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Virginia Gazetteer

Virginia - Basic Information

Became a State: June 25, 1788 - 10th State
Population: 8,001,024 (2010 Census) - Ranks 12nd
Land Area: 39,490.1 square miles - Ranks 36th
Population Density: 202.6 persons per square mile - Ranks 14th
Housing Units: 3,364,939 (2010 Census)
Housing Unit Density: 85.2 housing units per square mile
July 1, 2023 Estimates: Virginia Data and Demographics
State Capital: Richmond
State Website: Official Commonwealth of Virginia Website
Virginia State Flag
Virginia state flag

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Use HTL Address Research for a Virginia Address and get...

Boundary Maps, Demographic Data, School Zones Review maps and data for the neighborhood, city, county, ZIP Code, and school zone. July 1, 2023, data includes home values, household income, percentage of homes owned, rented or vacant, etc.


Virginia Neighborhood Explorer

NOTE: The BEST tool for researching a neighborhood is the HTL Address Research Tool (above). However, if you do not have an address, the Virginia Neighborhood Explorer is the SECOND-BEST-TOOL to research a neighborhood (it provides a subset of the information that the Address Research Tool provides), but you can get a report by simply marking a spot on a map.

The Virginia Neighborhood Explorer helps you to research any Virginia neighborhood (census block group) and get home values, average household income, owner/renter/ occupancy rates, projected growth rates, boundary maps, comparisons to other communities, and much more.

Simply mark a spot on a state map and you'll have your results within 3-seconds!

Virginia Neighborhood Explorer


Virginia History

Virginia State Flower
Virginia State Flower - American Dogwood

The area of Virginia was part of the original territory of the United States. Virginia was the first chartered colony, with the original 1606 charter including the entire Eastern Seaboard. Individual charters provided to other colonies reduced the size of Virginia. In 1784, Virginia ceded area to the United States that became the Northwest Territory in 1787. Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution on June 26, 1788; it was the tenth of the original 13 states to join the Union. At the time of statehood, Virginia included all of present-day Kentucky and West Virginia. The area of the state was reduced in 1791 by the formation of the District of Columbia and in 1792 when Virginia ceded the area that became the state of Kentucky. Virginia added territory in 1846 when the portion of the District of Columbia taken from Virginia was retroceded to the state. The state of West Virginia, consisting of 48 counties, was established from Virginia on June 20, 1863; in 1866, Congress officially added two more counties (Berkeley and Jefferson) to West Virginia, leaving Virginia with generally the same boundary as the present state. Virginia is one of four states that are legally described as a commonwealth.

Census data for Virginia are available beginning with the 1790 census. The populations shown from 1790 to 1860 are for the present boundary of Virginia. These data include, from 1800 to 1840, the portion of the District of Columbia not formally part of Virginia until 1846, and do not include the area of Kentucky in 1790 or the counties taken to form West Virginia from 1790 to 1860. The population of Virginia as legally existing from 1860 to 1790 was: 1,596,318 in 1860; 1,421,661 in 1850; 1,239,797 in 1840; 1,211,405 in 1830; 1,065,366 in 1820; 974,600 in 1810; 880,200 in 1800; and 821,287 in 1790.

Virginia Geographical Areas

See: Geographic Terms & Concepts

Counties & County Equivalents

Interactive Map of Virginia Counties / Independent Cities | Static Overview Map of Virginia Counties / Independent Cities

There are 134 counties and equivalents in Virginia.  There are 95 functioning governmental counties, each governed by a board of supervisors or county board (Arlington County only).  The remaining 39 entities are independent cities that are independent of any county and are functioning governmental units at the place level. 


County Subdivisions

There are 550 county subdivisions in Virginia known as minor civil divisions (MCDs).  There are 510 districts that are used for the election of county supervisors and are known as either magisterial districts or election districts.  Arlington County is not divided into districts so the entire entity is a county subdivision named Arlington. The 39 independent cities are independent of MCDs and serve as county subdivisions.

Places (Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places (CDPs))

Virginia State Bird
Virginia State Bird - Cardinal

Virginia has 591 places; 229 incorporated places and 362 census designated places (CDPs).  The incorporated places consist of 39 cities and 190 towns.  The 190 towns in Virginia are dependent with county subdivision.  Culpeper town is coextensive with two magisterial districts.  The 39 cities in Virginia are independent of any county and county subdivision. 

The 39 independent cities in Virginia are:

  • Alexandria
  • Bedford
  • Bristol
  • Buena Vista
  • Charlottesville
  • Chesapeake
  • Colonial Heights
  • Covington
  • Danville
  • Emporia
  • Fairfax
  • Falls Church
  • Franklin
  • Fredericksburg
  • Galax
  • Hampton
  • Harrisonburg
  • Hopewell
  • Lexington
  • Lynchburg
  • Manassas
  • Manassas Park
  • Martinsville
  • Newport News
  • Norfolk
  • Norton
  • Petersburg
  • Poquoson
  • Portsmouth
  • Radford
  • Richmond
  • Roanoke
  • Salem
  • Staunton
  • Suffolk
  • Virginia Beach
  • Waynesboro
  • Williamsburg
  • Winchester

Alphabetical List of Cities, Towns, CDPs and Other Populated Places
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q, R | S | T | U, V | W, X, Y, Z

Virginia Civil Features

Virginia Civil Features: Political Subdivisions, Native Areas, Land Grants, etc. - sorted by Census Class Codes.

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas

There are 10 Metropolitan and 4 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in Virginia. VA Metopolitan & Micropolitan Areas

Virginia ZIP Code Tabulation Areas

There are 898 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in Virginia. View Virginia ZIP Codes and ZIP Code Maps.

School Districts

Virginia has 1 elementary school district and 137 unified school districts.  The Department of Defense runs two unified school districts in Virginia. View Virginia Public and Private Schools.

Congressional Districts

Virginia has 11 congressional districts. An interactive map shows the contact information for each Representative as well as the boundaries for each Virginia district. View Map of Virginia Congressional Districts.

State Legislative Districts

There are 40 state senate districts and 100 state house districts in Virginia.

American Indian Areas

Virginia has two state recognized American Indian reservations and two state designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs).

Virginia Physical, Cultural and Historic Features

  1. Virginia Physical Features such as lakes, islands, streams, valleys, summits, etc.
  2. Virginia Cultural Features such as schools, churches, hospitals, parks, dams, reservoirs, etc.
  3. Virginia Historical Features and Virginia Historic Landmarks

Virginia Maps

  • To find a ZIP Code: input the address in the top-left search box of any ZIP Code Map.
  • To find the County: input the address in the top-left search box of the interactive VA map.
  • To find the School Attendance Zone: input the address in the top-left search box of any VA school map

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Virginia Census Data Comparison Tool

Compare Virginia July 1, 2023 Data
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