Virginia Counties

Formerly published as Bulletin of the Virginia State Library Volume 9 January April July 1916 Nos. 1 2 and 3. The content of this work was originally developed in 1914 when Mr. Robinson then employed by the United States Government as the Historian for the War and Navy Departments authored a report entitled the Development of Virginia Counties. Later and following his appointment as Virginia State Archivist Mr. Robinson became aware of the constant sources of annoyance to title examiners genealogists and historians was the absence of some handy reference volume which would provide reliable data on Virginia counties. The author using his original report of 1914 edited and added new material a new index and a bibliography then issued this Bulletin of the Virginia State Library. Today there are 100 Virginia counties in existence of 172 counties which were originally created by Virginia legislation. Of the original 172 counties many merged with other counties realigned changed their names became extinct and in the case of West Virginia and Kentucky seceded from Virginia to form their own state. This work provides in a single volume and in concise form the most reliable and accurate county information concerning the dates of formation the territory from which formed and the origin of the names of the counties which have resulted from Virginia legislation.