now housed at The Library of Virginia, with copies maintained in the county and independent city courthouses. Many early records have been microfilmed, with copies available at The Library of Virginia and the FHL.

Research in the Virginia county collection can be done at a local library as well. The Library of Virginia participates in the American Library Association Interlibrary Loan program and will loan up to five reels of their extensive collection for a period of four weeks. Each reel of microfilm must be ordered by its number.

Virginia is the only state with independent cities; they are independent of the county or counties in which they are geographically located. Towns, however, remain a part of their counties. As of 1987, there were forty-one independent cities in Virginia; since population determines city status, more than half were incorporated after 1904. Many Virginia counties have been absorbed by independent cities.

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.

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.