The Capital City of Virginia is Richmond, seat of government since 1780. A city, as the term is used in Virginia, is a municipality which is independent of the county or counties in which it lies. In recent years, however, four cities have been enlarged so as to take in all of the counties in which they were formerly located. These are Chesapeake (formerly the City of South Norfolk ) Hampton, Newport News, and Virginia Beach. Most Virginia cities have developed from towns, but some cities, as Hopewell and Newport News, have become cities without being incorporated as towns. A town, in contrast to a city, is subordinate, in most respects, to the governing body of the county which it is located, although it exercises some functions of self-government. The Virginia Constitution of 1902 defines a city of the first class as one which has more than 10,000 inhabitants, and a city of the second class as one having between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants. A town generally has between 300 and 5,000 inhabitants. The population figures given below are taken from the 1960 Federal census.

ALEXANDRIA, in Fairfax and Arlington counties, was named for John Alexander, an early owner of the tract on which the town was located. Before Alexandria was established as a town in 1749 it known as Hunting Creek Warehouse and as Belhaven. It was incorporated as a town in 1779, and was incorporated as a city in 1852. It became a city of the first class in 1902. Population 91,023

BRISTOL, in Washington County, was originally called Goodson, nor of Colonel Samuel Goodson, its founder. Goodson was established as a town in 1850 and was incorporated as a town in 1856. name was changed to Bristol in 1890, when the town was incorporated- as a city. Its present name was adopted from the Tennessee with which it is contiguous. The two communities, located on opposite sides of the state boundary, are completely separate politically- and administratively. Bristol was declared a city of the first class in 1942. Population 17,144.

BUENA VISTA, in Rockbridge County, was built on a site which included an abandoned iron furnace known as Buena Vista furnace is furnace, which was in operation in 1855, probably was named for the Mexican village near which General (later President) Zachary Taylor won a victory in 1847. Buena Vista was established as a town in 1889 and incorporated as a town in 1890. It was incorporat- ed as a city in 1892. Population 6,300.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, in Albemarle County, was named for Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III and was established as a town in 1762. Charlottesville was incorporated as a town in 1801, incorporated as a city in 1888, and declared a city of the first class in 1916. Population 29,427.

CHESAPEAKE, which is named for Chesapeake Bay, comprises the former Norfolk County and the former City of South Norfolk and was formed in 1963 by a merger of these two entities, both of which thereby became extinct. The City of South Norfolk was established as a town in 1890 and became a city in 1921. The areas which formed the new city had a total population in 1960 of 73,647

CLIFTON FORGE is located in Allegheny County. There was according to county records, a Clifton Forge in this vicinity in 18181. It is believed that this forge was owned and operated by some member or of the Clifton family. Clifton Forge was established as a town 1861, incorporated as a town in 1884, and became a city in 1906 Population 5,268.

COLONIAL HEIGHTS is located in Chesterfield County. The name refers to the fact that Lafayette placed his artillery at Oak Hill, on the heights overlooking the Appomattox River, to shell British positions in Petersburg in 1781. Colonial Heights was established as a town in 1910, incorporated as a town in 1926, and became a city in 1948 Population 9,581.

COVINGTON is in ..Allegheny County and was named for Peter Covington, an early settler. It was established as a town in 1818 first incorporated as a town in 1833, and incorporated as a city in 1954. Population 11,062.

DANVILLE, in Pittsylvania County, is named for the Dan River on which the city is located. Danville was established as a town 1793, incorporated as a. town in 1830, and incorporated as a city 1890. North Danville (also called Neapolis) was added in 1896. Danville became a city of the first class in 1902. Population 46,577.

FAIRFAX is in Fairfax County and was first called Providence. was established as a town in 1805, incorporated as a town in 1874 and became a city in 196I. Population 13,585.

FALLS CHURCH in Fairfax County, was named for the Episcopal church, erected about 1769, which still stands. The church was called because of its proximity to the Little Falls of the Potomac. Falls Church was established as a town. in 1850. Incorporated as a town in 1875, and became a city 1948. Population 10,192.

FRANKLIN, in Southampton County, was named for Benjamin Franklin, the patriot and statesman. It was a "post village" in 1855 and was incorporated as a town in 1876. .Franklin became a city in 1961. Population 7,264.

FREDERICKSBURG, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Fred erick Augustus, son of George II and father of George III. Fredericksburg was established as a town in 1728, incorporated as town in 1782, and incorporated as a city in 1879. It was declared a city of the first class in 1941. PopuIation 13,649.

GALAX is located in Grayson and Carroll counties. The town, first called Bonaparte, took its present name from the mountain evergreen which grows profusely in the surrounding area. It was incorporated as a town in 1906 and became a city in 1952. Population 5,254.

HAMPTON, formerly in Elizabeth City County, takes its name from Hampton Creek, earlier called Southampton River in honor of the Earl of Southampton, an important figure in the affairs of the Virginia Company of London. Hampton was established as town about 1691 and designated as a port in 1706. It was first incorporated as a town in 1849 and became a city in 1908. Hampton was greatly enlarged in 1951 by merger with Elizabeth City County and the town of Phoebus. Population 89,258.

HARRISONBURG is located in Rockingham County and was named for Thomas. Harrison, who gave fifty acres for the town site. It was established as a town in 1780. Harrisonburg was incorporated as a town in 1849 and became a city in I916. Population 11,916.

HOPEWELL is located in Prince George County. The name derived originally from the ship Hopewell on which Francis Eppes', who patented Appomattox Manor in 1635, is said to have arrived in Virginia. The city grew out of the settlement established in before World War I for workmen at the munitions plant which the du Pont Company built on the property then known as Hopewell Farm. Hopewell was established as a town in 19I5 and was incorporated as a city in I916. It was enlarged in I913 by the annexation of City Point. Population 17,895

LYNCHBURG is in Campbell County and was named for John Lynch, the owner of the original town site. Lynchburg was established as a town in 1786, incorporated as a town in 1805, incorporated as a city in 1852, and became a city of the first class in 1902. Population 54,790.

MARTINSVILLE, in Henry County, was, named for General Joesph. Martin, an early settler and Revolutionary soldier who long represented Henry County in the General Assembly. It was established a town in 1791, incorporated as a town in 1873, became a city in 1928, and was declared a city of the first class in 194I. Population 18,798.

NEWPORT NEWS was in Warwick County, which is now extinct he name "Newportes News" appeared in documents as early 1619 and probably commemorated Captain Christopher Newport who made five voyages to Virginia between 1607 and 1619. Newport News was a small settlement until late in the nineteenth century when it became the eastern terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway. It was established as a town in 1880 and incorporated as a city in 1896. Newport News became a city of the first class I902, and was enlarged by consolidation with the City of Warwick, itself formed in I952 from the former Warwick County. Population 113,662.

NORFOLK was in Norfolk County, which is now extinct. The city's name probably comes from the English shire or county. Norfolk was established as a town in 1682 and "erected into a borough" (incorporated as. a town) in 1736. It was incorporated as a city in 1842, became a city of the first class in I902, and was enlarged in 1906 by the annexation of Berkeley. Population 304,869.

NORTON, in Wise County, was first known as Prince's Flats, probably in honor of William Prince who settled in the area about 1787. The present name honors Eckstein Norton, president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad when the Clinch Valley branch of railroad was finished in 1891. Norton was incorporated as a town in 1894, and became a city in 1954. Population 5,013

PETERSBURG is located in Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. The settlement grew up on the site of Fort Henry, a garrison and trading post established in 1645. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd II, was given in honor of Peter Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. It was established as a town in 1748 and incorporated as a town in 1784. In the latter year Blandford, Pocahontas and Ravensworth were added to it. Petersburg was incorporated as a city in 1850 and became a city of the first class in 1902. Population 36,750.

PORTSMOUTH, which was located in Norfolk County was named for the English seaport and was established as a town in 1752. Ports- mouth was incorporated as a town in 1836 and incorporated as a city 1858. It became a city of the first class in 1902. Population 114,773.

RADFORD, in Montgomery County, was formerly called Central City and took its present name in honor of Dr. John B. Radford, a prominent local citizen. The town of Central City was established in 1885 and incorporated in 1887. Its name was changed to Radford in 1890 and it was incorporated as a city in 1892. Population 9,371.

RICHMOND is located in Henrico and Chesterfield counties. The was suggested by William Byrd II who predicted in 1733 the establishment of a city at the falls o the James River. The name probably came from the English borough of the same name. which Byrd visited on several occasions during his stay in London. Richmond established as a town in 1742 and was made the capital of Virginia in 1780. It was incorporated as a town, although "stiled the city of Richmond" in 1782, and was incorporated as a city in 1842. It was the capital of the Confederacy from 186I to 1865. Richmond became a city of the first class in 1902 and was enlarged by annexation of Manchester (or South Richmond) in 1910, and by the addition of Barton Heights, Fairmount and Highland Park in 1914. Population 219,958.

ROANOKE, in Roanoke County, was first known as Big Lick, because of salt deposits found in the vicinity. The town of Big Lick established in 1852 and it was incorporated in 1874. The name was changed in 1881. The present name comes from the county or the river of the same name. Roanoke became a city of the first class in 1902. Population 97,110.

SOUTH BOSTON is located in Halifax County. According to local historians, the town took its name from the Massachusetts city. South Boston was originally located on the south side of the Dan River. and was established as a town in 1796, but it was destroyed by floods early in its history. It was re-established on the north side the Dan and was incorporated as a town in 1884. and became a city in I960. Population 5,974.

STAUNTON, in Augusta County, was named, according to most authorities, for Lady Rebecca Staunton, the wife of Governor Sir William Gooch. Staunton was established as a town in 1761 and was incorporated as a town in 1801 . It was incorporated as a city in 1871 and became a city of the first class in 1906. Population 22,232

SUFFOLK, in Nansemond County, was probably named for the county of Suffolk in England. Suffolk was established as a town in 1742, incorporated as a town in 1808 it became a city in 1910. It was declared a city of the first class in 1944. Population 12,609.

VIRGINIA BEACH was in Princess Anne County. The ocean resort was incorporated as a town in I906 and became a city in 1952. It greatly enlarged in 1963 by consolidation with Princess Ann County. Population 8,091.

WAYNESBORO, in Augusta County, was named for General Anthony Wayne, an American commander in the Revolution. It was established as a town in 1801 and incorporated as a town in 1834. was consolidated with Basic City in I923 and became a city in 1948. Population 15,694.

WILLIAMSBURG is located in James City and York counties. The first settlement on this site was known as Middle Plantation. Williamsburg was named in honor of William III and was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780. It was established as a "city" in 1699, and declared a. "city incorporate" in 1722, although its real status was that of a town. It was incorporated as a city by the Commonwealth in 1884. Population 6,832.

WINCHESTER, in Frederick County, was first known as Fredericktown. It took its present name from Winchester in England, which, according to tradition, was the birthplace of James Wood one of the founders. Winchester was established as a town in 1752, and was incorporated as a town in 1779. It was incorporated as city 1n 1874. Population 15,110.

1. (An aside by R. Ebbett:) If searching for Cliftons in the Clifton Forge area, it would be good to know that on top of a mountain, in the hamlet of Irongate, stands an old Forge and what was a shot tower in the Civil War. Around this forge is the ruin of what was once a town, or perhaps a family compound, with several small foundations of what were once log cabins. I have visited the site several times, and have pictures of the remains of the forge and these old foundations. There is no proof, however, that this IS Clifton's Forge.

This information is from a book published by the Virginia State Library in 1965, Title: "A Hornbook of Virginia History." There have probably been some modern changes but for the most part this information is accurate.
The dates and locale information of value to a genealogist are contained herein and supplement the info I earlier uploaded in the Va County History Files. Hope its useful. If you can do the same for your area it would be extremely valuable to those persons searching for records in your state. Thanks in advance to those dedicated souls who decide to help with this project. I would love to eventually see all 50 states and the Canadian provinces represented as least.

For those of you who have not yet encountered the frustration of "knowing I'm in the right courthouse but my relative isn't here." only to find out later that the courthouse is in a subdivided county or a city which is separate from the original governmental entity, and now you must go search another courthouse-----> Take heed-- the above information is what you need before you search, especially in the older areas of the USA! Good Hunting--TRIO.