Princess Anne County, Virginia
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Princess Anne County is an extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia and the State of Virginia in the United States from 1691 until 1963. Most of the former county is now located within the limits of the independent city of Virginia Beach.
Shires, Counties
During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the Jamestown Settlement in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1610, the English colonists had established a permanent settlement in the Kecoughtan area of what was to become Elizabeth River Shire. It was the oldest known continuously occupied English settlement in North America.
In 1634, the King of England directed the formation of eight shires (or counties) in the colony of Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth City Shire, which included land area on both sides of Hampton Roads.
New Norfolk County was formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City Shire. New Norfolk County included all the area in South Hampton Roads now incorporated in the five independent cities located there in modern times.
The following year, in 1637, it was divided into into Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County.
In 1691, Lower Norfolk County was in turn divided to form Norfolk County and Princess Anne County.
Princessanne.jpg
Princess Anne County is an extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia and the State of Virginia in the United States from 1691 until 1963. Most of the former county is now located within the limits of the independent city of Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach resort: becomes town in 1908, city in 1952
Beginning in the late 19th century, the small resort area of Virginia Beach along the Atlantic Ocean at the north eastern portion of the county's vast expanse of shoreline grew, particularly after 1888 with the arrival of rail service and electricity. It was incorporated as a town in 1906 and became an independent city from Princess Anne County in 1952.
However, in the mid 20th century, the western borders of Princess Anne County lost territory to annexation suits by the City of Norfolk which adjoined it after annexing all of the northern portion of Norfolk County. A merger with the tiny City of Virginia Beach became seen as a way to prevent the independent City of Norfolk from annexing more (or potentially all) of Princess Anne County.
1963: consolidation with City of Virginia Beach
In 1963, after approval of the voters of both the City of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, and with the approval of the Virginia General Assembly, the two political subdivisions were consolidated as a new, much larger independent city, retaining the better-known name of the Virginia Beach resort. About the same time, at similar risk of annexations, the remaining portion of Norfolk County took similar action, consolidating with the small independent City of South Norfolk and forming another new city. The City of Chesapeake became Virginia Beach's new neighbor to the southwest.
Most of the area formerly in Princess Anne County when it was formed in 1691 is now located within the independent city of Virginia Beach. The only exceptions are some territory of the northwestern portion which became part of the City of Norfolk through annexation and a land swap agreement between the two cities in 1988.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.