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class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Towns"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Towns</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Towns-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Powers_of_municipalities" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Powers_of_municipalities"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Powers of municipalities</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Powers_of_municipalities-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Ordinances" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ordinances"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3.1</span> <span>Ordinances</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ordinances-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Zoning" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Zoning"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3.2</span> <span>Zoning</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Zoning-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Eminent_domain_and_inverse_condemnation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eminent_domain_and_inverse_condemnation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3.3</span> <span>Eminent domain and inverse condemnation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eminent_domain_and_inverse_condemnation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-School_divisions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#School_divisions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>School divisions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-School_divisions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Special_districts,_agencies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Special_districts,_agencies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Special districts, agencies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Special_districts,_agencies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_political_subdivisions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_political_subdivisions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Other political subdivisions</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Other_political_subdivisions-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Other political subdivisions subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Other_political_subdivisions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Magisterial_districts,_election_districts,_and_wards" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Magisterial_districts,_election_districts,_and_wards"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Magisterial districts, election districts, and wards</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Magisterial_districts,_election_districts,_and_wards-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Boroughs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Boroughs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Boroughs</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Boroughs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Villages" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Villages"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.3</span> <span>Villages</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Villages-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Potential_political_subdivisions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Potential_political_subdivisions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.4</span> <span>Potential political subdivisions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Potential_political_subdivisions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Abolished_political_subdivisions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Abolished_political_subdivisions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.5</span> <span>Abolished political subdivisions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Abolished_political_subdivisions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Relationships,_regional_cooperation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Relationships,_regional_cooperation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Relationships, regional cooperation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Relationships,_regional_cooperation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Annexations,_alternatives" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Annexations,_alternatives"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Annexations, alternatives</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Annexations,_alternatives-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Annexations, alternatives subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Annexations,_alternatives-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Wave_of_consolidations,_town-to-city_conversions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Wave_of_consolidations,_town-to-city_conversions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Wave of consolidations, town-to-city conversions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Wave_of_consolidations,_town-to-city_conversions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Generating_animosity_between_neighboring_localities" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Generating_animosity_between_neighboring_localities"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.2</span> <span>Generating animosity between neighboring localities</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Generating_animosity_between_neighboring_localities-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Richmond:_a_center_of_annexation_efforts_and_conflicts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Richmond:_a_center_of_annexation_efforts_and_conflicts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.3</span> <span>Richmond: a center of annexation efforts and conflicts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Richmond:_a_center_of_annexation_efforts_and_conflicts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Methods_to_avoid_annexation_fears_and_conflicts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Methods_to_avoid_annexation_fears_and_conflicts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.4</span> <span>Methods to avoid annexation fears and conflicts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Methods_to_avoid_annexation_fears_and_conflicts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Legal_liability_of_subdivisions_and_their_employees" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Legal_liability_of_subdivisions_and_their_employees"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Legal liability of subdivisions and their employees</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Legal_liability_of_subdivisions_and_their_employees-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Legal liability of subdivisions and their employees subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Legal_liability_of_subdivisions_and_their_employees-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Contract_liability" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Contract_liability"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.1</span> <span>Contract liability</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Contract_liability-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tort_liability" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tort_liability"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.2</span> <span>Tort liability</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tort_liability-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Liability_of_subdivisions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Liability_of_subdivisions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.2.1</span> <span>Liability of subdivisions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Liability_of_subdivisions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Liability_of_employees" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Liability_of_employees"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.2.2</span> <span>Liability of employees</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Liability_of_employees-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " 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data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p> The <b>administrative divisions of Virginia</b> are the areas into which the <a href="/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Commonwealth of Virginia</a>, a <a href="/wiki/U.S._state" title="U.S. state">U.S. state</a>, is divided for political and administrative purposes. Some are <a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_the_United_States" title="Local government in the United States">local governments</a>; others are not. However, all local governments (counties, independent cities, and incorporated towns) are political subdivisions of the state. </p><p>According to the 2002 Census of Governments, Virginia ranked 43rd among the 50 states in the number of local governments, with 521 as of June 2002.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Counties">Counties</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Counties"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/List_of_counties_in_Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="List of counties in Virginia">List of counties in Virginia</a></div> <p>Virginia has 95 <a href="/wiki/County_(United_States)" title="County (United States)">counties</a>, covering all of the territory not within the independent cities. Under Virginia law, counties may be chartered, although most are not.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Their populations vary widely; in 2022 estimated populations ranged from 2,301 for <a href="/wiki/Highland_County,_Virginia" title="Highland County, Virginia">Highland County</a> to 1,138,331 for <a href="/wiki/Fairfax_County,_Virginia" title="Fairfax County, Virginia">Fairfax County</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-wwwcensusgov2_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wwwcensusgov2-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Since Virginia has no <a href="/wiki/Civil_township" title="Civil township">civil townships</a>, and since <a href="/wiki/Incorporated_town" title="Incorporated town">incorporated towns</a> cover such a small area of the state, the county is the <i>de facto</i> local government for much of the state, from rural areas to densely populated <a href="/wiki/Unincorporated_area" title="Unincorporated area">unincorporated communities</a> such as <a href="/wiki/Tysons_Corner,_Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="Tysons Corner, Virginia">Tysons Corner</a>. In fact, <a href="/wiki/Arlington_County,_Virginia" title="Arlington County, Virginia">Arlington County</a>, while geographically small and entirely urbanized, is completely unincorporated, making the county board the sole governing body in the entire county. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size noresize mw-ext-imagemap-desc-top-left" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Virginia counties and independent cities"><img alt="Virginia counties and independent cities" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Virginia_counties_and_cities.gif" decoding="async" width="849" height="413" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="849" data-file-height="413" usemap="#ImageMap_baaed01690928155" resource="/wiki/File:Virginia_counties_and_cities.gif" /></span><map name="ImageMap_baaed01690928155"><area href="/wiki/Alexandria,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,70,245,79" alt="Alexandria, Virginia" title="Alexandria, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Bristol,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,79,231,87" alt="Bristol, Virginia" title="Bristol, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Buena_Vista,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,87,249,94" alt="Buena Vista, Virginia" title="Buena Vista, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Charlottesville,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,94,256,103" alt="Charlottesville, Virginia" title="Charlottesville, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,103,250,111" alt="Chesapeake, Virginia" title="Chesapeake, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Colonial_Heights,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,111,262,119" alt="Colonial Heights, Virginia" title="Colonial Heights, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Covington,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,119,243,127" alt="Covington, Virginia" title="Covington, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Danville,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,127,237,135" alt="Danville, Virginia" title="Danville, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Emporia,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,135,233,143" alt="Emporia, Virginia" title="Emporia, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Fairfax,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,143,232,151" alt="Fairfax, Virginia" title="Fairfax, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Falls_Church,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,151,250,158" alt="Falls Church, Virginia" title="Falls Church, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Franklin,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,158,236,167" alt="Franklin, Virginia" title="Franklin, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Fredericksburg,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,167,258,175" alt="Fredericksburg, Virginia" title="Fredericksburg, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Galax,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,175,228,183" alt="Galax, Virginia" title="Galax, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Hampton,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,183,241,191" alt="Hampton, Virginia" title="Hampton, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Harrisonburg,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,191,254,199" alt="Harrisonburg, Virginia" title="Harrisonburg, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Hopewell,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,199,241,207" alt="Hopewell, Virginia" title="Hopewell, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Lexington,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,207,243,215" alt="Lexington, Virginia" title="Lexington, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Lynchburg,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="198,215,245,223" alt="Lynchburg, Virginia" title="Lynchburg, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Manassas,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,70,316,79" alt="Manassas, Virginia" title="Manassas, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Manassas_Park,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,79,333,87" alt="Manassas Park, Virginia" title="Manassas Park, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Martinsville,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,87,322,94" alt="Martinsville, Virginia" title="Martinsville, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,94,334,103" alt="Newport News, Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,103,308,111" alt="Norfolk, Virginia" title="Norfolk, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Norton,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,111,308,119" alt="Norton, Virginia" title="Norton, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Petersburg,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,119,320,127" alt="Petersburg, Virginia" title="Petersburg, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Poquoson,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,127,316,135" alt="Poquoson, Virginia" title="Poquoson, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Portsmouth,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,135,323,143" alt="Portsmouth, Virginia" title="Portsmouth, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Radford,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,143,310,151" alt="Radford, Virginia" title="Radford, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,151,317,158" alt="Richmond, Virginia" title="Richmond, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Roanoke,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,158,313,167" alt="Roanoke, Virginia" title="Roanoke, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Salem,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,167,305,175" alt="Salem, Virginia" title="Salem, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Staunton,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,175,314,183" alt="Staunton, Virginia" title="Staunton, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Suffolk,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,183,307,191" alt="Suffolk, Virginia" title="Suffolk, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,191,331,199" alt="Virginia Beach, Virginia" title="Virginia Beach, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Waynesboro,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,199,326,207" alt="Waynesboro, Virginia" title="Waynesboro, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,207,327,215" alt="Williamsburg, Virginia" title="Williamsburg, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Winchester,_Virginia" shape="rect" coords="272,215,322,223" alt="Winchester, Virginia" title="Winchester, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Arlington_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="687,88,640,88,639,96,632,103,640,108,668,103,687,103" alt="Arlington County, Virginia" title="Arlington County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Alexandria,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="688,115,645,116,635,113,636,108,656,106,687,103" alt="Alexandria, Virginia" title="Alexandria, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Fairfax_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="645,115,649,118,644,136,629,135,624,125,616,123,601,109,617,84,639,97,632,103,635,112" alt="Fairfax County, Virginia" title="Fairfax County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Prince_William_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="628,131,623,149,611,141,606,138,601,143,584,110,589,97,596,103,600,105,600,109,616,123,625,127,629,135" alt="Prince William County, Virginia" title="Prince William County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Loudoun_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="622,78,600,109,599,104,594,102,589,97,561,90,573,76,582,49,621,62" alt="Loudoun County, Virginia" title="Loudoun County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Frederick_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="526,35,561,35,555,62,545,88,531,91,528,80,521,81,517,89,508,85" alt="Frederick County, Virginia" title="Frederick County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Clarke_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="561,35,581,49,573,76,557,95,554,91,547,90,545,87" alt="Clarke County, Virginia" title="Clarke County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Stafford_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="622,149,606,138,593,151,594,162,596,167,598,166,601,169,606,169,610,172,616,178,620,176,620,166,624,165" alt="Stafford County, Virginia" title="Stafford County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Fauquier_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="601,142,592,153,592,158,582,158,576,145,573,144,570,139,571,134,568,128,563,127,558,125,556,115,547,108,548,105,552,105,553,101,562,91,589,97,584,111" alt="Fauquier County, Virginia" title="Fauquier County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Shenandoah_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="530,91,527,80,522,80,518,89,508,86,470,110,501,138,510,123,513,123,529,106,528,102,531,101" alt="Shenandoah County, Virginia" title="Shenandoah County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Warren_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="558,94,554,90,530,91,528,96,532,99,525,111,534,120,541,117,548,107,552,106,552,101" alt="Warren County, Virginia" title="Warren County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Rappahannock_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="546,108,542,113,542,117,531,123,529,127,530,129,528,135,538,147,545,146,564,126,558,124,555,115" alt="Rappahannock County, Virginia" title="Rappahannock County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Culpeper_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="592,159,583,157,574,144,571,140,571,135,568,129,567,126,564,127,545,146,539,146,548,156,551,161,549,164,551,170,555,170,568,165,567,162,579,163,579,161,587,166,591,163,595,164" alt="Culpeper County, Virginia" title="Culpeper County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/King_George_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="646,155,620,166,619,177,624,179,626,176,629,177,628,183,632,183,643,188,646,184,646,175,652,172" alt="King George County, Virginia" title="King George County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Page_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="524,112,512,124,509,122,497,148,515,158,520,147,526,143,529,136,531,129,529,124,535,120" alt="Page County, Virginia" title="Page County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Rockingham_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="498,149,501,139,469,110,446,150,476,172,480,172,491,183,499,177,509,168,515,158" alt="Rockingham County, Virginia" title="Rockingham County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Madison_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="530,135,525,138,524,144,519,146,520,162,528,175,533,176,539,181,552,172,551,161" alt="Madison County, Virginia" title="Madison County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Greene_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="518,152,509,168,499,175,526,186,534,176,528,175" alt="Greene County, Virginia" title="Greene County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Orange_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="587,165,581,162,579,165,569,162,558,167,557,171,550,171,538,181,534,175,527,186,542,193,552,190,564,193,584,169" alt="Orange County, Virginia" title="Orange County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Spotsylvania_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="617,178,610,172,607,174,602,169,591,164,586,165,565,192,574,195,592,207" alt="Spotsylvania County, Virginia" title="Spotsylvania County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Westmoreland_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="694,198,687,186,705,180,705,168,654,171,646,175,647,184,642,187,647,188,647,194,651,192,656,196,662,190,667,197,670,196,673,202,672,204,683,207,686,202" alt="Westmoreland County, Virginia" title="Westmoreland County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Northumberland_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="705,180,686,186,694,198,685,204,684,207,691,211,693,218,701,224,704,223,705,227,709,228,710,236,714,224,717,224,721,218,720,214,706,207,714,196,736,196,728,175" alt="Northumberland County, Virginia" title="Northumberland County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Accomack_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="821,193,728,206,720,214,731,254,757,253,762,253,762,262,789,264" alt="Accomack County, Virginia" title="Accomack County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Northampton_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="790,265,761,262,761,255,758,251,730,255,733,310,757,317" alt="Northampton County, Virginia" title="Northampton County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/York_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="732,284,711,285,699,291,683,274,676,277,675,280,678,289,694,294,704,307,709,305,707,300,714,299,721,304,731,300" alt="York County, Virginia" title="York County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Hampton,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="732,300,717,307,711,305,705,307,705,315,710,318,730,316" alt="Hampton, Virginia" title="Hampton, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="705,308,694,292,691,294,691,298,687,300,689,310,704,317" alt="Newport News, Virginia" title="Newport News, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/James_City_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="684,276,676,264,673,269,671,269,669,267,662,270,661,278,664,277,664,293,671,293,677,298,679,294,683,293,689,298,691,298,690,289,685,289,681,286,677,285,676,277" alt="James City County, Virginia" title="James City County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Richmond_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="697,222,692,219,691,212,681,205,674,204,670,197,667,197,661,190,655,194,659,206,662,206,665,212,672,218,673,217,683,226,689,225,690,223" alt="Richmond County, Virginia" title="Richmond County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Lancaster_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="721,251,716,240,709,236,709,229,705,227,703,224,697,222,691,221,683,227,696,246" alt="Lancaster County, Virginia" title="Lancaster County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Mathews_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="728,255,706,257,703,261,703,270,706,270,716,283,728,285" alt="Mathews County, Virginia" title="Mathews County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Middlesex_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="687,231,682,229,674,234,675,240,680,248,688,252,702,260,707,257,722,256,717,249,699,246,693,244" alt="Middlesex County, Virginia" title="Middlesex County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Essex_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="683,229,672,217,662,207,660,206,657,195,648,194,645,188,640,186,640,189,638,192,635,196,639,203,644,204,644,212,649,214,650,223,656,225,657,229,669,228,674,233" alt="Essex County, Virginia" title="Essex County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Caroline_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="640,188,628,183,628,179,617,175,593,207,596,212,600,212,608,218,611,218,616,231,621,229,628,218,628,215,635,218,635,210,638,208,644,211,644,204,640,203,636,196" alt="Caroline County, Virginia" title="Caroline County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/King_and_Queen_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="644,208,638,208,634,210,635,217,643,229,644,233,658,241,670,252,671,260,679,268,683,266,684,261,681,254,682,249,675,240,675,234,669,228,657,228,657,223,649,223,648,214" alt="King and Queen County, Virginia" title="King and Queen County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/King_William_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="670,258,673,256,669,252,662,243,658,240,656,240,646,236,642,228,637,219,629,217,628,221,620,230,625,237,631,238,634,241,641,244,642,248,652,254,656,252,656,254,662,255,665,260" alt="King William County, Virginia" title="King William County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Gloucester_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="704,260,694,253,682,249,682,258,685,262,683,266,679,268,699,291,712,286,703,276,707,272,707,270,703,270" alt="Gloucester County, Virginia" title="Gloucester County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/New_Kent_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="671,258,668,256,664,259,661,255,653,254,651,254,640,246,639,252,636,251,630,258,636,265,641,266,643,269,663,276,662,270,666,268,672,269,676,267" alt="New Kent County, Virginia" title="New Kent County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Hanover_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="642,248,640,244,634,244,634,242,630,241,630,239,625,238,621,230,615,230,611,218,607,218,600,211,596,211,589,206,579,237,587,240,596,239,600,243,602,243,605,240,606,240,609,242,612,242,615,250,624,256,631,257,635,252,639,252" alt="Hanover County, Virginia" title="Hanover County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Henrico_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="611,251,601,258,593,256,595,254,593,249,594,240,597,240,600,242,604,240,613,243,615,250,624,256,630,257,637,264,632,272,634,276,630,275,628,279,625,277,618,276,613,269,614,262,616,261,615,256" alt="Henrico County, Virginia" title="Henrico County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="612,252,604,253,598,258,604,260,607,267,613,268,616,261" alt="Richmond, Virginia" title="Richmond, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Highland_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="440,160,428,155,412,125,393,173,404,182,422,186,425,182,429,182" alt="Highland County, Virginia" title="Highland County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Augusta_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="449,153,430,181,425,183,420,190,429,188,425,199,456,222,465,217,469,220,477,215,481,204,489,198,490,183,480,174,475,173" alt="Augusta County, Virginia" title="Augusta County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Albemarle_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="541,191,501,177,492,182,489,193,491,197,483,202,499,239,503,239,506,235,514,235" alt="Albemarle County, Virginia" title="Albemarle County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Louisa_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="579,237,576,234,570,234,564,223,562,223,559,218,540,211,540,208,533,206,541,192,553,190,572,193,586,205" alt="Louisa County, Virginia" title="Louisa County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Charles_City_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="636,264,628,283,641,285,642,284,645,284,646,288,652,285,654,285,656,291,661,294,664,293,664,277,651,270,643,269" alt="Charles City County, Virginia" title="Charles City County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Fluvanna_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="555,217,532,206,515,232,519,235,539,243,541,238,546,236" alt="Fluvanna County, Virginia" title="Fluvanna County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Goochland_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="555,217,545,236,551,240,552,244,563,249,566,247,565,246,567,241,576,248,578,251,582,249,592,256,597,254,592,250,594,240,586,240,575,234,571,234,566,223,560,223" alt="Goochland County, Virginia" title="Goochland County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Chesterfield_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="593,257,581,267,579,271,573,274,572,279,576,282,579,282,579,287,584,291,587,287,592,287,593,290,597,290,602,295,612,295,619,292,619,286,629,283,629,280,625,279,624,276,617,276,616,273,612,271,613,268,605,267,603,260,599,259,597,256" alt="Chesterfield County, Virginia" title="Chesterfield County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Surry_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="655,290,652,292,650,296,646,298,638,307,645,310,654,313,658,325,681,313,684,303,683,297,679,302,672,296,663,294" alt="Surry County, Virginia" title="Surry County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Prince_George_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="656,291,652,284,645,288,644,284,629,283,622,285,617,293,623,299,617,301,618,320,639,306,652,296,652,294" alt="Prince George County, Virginia" title="Prince George County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Bath_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="392,173,371,213,376,214,379,211,384,212,389,221,402,221,406,225,411,222,426,198,424,196,430,189,424,189,421,191,422,187,414,184,404,182" alt="Bath County, Virginia" title="Bath County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Alleghany_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="374,212,351,237,352,248,362,251,365,254,375,247,376,248,382,244,390,238,394,230,407,235,414,224,410,222,406,225,402,221,392,222,389,219,386,213,379,212,377,214,372,213" alt="Alleghany County, Virginia" title="Alleghany County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Craig_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="376,246,369,250,366,254,357,251,331,267,338,285,349,280,355,283,360,279,366,278,375,270,377,265,381,259" alt="Craig County, Virginia" title="Craig County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Botetourt_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="408,234,395,230,376,249,381,259,372,274,393,286,397,283,398,279,396,275,408,266,415,272,424,261,418,257,417,254,408,247,409,244,407,239" alt="Botetourt County, Virginia" title="Botetourt County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Roanoke_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="371,274,366,278,359,279,355,283,355,287,361,296,362,309,367,309,372,303,378,303,380,307,383,307,389,298,392,297,392,286" alt="Roanoke County, Virginia" title="Roanoke County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Montgomery_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="354,283,348,281,321,295,331,307,326,311,327,323,346,320,361,308,361,297" alt="Montgomery County, Virginia" title="Montgomery County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Pulaski_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="320,295,293,308,296,316,310,336,330,324,326,311,323,307,330,303" alt="Pulaski County, Virginia" title="Pulaski County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Giles_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="333,267,284,267,287,289,300,305,338,287" alt="Giles County, Virginia" title="Giles County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Rockbridge_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="426,197,410,223,415,224,408,235,407,246,416,253,418,256,424,261,430,257,428,253,438,247,441,242,444,233,448,229,452,233,455,228,455,221,426,198" alt="Rockbridge County, Virginia" title="Rockbridge County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Bland_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="287,287,282,287,265,294,264,296,261,295,263,301,257,302,256,305,262,307,262,308,255,313,247,314,243,316,251,326,255,325,260,318,266,315,269,318,272,318,272,317,276,318,283,315,288,315,293,312,292,308,300,304,286,290" alt="Bland County, Virginia" title="Bland County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Tazewell_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="254,282,219,292,217,297,204,302,205,307,214,324,220,323,223,327,226,327,234,321,239,320,246,319,244,316,249,314,254,314,261,310,262,306,256,304,257,303,263,301,260,297,266,294,254,281" alt="Tazewell County, Virginia" title="Tazewell County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Buchanan_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="219,291,202,256,196,256,167,282,173,287,174,296,182,314,189,314,193,311,194,305,204,304,207,300,216,297" alt="Buchanan County, Virginia" title="Buchanan County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Dickenson_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="168,283,144,292,143,301,150,313,161,323,168,318,170,319,177,314,182,314,177,300,172,292,172,287" alt="Dickenson County, Virginia" title="Dickenson County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Wise_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="143,294,106,313,113,329,122,340,124,337,128,337,130,339,135,331,159,331,167,329,165,321,161,323,150,315,149,311,145,302" alt="Wise County, Virginia" title="Wise County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Lee_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="113,329,93,331,37,357,37,361,101,364,106,352,117,347,117,345,121,341,121,338" alt="Lee County, Virginia" title="Lee County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Scott_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="122,338,122,339,121,342,119,342,117,343,117,347,106,353,102,363,166,366,162,347,157,331,135,331,130,338,125,337" alt="Scott County, Virginia" title="Scott County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Russell_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="204,304,194,304,190,313,179,314,171,319,167,319,163,321,167,329,157,331,162,351,183,342,184,338,185,335,189,335,195,333,199,335,205,332,214,323,210,314" alt="Russell County, Virginia" title="Russell County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Washington_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="209,328,199,336,188,334,183,337,183,342,175,344,162,352,164,366,223,368,224,364,230,364,229,362,221,343,209,327" alt="Washington County, Virginia" title="Washington County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Wythe_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="294,312,276,318,274,316,271,318,266,314,259,319,251,325,262,348,275,348,281,344,309,335,293,314" alt="Wythe County, Virginia" title="Wythe County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Smyth_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="246,319,240,319,234,320,225,328,223,328,221,323,210,325,209,328,221,344,228,362,236,359,236,355,263,348,252,325" alt="Smyth County, Virginia" title="Smyth County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Grayson_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="282,344,278,345,277,348,262,348,236,355,236,358,229,362,227,364,223,364,223,368,301,373,282,343,278,345,277,348,261,348" alt="Grayson County, Virginia" title="Grayson County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Carroll_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="319,329,315,331,315,333,282,343,301,373,322,373,321,369,320,365,322,361,326,361,328,363,336,359,336,355,321,330,315,332,315,334" alt="Carroll County, Virginia" title="Carroll County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Floyd_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="367,309,361,309,353,313,347,320,328,323,320,329,334,355,336,352,342,352,342,345,346,343,346,341,357,336,361,328,364,327,367,321" alt="Floyd County, Virginia" title="Floyd County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Patrick_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="357,336,347,341,345,344,342,346,340,351,336,351,334,354,336,359,333,362,323,362,320,366,321,373,373,377,373,366,370,354,369,347,374,346,371,340" alt="Patrick County, Virginia" title="Patrick County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Henry_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="377,346,370,346,369,354,372,362,374,377,404,377,411,341,404,343,400,346,378,341" alt="Henry County, Virginia" title="Henry County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Franklin_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="398,297,391,297,389,298,385,304,384,304,382,305,383,306,379,306,378,303,372,303,365,307,368,313,369,320,365,327,362,327,356,337,371,341,376,347,378,342,400,347,404,342,411,342,415,318,411,309,407,306,405,305,403,301" alt="Franklin County, Virginia" title="Franklin County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Bedford_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="434,253,427,252,429,257,424,261,418,267,417,272,408,266,395,275,399,279,393,287,392,296,397,298,415,318,420,317,426,322,428,321,425,316,430,315,448,277,445,272,452,269,450,264,441,264,434,254" alt="Bedford County, Virginia" title="Bedford County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Pittsylvania_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="433,315,426,315,428,320,425,322,420,316,414,319,404,375,425,376,431,363,441,368,439,376,451,375,462,316,458,312,452,317,451,309,448,311,446,307,444,309,441,308,440,307,432,315" alt="Pittsylvania County, Virginia" title="Pittsylvania County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Campbell_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="467,272,461,279,454,283,446,282,430,315,432,315,439,307,445,310,448,308,451,310,452,315,460,312,470,319,472,317,480,321,486,298,484,298,483,295,477,294,477,291,474,288,469,273" alt="Campbell County, Virginia" title="Campbell County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Halifax_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="479,319,473,316,469,319,462,316,449,375,494,375,498,359,502,357,499,351,501,349,500,337,494,330,495,329,493,321,490,327,486,324,480,324,480,320,472,316,470,319,460,315" alt="Halifax County, Virginia" title="Halifax County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Charlotte_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="498,294,486,299,479,320,480,325,487,324,490,328,493,321,496,325,493,330,501,338,499,352,502,357,517,335,522,312,518,312,512,305,508,305,503,300,499,300" alt="Charlotte County, Virginia" title="Charlotte County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Nelson_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="484,202,479,206,477,213,474,214,470,221,463,217,455,221,455,228,462,232,464,239,471,243,480,261,487,260,486,249,495,249,497,242,501,245,503,243,500,238,498,238,499,234" alt="Nelson County, Virginia" title="Nelson County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Mecklenburg_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="517,334,503,356,498,359,494,375,558,376,560,347,548,345,531,339" alt="Mecklenburg County, Virginia" title="Mecklenburg County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Lunenburg_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="521,312,517,334,533,339,552,347,552,344,559,347,562,320,555,320,546,315,546,312,540,308,535,310,529,310,527,312" alt="Lunenburg County, Virginia" title="Lunenburg County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Prince_Edward_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="507,277,506,282,497,294,498,299,502,300,508,306,512,305,515,309,516,312,526,313,528,310,535,310,540,308,541,279,532,286,525,287,519,283,515,283" alt="Prince Edward County, Virginia" title="Prince Edward County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Amherst_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="456,229,452,232,449,229,444,233,438,244,428,252,433,254,440,264,449,265,463,278,463,275,481,262,471,243,464,240,463,232,459,232" alt="Amherst County, Virginia" title="Amherst County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Appomattox_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="487,260,481,260,468,273,476,290,477,294,481,294,485,299,488,299,489,296,494,296,498,294,506,283,508,278,504,277,502,274,498,272" alt="Appomattox County, Virginia" title="Appomattox County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Buckingham_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="521,236,516,231,514,235,505,235,502,242,498,242,494,250,487,249,486,259,498,272,503,275,504,278,507,277,514,284,519,283,538,249,538,242" alt="Buckingham County, Virginia" title="Buckingham County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Cumberland_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="547,236,544,236,539,243,538,248,518,283,526,287,531,287,540,280,542,276,542,273,548,269,551,261,554,246,551,245,552,241" alt="Cumberland County, Virginia" title="Cumberland County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Powhatan_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="568,242,564,244,566,249,553,246,548,270,552,271,561,265,570,267,574,273,579,272,580,267,594,257,588,254,584,253,583,251,577,251,577,249,574,248" alt="Powhatan County, Virginia" title="Powhatan County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Amelia_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="575,273,574,269,570,269,570,267,560,265,559,267,556,267,555,270,547,269,544,270,539,279,541,287,580,299,585,299,593,290,593,287,588,287,585,290,580,286,580,283,576,282,575,280,572,279" alt="Amelia County, Virginia" title="Amelia County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Nottoway_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="580,298,540,287,539,308,545,313,545,316,556,320,561,320,564,321,572,323,570,305,575,302,579,302" alt="Nottoway County, Virginia" title="Nottoway County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Dinwiddie_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="612,295,605,295,598,290,593,290,592,293,585,298,581,298,579,302,575,302,570,304,572,322,578,322,589,330,594,334,598,335,617,320,617,302,614,301,613,299" alt="Dinwiddie County, Virginia" title="Dinwiddie County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Brunswick_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="561,320,558,375,584,375,595,354,593,332,589,331,589,328,584,324,577,322,571,322,570,323" alt="Brunswick County, Virginia" title="Brunswick County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Greensville_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="594,334,594,354,584,373,622,373,623,366,617,361,612,360,610,358,616,353,610,352,611,336,608,338,604,338" alt="Greensville County, Virginia" title="Greensville County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Sussex_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="639,307,617,321,598,335,601,338,608,339,611,335,609,352,611,353,615,354,659,326,657,313,653,314,648,312,645,309" alt="Sussex County, Virginia" title="Sussex County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Southampton_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="667,320,609,357,612,361,617,360,621,365,621,372,663,372,662,370,663,365,666,361,660,358,658,353,661,351,666,343,671,330,668,325" alt="Southampton County, Virginia" title="Southampton County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Isle_of_Wight_County,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="684,302,681,312,667,320,669,329,667,341,662,351,664,361,697,329,700,328,703,327,699,319" alt="Isle of Wight County, Virginia" title="Isle of Wight County, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Suffolk,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="702,326,699,328,696,329,663,360,662,371,701,371,705,340,708,332,708,329" alt="Suffolk, Virginia" title="Suffolk, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Portsmouth,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="709,326,708,333,712,336,709,339,711,342,720,341,720,338,716,333,713,326" alt="Portsmouth, Virginia" title="Portsmouth, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="714,319,714,326,720,337,728,336,731,333,730,324" alt="Norfolk, Virginia" title="Norfolk, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="730,320,728,331,731,334,726,337,728,344,731,344,740,351,740,354,736,356,737,368,765,368,765,351,806,352,805,335,753,335,748,321" alt="Virginia Beach, Virginia" title="Virginia Beach, Virginia" /><area href="/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia" shape="poly" coords="709,333,705,339,701,370,737,370,736,355,741,353,740,350,733,344,729,344,726,337,720,337,720,341,712,342,710,339,711,336,711,334" alt="Chesapeake, Virginia" title="Chesapeake, Virginia" /></map><figcaption>Virginia counties and independent cities</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cities_and_towns">Cities and towns</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Cities and towns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Independent_cities">Independent cities</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Independent cities"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="List of cities in Virginia">List of cities in Virginia</a></div> <p>Since 1871, all incorporated cities in Virginia have classified as <b><a href="/wiki/Independent_city_(United_States)" title="Independent city (United States)">independent cities</a></b>. This is the most noteworthy aspect of Virginia local government relative to the other 49 states. Of the 41 independent cities in the United States,<sup id="cite_ref-USDoC2001_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-USDoC2001-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 38 are in Virginia. The three that are not in Virginia are <a href="/wiki/Baltimore" title="Baltimore">Baltimore, Maryland</a>; <a href="/wiki/St._Louis" title="St. Louis">St. Louis, Missouri</a>; and <a href="/wiki/Carson_City,_Nevada" title="Carson City, Nevada">Carson City, Nevada</a>. Cities in Virginia are thus similar to <a href="/wiki/Unitary_authority" title="Unitary authority">unitary authorities</a> in some countries. The <a href="/wiki/United_States_Census_Bureau" title="United States Census Bureau">United States Census Bureau</a> treats all cities in Virginia as <a href="/wiki/County-equivalent" class="mw-redirect" title="County-equivalent">county-equivalents</a>. </p><p>Other municipalities, even though they may be more populous than some existing independent cities, are incorporated as "<a href="/wiki/List_of_towns_in_Virginia" title="List of towns in Virginia">towns</a>", and as such form part of a county. Eight independent cities had 2010 populations of less than 10,000 with the smallest, Norton, having a population of only 3958.<sup id="cite_ref-VaPop_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VaPop-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On the other hand, six towns had populations of over 10,000.<sup id="cite_ref-VaPop_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VaPop-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An independent city in Virginia may serve as the <a href="/wiki/County_seat" title="County seat">county seat</a> of an adjacent county, even though the city by definition is not part of that county. An example is <a href="/wiki/Fairfax,_Virginia" title="Fairfax, Virginia">Fairfax</a>, which is an independent city as well as the seat of <a href="/wiki/Fairfax_County,_Virginia" title="Fairfax County, Virginia">Fairfax County</a>. </p><p>A city can be formed from any area with a defined <a href="/wiki/Boundary_(real_estate)" title="Boundary (real estate)">boundary</a> having a <a href="/wiki/Population" title="Population">population</a> of 5,000 or more. Cities have been formed in the following ways: </p> <ul><li>An area within a county, which may or may not have been a town previously, incorporates as a city and thus becomes independent. Examples are <a href="/wiki/Falls_Church,_Virginia" title="Falls Church, Virginia">Falls Church</a>, which separated from Fairfax County, and <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia" title="Virginia Beach, Virginia">Virginia Beach</a>, which separated from (and later merged with) <a href="/wiki/Princess_Anne_County,_Virginia" title="Princess Anne County, Virginia">Princess Anne County</a>.</li> <li>A county is converted into a city. An example was the former city of <a href="/wiki/Nansemond,_Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="Nansemond, Virginia">Nansemond</a>, which later merged with <a href="/wiki/Suffolk,_Virginia" title="Suffolk, Virginia">Suffolk</a>.</li> <li>Various local governments consolidate to form a city. An example is <a href="/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia" title="Chesapeake, Virginia">Chesapeake</a>, formed from the merger of the independent city of <a href="/wiki/South_Norfolk,_Virginia" title="South Norfolk, Virginia">South Norfolk</a> and <a href="/wiki/Norfolk_County,_Virginia" title="Norfolk County, Virginia">Norfolk County</a>.</li></ul> <p>Where the residents of an area of sufficient size wish to incorporate as a city, they must petition the Virginia state legislature to grant them a <a href="/wiki/Municipal_charter" title="Municipal charter">municipal charter</a>. </p> <div class="timeline-wrapper"><map name="timeline_31q0ynbvqc61bdmv934ud6s74macr8n"><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Portsmouth%2C_Virginia" coords="15,190,120,214" title="Portsmouth, Virginia" alt="Portsmouth, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Roanoke%2C_Virginia" coords="15,167,100,191" title="Roanoke, Virginia" alt="Roanoke, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Hampton%2C_Virginia" coords="15,145,100,169" title="Hampton, Virginia" alt="Hampton, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Alexandria%2C_Virginia" coords="15,122,120,146" title="Alexandria, Virginia" alt="Alexandria, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Newport_News%2C_Virginia" coords="15,100,133,124" title="Newport News, Virginia" alt="Newport News, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Richmond%2C_Virginia" coords="15,77,106,101" title="Richmond, Virginia" alt="Richmond, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Chesapeake%2C_Virginia" coords="15,55,120,79" title="Chesapeake, Virginia" alt="Chesapeake, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Norfolk%2C_Virginia" coords="15,32,100,56" title="Norfolk, Virginia" alt="Norfolk, Virginia" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Virginia_Beach%2C_Virginia" coords="15,10,146,34" title="Virginia Beach, Virginia" alt="Virginia Beach, Virginia" /></map><img usemap="#timeline_31q0ynbvqc61bdmv934ud6s74macr8n" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/31q0ynbvqc61bdmv934ud6s74macr8n.png" /></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Second_class_cities">Second class cities</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Second class cities"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Virginia's independent cities were classified by the <a href="/wiki/Virginia_General_Assembly" title="Virginia General Assembly">Virginia General Assembly</a> in 1871 as cities of the first class and cities of the second class.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Virginia Constitution of 1902 defined first-class cities as those having a population of 10,000 or more based upon the last census enumeration, while second-class cities were those that had a population of fewer than 10,000.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cities which previously had been granted a city charter, but did not have the requisite population, had their status <a href="/wiki/Grandfather_clause" title="Grandfather clause">grandfathered</a> in.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Second-class cities did not have a court of record and were required to share the cost of that court with their adjacent county and also shared the cost for three constitutional officers of that court — generally, the clerk, commonwealth's attorney and sheriff — and those shared officers stood for election in both the city and the county.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At least two constitutional officers — treasurer and commissioner of the revenue — were required to be elected solely by the residents of the city.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The distinction between first- and second-class cities was ended with the <a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_Virginia" title="Constitution of Virginia">Virginia Constitution of 1971</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> But cities that were classified as second-class cities at the time of the adoption of the 1971 Virginia Constitution were authorized to continue sharing their court system and three constitutional officers with the adjacent county.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of 2003<sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit">[update]</a></sup>, 14 of Virginia's independent cities retain these features.<sup id="cite_ref-2ndClass_6-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Towns">Towns</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Towns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/List_of_towns_in_Virginia" title="List of towns in Virginia">List of towns in Virginia</a></div> <p>Unlike Virginia's cities, and like municipalities in most other states, <b><a href="/wiki/Incorporated_towns" class="mw-redirect" title="Incorporated towns">incorporated towns</a></b> are municipalities that are within counties. Local government is thus divided between the town and the county. A town can be formed from any area with a defined boundary having a population of 1,000 or more. The method for forming towns is the same as for cities, petitioning the state legislature to grant a charter. As of 2014, there are 191 incorporated towns in Virginia. </p><p>Virginia also has <a href="/wiki/Unincorporated_area" title="Unincorporated area">unincorporated communities</a> which are also called towns colloquially. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Powers_of_municipalities">Powers of municipalities</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Powers of municipalities"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Local government in Virginia is subject to <a href="/wiki/Dillon%27s_Rule" class="mw-redirect" title="Dillon's Rule">Dillon's Rule</a>, which holds that cities and towns only have those powers expressly granted to them by Virginia or federal law, any power implied by those express powers, and those powers essential to the municipality's existence. </p><p>Under Virginia law, a municipality, whether a city or a town, must have a <a href="/wiki/Municipal_charter" title="Municipal charter">municipal charter</a>; that is, there are no <a href="/wiki/General-law_municipality" title="General-law municipality">general-law municipalities</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The charter is a form of contract, and the municipality has no power to act outside of its charter. With few exceptions, a municipality's powers are narrowly construed. </p><p>Typically, the powers extended to Virginia municipalities usually include the following: </p> <ul><li>Exercising the general <a href="/wiki/Police_power_(United_States_constitutional_law)" title="Police power (United States constitutional law)">police power</a> to enact and enforce rules and regulations to promote the health, safety, morals, or welfare of its citizens, provided that such rules may not be arbitrary, discriminatory, or unreasonable.</li> <li>Imposing <a href="/wiki/Tax" title="Tax">taxes</a> on its residents, usually in the form of a local <a href="/wiki/Property_tax" title="Property tax">property tax</a> or <a href="/wiki/Sales_tax" title="Sales tax">sales tax</a>.</li> <li>Borrowing money and issuing tax-exempt bonds, with the caveat that bonds generally may not be issued unless they have been authorized by either a ballot vote or a special hearing, and only for the purpose of making capital expenditures.</li> <li>Acquiring, possessing, and expending the revenue acquired through the above means.</li> <li>Hiring and firing personnel.</li> <li>Entering into <a href="/wiki/Contract" title="Contract">contracts</a> for the fulfillment of other functions within its powers. However, a contract between a municipality and another party to do something outside of its charter is <i><a href="/wiki/Ultra_vires" title="Ultra vires">ultra vires</a></i>, and therefore unenforceable as a nullity.</li> <li>Acquiring, possessing, and disposing of <a href="/wiki/Real_property" title="Real property">real property</a>, including through the exercise of the power of <a href="/wiki/Eminent_domain" title="Eminent domain">eminent domain</a>.</li> <li>Acquiring, possessing, and disposing of <a href="/wiki/Personal_property" title="Personal property">personal property</a>.</li> <li>Initiating <a href="/wiki/Lawsuit" title="Lawsuit">lawsuits</a>.</li></ul> <p>State law prohibits municipalities from having an amount of outstanding debt greater than 10% of the value of the taxable real estate within that municipality, with a few exceptions made for certain kinds of bonds, particularly those used to fund projects expected to make enough money to repay the bonds within a set time frame. Municipalities are also prohibited from enacting <a href="/wiki/Income_tax" title="Income tax">income taxes</a>, but they may impose licensing fees on specific occupations, and the Virginia Supreme Court has held that such licensing fees can be adjusted upwards or downwards to reflect the level of income of a particular business. </p><p>Both cities and towns in Virginia have certain functions that are considered "public" functions - such as having police apprehend criminals, or educating children - and others that are considered "private" functions - such as holding a town fair or landscaping around sidewalks on private land. The legal significance of this distinction lies in the liability of the municipality to be sued by someone injured by its employees. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Ordinances">Ordinances</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Ordinances"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>One of the powers granted by the state to political subdivisions is the power to enact local regulations regarding matters covered by the local charter, called ordinances. In order to pass an ordinance, a locality must provide published notice of the proposed ordinance prior to its enactment, including the text of the ordinance or a reasonable summary thereof, and particularly directed to the attention of residents likely to be affected by it and advising such residents of their ability to object to the proposal. The ordinance must be debated in a public meeting and passed by a majority vote of the governing body of that subdivision. </p><p>Some limitations exist on the power to enact ordinances. The <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States" title="Supreme Court of the United States">Supreme Court of the United States</a> has held that the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Constitution" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Constitution">United States Constitution</a> requires that laws, including municipal ordinances, may not be arbitrary or discriminatory, and may not be <a href="/wiki/Void_for_vagueness" class="mw-redirect" title="Void for vagueness">unreasonably vague</a>, so that a resident may be reasonably certain that their conduct conforms to the law. Furthermore, local governments cannot delegate the power to enact ordinances to other bodies. However, they may establish fixed and certain standards for carrying out certain activities (such as home building or operating restaurants), and then delegate to subordinate bodies the power to make rules governing how residents can demonstrate compliance with these standards. </p><p>A resident who wishes to challenge the validity of an ordinance need not wait until it has been enforced against them (although it may be challenged at that time). Instead, a resident may bring an action for a <a href="/wiki/Declaratory_judgment" title="Declaratory judgment">declaratory judgment</a> alleging that the ordinance is void because it was not properly noticed, goes beyond the county charter, is arbitrary, discriminatory, or unreasonably vague, or that it is preempted by state or federal law. An ordinance will be deemed preempted if it addresses an activity for which the state has prohibited local regulation altogether, or where it is inconsistent with state law. An ordinance may not permit an activity that is expressly prohibited by state law or prohibits an activity that is expressly permitted by state law. However, if some state regulation exists as to an activity, political subdivisions may impose further regulations on that activity so long as it is possible for a resident to comply with both sets of regulations. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Zoning">Zoning</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Zoning"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Every municipality is required to maintain a publicly accessible <a href="/wiki/Zoning" title="Zoning">zoning</a> map indicating what parcels of property within the municipality may be used for what purpose. This map must be updated at least every five years. Every municipality is required by state law to have a zoning administrator who oversees the local government's regulatory scheme and is generally the party responsible for bringing legal actions against zoning violators. Each municipality is also required to have a <a href="/wiki/Board_of_zoning_appeals" class="mw-redirect" title="Board of zoning appeals">board of zoning appeals</a> empowered to grant <a href="/wiki/Variance" title="Variance">variances</a> and settle <a href="/wiki/Boundary_(real_estate)" title="Boundary (real estate)">boundary</a> disputes. The standard for granting of variances is that the party requesting the variance faces an unnecessary hardship unique to that party, but that adjacent property will not suffer a substantial detriment, and the character of the district will not be changed. The board may also grant <a href="/wiki/Special_use_permit" class="mw-redirect" title="Special use permit">special use permits</a> allowing a property owner to use a property for a purpose that is neither specifically permitted nor specifically prohibited within a particular zoning area, and such permits may be conditioned on the property owner making concessions such as improving roads leading into the property, providing street lighting in the area, or setting aside a certain amount of land for public use. The board of zoning appeals may be appealed to the local <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Circuit_Court" title="Virginia Circuit Court">Circuit Court</a> if such an appeal is filed within 30 days of the zoning board decision, and from there decisions may be appealed directly to the <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Supreme_Court" class="mw-redirect" title="Virginia Supreme Court">Virginia Supreme Court</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Eminent_domain_and_inverse_condemnation">Eminent domain and inverse condemnation</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Eminent domain and inverse condemnation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A political subdivision may exercise <a href="/wiki/Eminent_domain" title="Eminent domain">eminent domain</a> against property in its jurisdiction, provided that it comports with the requirements set forth by Virginia law. All localities are empowered by their charters to acquire property through condemnation. In order to effect such a seizure of property, the local government must demonstrate that a public need for the property exists, which must be declared in a resolution or ordinance passed through the usual process for passing ordinances. The locality must make a good-faith offer to purchase the land at a value appraised by the city. </p><p>Following the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Court" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Supreme Court">United States Supreme Court</a> decision in <i><a href="/wiki/Kelo_v._City_of_New_London" title="Kelo v. City of New London">Kelo v. City of New London</a></i>, the Virginia legislature enacted limitations on the purposes for which property could be taken, specifying that public uses include government offices, utilities, and prevention of <a href="/wiki/Urban_blight" class="mw-redirect" title="Urban blight">urban blight</a>, and excluding the condemnation of property for the purpose of giving it to private parties. </p><p>The government, in asserting eminent domain, must pay the owner the <a href="/wiki/Fair_market_value" title="Fair market value">fair market value</a> of that land. If the government takes only part of the property, it must pay both the value of the land that was taken, plus any decrease in the market value of the remaining portion (called the "residue"). A person who contests the value assessed for such a taking is entitled to empanel a committee of jurors to determine the fair value. A resident can also seek compensation for damage to the value of real property arising out of government activity through an action for inverse condemnation. The immunity to suit generally enjoyed by local governments does not apply to such actions, pursuant to the <a href="/wiki/Fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution">Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution</a> as incorporated by the Supreme Court. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="School_divisions">School divisions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: School divisions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/List_of_school_divisions_in_Virginia" title="List of school divisions in Virginia">List of school divisions in Virginia</a></div> <p>A <b><a href="/wiki/School_division" title="School division">school division</a></b> is the area under a jurisdiction of a <a href="/wiki/School_board" class="mw-redirect" title="School board">school board</a>. Unlike <a href="/wiki/School_district" title="School district">school districts</a> in most other states, Virginia's school divisions are not completely separate units of local government. This is because no school division has taxing authority. Instead, they are dependent upon their associated city, town, or county governments for at least a portion of their funding. Additional funds may come directly to a school division, typically from state and federal sources. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Special_districts,_agencies"><span id="Special_districts.2C_agencies"></span>Special districts, agencies</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Special districts, agencies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>While <a href="/wiki/Special-purpose_district" class="mw-redirect" title="Special-purpose district">special districts</a> exist in Virginia, they are generally less important than in other states. As of June 2012, Virginia had 193 special-district governments, as well as numerous special agencies, areas, and districts that were subordinate to the state or to a county, city, or town government. </p><p>Several examples of the many special districts and agencies created as political subdivisions for specific purposes are: </p> <ul><li>Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority, formed in 1955, which sold toll revenue bonds, built and operated the <a href="/wiki/Richmond-Petersburg_Turnpike" class="mw-redirect" title="Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike">Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike</a>, and collected tolls until 1973, when its duties were assumed by another state agency by an Act of the General Assembly.</li> <li>Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District which built and operates the <a href="/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge-Tunnel" class="mw-redirect" title="Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel">Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel</a>, a 23-mile-long (37 km) <a href="/wiki/Bridge-tunnel" class="mw-redirect" title="Bridge-tunnel">bridge-tunnel</a> facility which crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, entirely located within Virginia.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Central_Virginia_Waste_Management_Authority" title="Central Virginia Waste Management Authority">Central Virginia Waste Management Authority</a> (CVWMA), formed in 1990 to coordinate recycling and waste management programs for thirteen localities in central Virginia.</li> <li>Airport authorities, such as the Peninsula Airport Commission, which owns and operates the <a href="/wiki/Newport_News/Williamsburg_International_Airport" title="Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport">Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport</a> in Newport News.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/VHDA" class="mw-redirect" title="VHDA">Virginia Housing Development Authority</a> (VHDA), a self-supporting, not-for-profit organization created by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1972, to help Virginians attain quality, affordable housing.</li></ul> <p>Although the <a href="/wiki/Washington_Metropolitan_Area_Transit_Authority" title="Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority">Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority</a> serves suburbs in Virginia (and Maryland), the Census Bureau counts it as a <a href="/wiki/District_of_Columbia" class="mw-redirect" title="District of Columbia">District of Columbia</a> special district for statistical purposes. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_political_subdivisions">Other political subdivisions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Other political subdivisions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Magisterial_districts,_election_districts,_and_wards"><span id="Magisterial_districts.2C_election_districts.2C_and_wards"></span>Magisterial districts, election districts, and wards</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Magisterial districts, election districts, and wards"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/List_of_magisterial_districts_in_Virginia" title="List of magisterial districts in Virginia">List of magisterial districts in Virginia</a></div> <p><b>Magisterial districts, election districts, and wards</b> are <a href="/wiki/Minor_civil_division" title="Minor civil division">minor civil divisions</a> established for elections, administrative functions, or both. They are not separate units of local government. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Boroughs">Boroughs</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Boroughs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Under <a href="/wiki/Code_of_Virginia" title="Code of Virginia">Code of Virginia</a> § 15.2-3534,<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> when multiple local governments consolidate to form a consolidated city, the consolidated city may be divided into geographical subdivisions called "<a href="/wiki/Borough_(United_States)" title="Borough (United States)">boroughs</a>", which may be the same as the existing (i) cities, (ii) counties, or (iii) portions of such counties. Those boroughs are not separate local governments. </p><p>For example, <a href="/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia" title="Chesapeake, Virginia">Chesapeake</a> is divided into six boroughs, one corresponding to the former city of <a href="/wiki/South_Norfolk,_Virginia" title="South Norfolk, Virginia">South Norfolk</a> and one corresponding to each of the five magisterial districts of the former <a href="/wiki/Norfolk_County,_Virginia" title="Norfolk County, Virginia">Norfolk County</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Suffolk,_Virginia" title="Suffolk, Virginia">Suffolk</a> is divided into seven boroughs, one corresponding to the former city of Suffolk and one corresponding to each of the six magisterial districts of the former <a href="/wiki/Nansemond_County,_Virginia" title="Nansemond County, Virginia">Nansemond County</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia" title="Virginia Beach, Virginia">Virginia Beach</a>, the seven boroughs were abolished effective July 1, 1998.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Villages">Villages</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Villages"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In Virginia, villages are defined as tracts of land with fixed boundaries for the purpose of preventing the free roaming of animals. Villages are defined as having at least 300 residents and are established by petition to the circuit court of the county in which they are located.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Potential_political_subdivisions">Potential political subdivisions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Potential political subdivisions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>State statute provides that when multiple local governments consolidate, existing political subdivisions may continue in existence as <b>townships</b> (not to be confused with <a href="/wiki/Civil_township" title="Civil township">civil townships</a> in some states), <b>tier-cities, or shires</b>. However, none have yet been created. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Abolished_political_subdivisions">Abolished political subdivisions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Abolished political subdivisions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The 1870 Constitution of Virginia required the division of counties into townships, but an amendment in 1874 converted those townships into magisterial districts.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Relationships,_regional_cooperation"><span id="Relationships.2C_regional_cooperation"></span>Relationships, regional cooperation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Relationships, regional cooperation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Various political subdivisions may do business with each other and the state and federal government in a manner similar to private individuals, limited partnerships, and corporations, with the notable exception that some restrictions may apply with regards to public information, competitive bidding, personal use of government-owned property, vehicles, resources, etc. </p><p>In recent years, Virginia has tried to encourage regional cooperation among localities. Special favorable funding for regional jails has been one area were incentives have encouraged such efforts. However, Virginia's annexation laws and past experiences have long been felt by many leaders to be a barrier to regional cooperation among localities. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Annexations,_alternatives"><span id="Annexations.2C_alternatives"></span>Annexations, alternatives</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Annexations, alternatives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Expansion of borders through annexation suits against neighboring counties and incorporated towns has long been a method available to the independent cities to grow, with incorporated towns also able to take such actions against counties. Since the years of the <a href="/wiki/Byrd_Organization" class="mw-redirect" title="Byrd Organization">Byrd Organization</a>, state funding formulas have tended to favor rural areas, and growth through annexation was seen as a countermeasure financially by many cities and towns. However, such actions are often controversial and in some cases, have resulted in protracted and costly legal proceedings. They also often leave residents of an annexed area feeling that they had no say in the process. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Wave_of_consolidations,_town-to-city_conversions"><span id="Wave_of_consolidations.2C_town-to-city_conversions"></span>Wave of consolidations, town-to-city conversions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Wave of consolidations, town-to-city conversions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Partially because independent cities are immune from annexation by adjacent localities, an action much-feared by those in many communities, in the mid 20th century, a wave of consolidations of local governments led to almost the entire southeastern portion of Virginia progressively becoming a web of adjoining independent cities. Many incorporated (formally constituted) localities, including counties, cities, and towns, some over 250 years old, became legally extinct between 1952 and 1975. A law passed by the <a href="/wiki/Virginia_General_Assembly" title="Virginia General Assembly">General Assembly</a> in 1960 allowed any city and adjacent county to consolidate by mutual agreement. Of the 10 current independent cities of the <a href="/wiki/Hampton_Roads" title="Hampton Roads">Hampton Roads</a> region, fully 8 of them adjoin others. In the region, only the cities of <a href="/wiki/Franklin,_Virginia" title="Franklin, Virginia">Franklin</a> and <a href="/wiki/Williamsburg,_Virginia" title="Williamsburg, Virginia">Williamsburg</a> are surrounded by traditional counties. </p><p>This transition left the region with some oddities, such as the entire Virginia portion of the <a href="/wiki/Great_Dismal_Swamp" title="Great Dismal Swamp">Great Dismal Swamp</a> being located entirely within cities (<a href="/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia" title="Chesapeake, Virginia">Chesapeake</a> and <a href="/wiki/Suffolk,_Virginia" title="Suffolk, Virginia">Suffolk</a>) and the rise of <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia" title="Virginia Beach, Virginia">Virginia Beach</a> to the most populous city in the state (usurping <a href="/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia" title="Norfolk, Virginia">Norfolk</a>), even though it lacks the urban characteristics typically associated with large cities. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Generating_animosity_between_neighboring_localities">Generating animosity between neighboring localities</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Generating animosity between neighboring localities"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>While the mass conversion to independent cities such as occurred in the Hampton Roads region did not repeat elsewhere in the state, city-county annexations have generally created more conflicts and been a barrier to future regional cooperation than those of towns and counties. This may be because the individuals of the latter groups realize from the outset that they will be required to continue to work together afterward (since all towns are within counties). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Richmond:_a_center_of_annexation_efforts_and_conflicts">Richmond: a center of annexation efforts and conflicts</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Richmond: a center of annexation efforts and conflicts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The City of Richmond grew by annexations, contested and not, of portions of both <a href="/wiki/Henrico_County,_Virginia" title="Henrico County, Virginia">Henrico</a> and <a href="/wiki/Chesterfield_County,_Virginia" title="Chesterfield County, Virginia">Chesterfield counties</a> throughout its history. </p><p>In 1940, the City of Richmond annexed 10 square miles (26 km<sup>2</sup>) of Henrico County. In the two decades that followed, the little bedroom community known as Henrico County began to shape its own identity. When the City of Richmond decided once again that they needed to expand, things had changed. </p><p>In 1959, there were just over 107,000 residents in Henrico County. By 1965 that number had increased by nearly 40,000. Nationwide, urban flight was on the rise as people flocked to neighboring counties. As a result, Virginia's cities began to look across their borders for much needed tax relief. </p><p>In the late 1950s and early 60s, annexing just a small portion of a neighboring county became largely a thing of the past. In order to meet the needs of their growing populations, some cities and counties throughout Virginia began to merge entirely (through the consolidation process enabled by the 1960 Virginia General Assembly). </p><p>In 1959, local business owners in the City of Richmond reacted to the statewide trend and jump-started the process toward a consolidation agreement with Henrico County. In attempt to reach a mutual agreement, each locality appointed three negotiators to represent its interests. Once a plan was agreed upon, the citizens of both Richmond and Henrico were asked to approve the merger in a vote, held on December 12, 1961. The merger failed at the polls, and just two weeks later, on December 27, 1961, Richmond City Council filed suit to annex 142 square miles (370 km<sup>2</sup>) of Henrico County. </p><p>It would take more than three years for the special annexation court to announce its decision. Finally, on April 27, 1964, the court ruled in favor of the City of Richmond, but it only awarded the city 17 square miles (44 km<sup>2</sup>) of the 142 square miles (370 km<sup>2</sup>) that it had requested. The City of Richmond then declined to accept and pay for the land that was awarded in the annexation. </p><p>During the years that followed, Henrico County was granted immunity from the threat of annexation and consolidation, a State law that is still in force today. </p><p>More problems and hard feelings arose from a Richmond-Chesterfield case which began in 1965; they were later used as prime examples of obstacles to regional cooperation as the state legislators have considered changes. The resulting 1970 annexation was exceptionally controversial and took more than seven years to be resolved in court. </p><p>In that case, while the annexation lawsuit filed by Richmond in 1965 was being heard, with the city seeking 51 square miles (132 km<sup>2</sup>) of the county, the leaders of the two jurisdictions, Irvin G. Horner, the chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, and Phil J. Bagley, Jr., the mayor of the <a href="/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia" title="Richmond, Virginia">City of Richmond</a>, met privately and agreed to this compromise. </p><p>In May 1969, the Horner-Bagley Compromise, as it came to be called, was approved by the county and city and incorporated in a court decree of July 12, 1969. This effectively shut out a number of third parties attempting to block the annexation, who felt they had been excluded from the process. An example among these was a small commuter bus company holding an operating rights in the county, whereas the city granted its bus franchise to a competitor. <a href="/wiki/Taxicab" class="mw-redirect" title="Taxicab">Taxicab</a> operators were similarly impacted. More significantly, 47,000 people found themselves living in a different jurisdiction without a public referendum. </p><p>The Chesterfield-Richmond annexation agreement resulted in Richmond receiving 23 square miles (60 km<sup>2</sup>) of the county, as well as fire stations, parks, and other infrastructure such as water and sewer lines. Under the agreement, approximately a dozen <a href="/wiki/Public_school_(government_funded)" class="mw-redirect" title="Public school (government funded)">public schools</a>, support buildings, and future school sites were conveyed to the City of Richmond to be operated by <a href="/wiki/Richmond_Public_Schools" title="Richmond Public Schools">Richmond Public Schools</a>. Compounding the unhappiness of many of the residents of the annexed area was the fact that Richmond Public Schools was already involved in a <a href="/wiki/Racial_segregation" title="Racial segregation">desegregation</a> lawsuit in the <a href="/wiki/U.S._federal_courts" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. federal courts">U.S. Federal Courts</a>. The schools involved in the annexed area included the <a href="/wiki/Huguenot_High_School" title="Huguenot High School">Huguenot High School</a>, the Fred D. Thompson Middle School, the Elkhardt Middle School, and eight elementary schools. In 1971, these schools were included in a court-ordered <a href="/wiki/Desegregation_busing" title="Desegregation busing">desegregation busing</a> program, which was finally ceased sometime during the 1990s. </p><p>Many of the 47,000 residents who lived in the annexed area of the compromise of 1970 had been opposed to the annexation. They fought unsuccessfully for over seven years in the courts to have the annexation reversed, and ruefully called it the 23 square miles (60 km<sup>2</sup>) zone "Occupied Chesterfield." </p><p>At the same time, black plaintiffs who had lived in the city prior to the annexation claimed a violation of the <a href="/wiki/National_Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965" class="mw-redirect" title="National Voting Rights Act of 1965">National Voting Rights Act of 1965</a>. The claim was that their voting power had been deliberately diminished by the attempts of city leaders to add white voters and dilute to black vote. The pre-annexation population of the city as of 1970 was 202,359, of which 104,207 or 52% were black citizens. The annexation added to the city 47,262 people, of whom 1,557 were black and 45,705 were non-black. The post-annexation population of the city was therefore 249,621, of which 105,764 or 42% were black. The plaintiffs prevailed in court by creation of a ward system which guaranteed black voters would be represented fairly in city government.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Methods_to_avoid_annexation_fears_and_conflicts">Methods to avoid annexation fears and conflicts</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Methods to avoid annexation fears and conflicts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Since then, the State has taken several actions to avoid such conflicts. An agency of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Commission on Local Government promotes and preserves the viability of Virginia's local governments by fostering positive intergovernmental relations. </p><p>In some instances, neighboring localities have entered into agreements, such as a revenue sharing agreement between the independent city of <a href="/wiki/Charlottesville,_Virginia" title="Charlottesville, Virginia">Charlottesville</a> and surrounding <a href="/wiki/Albemarle_County,_Virginia" title="Albemarle County, Virginia">Albemarle County</a>. Beginning in 1982, in return for receiving a portion of annual county tax revenues, the city agreed to not attempt to annex portions of the county. The agency's website lists many such deals between municipal neighbors. </p><p>Additionally, in 1979, the <a href="/wiki/Virginia_General_Assembly" title="Virginia General Assembly">Virginia General Assembly</a> adopted legislation that allowed any county meeting certain population and density standards to petition the local circuit court to declare the county permanently immune from annexation by any city with over 100,000 in population. In 1981, Chesterfield County and several other counties in the state subsequently sought and received such immunity from further annexation by Richmond. </p><p>In 1987, the General Assembly, recognizing the controversy surrounding annexations in Virginia, placed a moratorium on future annexations of any county by any city. Should this moratorium expire, Chesterfield County would remain immune from annexation by Richmond because of the 1981 grant of immunity, but not from annexation by its other adjoining cities.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Legal_liability_of_subdivisions_and_their_employees">Legal liability of subdivisions and their employees</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Legal liability of subdivisions and their employees"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Contract_liability">Contract liability</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Contract liability"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>As noted above, a local government may only enter into a contract that is within the scope of its charter. A contract to do something beyond its power is void and unenforceable, and in fact the local government will be prohibited from performing its obligations under such a contract. The private party who performs under such a contract will have no means of recovery, even under equitable theories such as <a href="/wiki/Equitable_estoppel" class="mw-redirect" title="Equitable estoppel">equitable estoppel</a>, <a href="/wiki/Implied_contract" class="mw-redirect" title="Implied contract">implied contract</a>, <a href="/wiki/Quantum_meruit" title="Quantum meruit">quantum meruit</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Unjust_enrichment" class="mw-redirect" title="Unjust enrichment">unjust enrichment</a>. This limitation also applies where the subject of the contract is permissible under the charter, but the manner in which the contract is made or awarded violates proscriptions set forth in the charter. For example, if the charter requires that contracts for provision of a public service be awarded to the lowest bidder in an open bidding process, and such a process is not used to award the contract, then the contract itself is void and the private party to the contract will have no recourse to enforce the local government's obligations thereunder. </p><p>Individual employees of a local government, including the highest-level executives of that body, have no power to bind the local government to a contract that is void due to one of the above scenarios. This is because the limitations on the power of the local government to contract are a matter of public record. As a general rule, the individual employee is immune from being sued for inadvertently entering into a void contract with a private party. However, this immunity does not extend to the intentional tort of <a href="/wiki/Fraud" title="Fraud">fraud</a>. If a local government employee <i>knowingly</i> and <i>intentionally</i> made a false representation to a third party that the local government would be bound to a particular contract, that employee could be sued for damages suffered by the third party's reliance on that false promise. </p><p>Where a local government makes a contract that is within its power, and then fails to perform its obligations under the contract, it may be sued in the same manner as any other entity and may raise all defenses typically available in a contract action. However, if it is a <i>county</i> government that is alleged to be in breach, Virginia law imposes several additional steps before a lawsuit may be brought. Specifically, the claim must be formally presented to the county's governing body for an allowance, and it is only after that governing body has disallowed the claim that its decision may be appealed to the <a href="/wiki/Virginia_Circuit_Court" title="Virginia Circuit Court">Virginia Circuit Court</a>. The claim must be brought within thirty days of the disallowance if the claimant is present when the governing body so decides; if the claimant is not present, the claim must be brought within thirty days of the claimant receiving notice of the disallowance. In either case, the appeal must specify that the required presentment was made. This rule also applies to equitable claims for monetary relief. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tort_liability">Tort liability</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Tort liability"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Liability_of_subdivisions">Liability of subdivisions</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Liability of subdivisions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The state of Virginia has enacted the Virginia Tort Claims Act, which waives the <a href="/wiki/Sovereign_immunity" title="Sovereign immunity">sovereign immunity</a> of the state with respect to actions brought under certain limitations. However, by the terms of the statute itself, this waiver does not extend to political subdivisions. Thus, counties, which are considered to be arms of the state, still carry the state's traditional complete immunity from <a href="/wiki/Tort" title="Tort">tort</a> lawsuits. Cities and towns are not considered arms of the state and are only held to be immune from such lawsuits if the city or town was exercising a public or "governmental" function. Such functions have been held to include police and firefighting activities, and education. However, a city or town may be sued when carrying out a "proprietary" function, such as providing gas, electricity, water, <a href="/wiki/Sewage_collection_and_disposal" class="mw-redirect" title="Sewage collection and disposal">sewage collection and disposal</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Storm_drain" title="Storm drain">storm drainage</a>. With regards to building and maintaining of roads and laying out roads is considered to be a governmental function, but cleaning and maintaining roads and public ways that have already been laid out is deemed to be proprietary. An activity that combines governmental and proprietary functions is clothed in the protection of governmental functions. A suit cannot be brought based on an unsafe condition of the street unless the municipality is first given reasonable notice and allowed a reasonable amount of time to remedy it. The operation of public recreational facilities is stated by the state statute to fall within the immunity of governmental function. </p><p>Virginia does not recognize the doctrine of <i><a href="/wiki/Res_ipsa_loquitur" title="Res ipsa loquitur">res ipsa loquitur</a></i> when applied against local governments providing such services, so the civil plaintiff is required to prove that the local government is responsible for the condition that led to damage or injury. Political subdivisions may waive their sovereign immunity, and wherever and whenever a local government purchases <a href="/wiki/Insurance" title="Insurance">insurance</a> for its vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and buses, that local government will be ruled to have waived its sovereign immunity up to the amount of the policy. A municipality can be sued for <a href="/wiki/Nuisance" title="Nuisance">nuisances</a> - the negligent creation of a hazardous situation - even if the nuisance was created in the course of carrying out a governmental function. </p><p>In addition to the aforementioned limitations, a plaintiff seeking to sue a city or county in tort must provide the subdivision with notice, said notice including the nature of the claim, and the date and location of the injury, within six months after the claim arises. This notice must be provided to one of a set list of people set forth in state statute, these being the subdivision's <a href="/wiki/Lawyer" title="Lawyer">attorney</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mayor" title="Mayor">mayor</a>, or chief executive. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Liability_of_employees">Liability of employees</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Liability of employees"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Employees of a municipality who are performing governmental functions generally share in the immunity of the municipality itself, although this does not protect them from being sued for <a href="/wiki/Gross_negligence" title="Gross negligence">gross negligence</a> (as opposed to "ordinary" negligence) or for <a href="/wiki/Intentional_tort" title="Intentional tort">intentional torts</a>. High-level employees, such as mayors, city managers, and judges, are immune for decisions made within the scope of their employment. The immunity of lower level employees is determined by examining four factors set forth by the Virginia Supreme Court in <i>James v. Jane</i>:<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ol><li>The nature of the function performed by the employee</li> <li>The extent of the state's interest and involvement in the function</li> <li>The degree of control and direction exercised by the state over the employee</li> <li>Whether the act complained of involved the use of judgment and discretion.</li></ol> <p>Where an employee is grossly negligent, or engages in intentional torts, the employee may be held liable, but the locality remains immune so long as the employee was providing a governmental function. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Independent_contractor" class="mw-redirect" title="Independent contractor">Independent contractors</a> are not considered employees and are therefore not subject to any kind of immunity. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/gc021x2.pdf">2002 Census of Governments, Individual State Descriptions</a> (<a href="/wiki/PDF" title="PDF">PDF</a>)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ballotpedia.org/General_law_local_government#Total_charter_counties_by_state">Total charter counties by state</a>, from <a href="/wiki/Ballotpedia" title="Ballotpedia">Ballotpedia</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-wwwcensusgov2-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-wwwcensusgov2_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://data.census.gov/cedsci/">"U.S. Census 2022 population estimates"</a>. <a href="/wiki/United_States_Census_Bureau" title="United States Census Bureau">United States Census Bureau</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 5,</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=U.S.+Census+2022+population+estimates&rft.pub=United+States+Census+Bureau&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.census.gov%2Fcedsci%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAdministrative+divisions+of+Virginia" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-USDoC2001-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-USDoC2001_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130929074056/http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm">"Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas; Change Notice No. 7"</a>. 2001. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm">the original</a> on 2013-09-29<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Counties+and+Equivalent+Entities+of+the+United+States%2C+Its+Possessions%2C+and+Associated+Areas%3B+Change+Notice+No.+7&rft.date=2001&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itl.nist.gov%2Ffipspubs%2Ffip6-4.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAdministrative+divisions+of+Virginia" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-VaPop-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-VaPop_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-VaPop_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/CommissiononLocalGovernment/PDFs/Locality-Populations.pdf">"Population and Area of All Virginia Local Governments, 1790-2010".</a> Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2ndClass-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-2ndClass_6-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/CommissiononLocalGovernment/PDFs/second.class.cities.pdf">"Former Second Class Cities in Virginia".</a> Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website. 13 November 2003. Retrieved 25 January 2013.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ballotpedia.org/General_law_local_government#States_that_allow_charter_municipalities">General Law Local Governments</a>, from <a href="/wiki/Ballotpedia" title="Ballotpedia">Ballotpedia</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-3534/">Code of Virginia § 15.2-3534</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cityofchesapeake.net/services/depart/finance/pdf/cafr2005.pdf">Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2005</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205010200/http://cityofchesapeake.net/services/depart/finance/pdf/cafr2005.pdf">Archived</a> February 5, 2007, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (<a href="/wiki/PDF" title="PDF">PDF</a>)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.suffolk.va.us/council/VotingMaps/VotingBoroughs-mid.jpg">City of Suffolk voting boroughs</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070210153145/http://www.suffolk.va.us/council/VotingMaps/VotingBoroughs-mid.jpg">Archived</a> 2007-02-10 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, from City of Suffolk Web site</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/planning/DSC/Documents/dscnotices/dscnot63.pdf">City of Virginia Beach Development Services Center, DSC INFORMATION NOTICE #63 - Correction May 15, 1998</a> (<a href="/wiki/PDF" title="PDF">PDF</a>)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter28/section55.1-2828/">"Virginia Code § 55.1-2828"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-01-23</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Virginia+Code+%C2%A7+55.1-2828&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.lis.virginia.gov%2Fvacode%2Ftitle55.1%2Fchapter28%2Fsection55.1-2828%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAdministrative+divisions+of+Virginia" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi04143.xml">"A Guide to the Frederick County (Va.) Township Records, 1871-1875 Frederick County (Va.) Township Records, 1871-1875 1098656, 1098661, 1099105, 1018039"</a>. <i>ead.lib.virginia.edu</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 25,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ead.lib.virginia.edu&rft.atitle=A+Guide+to+the+Frederick+County+%28Va.%29+Township+Records%2C+1871-1875+Frederick+County+%28Va.%29+Township+Records%2C+1871-1875+1098656%2C+1098661%2C+1099105%2C+1018039&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fead.lib.virginia.edu%2Fvivaxtf%2Fview%3FdocId%3Dlva%2Fvi04143.xml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAdministrative+divisions+of+Virginia" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=case&court=us&vol=422&invol=358">Richmond-Chesterfield Case - Dilution of Black Voting Rights</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.chesterfieldtourism.com/pdfs/countdown9.pdf">Horner-Bagley Line, History of Annexation in Chesterfield</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>James v. Jane</i>, 221 Va. 43, 53, 282 S.E.2d 864, 869 (1980).</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Virginia&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072229/http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/CommissiononLocalGovernment/default.htm">Virginia Commission on Local government website</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121002161726/http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/CommissiononLocalGovernment/PDFs/function.pdf">Functions of Counties, Cities and Towns</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist 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template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Administrative_divisions_of_U.S._states,_territories,_and_federal_district" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Administrative divisions of U.S. states, territories, and federal district</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">States</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Alabama&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Alabama (page does not exist)">Alabama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Alaska" title="Administrative divisions of Alaska">Alaska</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Arizona" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Arizona">Arizona</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Arkansas&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Arkansas (page does not exist)">Arkansas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_California" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of California">California</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Colorado&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Colorado (page does not exist)">Colorado</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Connecticut" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Connecticut">Connecticut</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Delaware&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Delaware (page does not exist)">Delaware</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Florida" title="Administrative divisions of Florida">Florida</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Georgia_(U.S._state)" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Hawaii&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Hawaii (page does not exist)">Hawaii</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Idaho&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Idaho (page does not exist)">Idaho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Illinois" title="Administrative divisions of Illinois">Illinois</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Indiana" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Indiana">Indiana</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Iowa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Iowa (page does not exist)">Iowa</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Kansas&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Kansas (page does not exist)">Kansas</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Kentucky&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Kentucky (page does not exist)">Kentucky</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Louisiana&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Louisiana (page does not exist)">Louisiana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Maine" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Maine">Maine</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Maryland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Maryland (page does not exist)">Maryland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Massachusetts" title="Administrative divisions of Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Michigan" title="Administrative divisions of Michigan">Michigan</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Minnesota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Minnesota (page does not exist)">Minnesota</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Mississippi&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Mississippi (page does not exist)">Mississippi</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Missouri&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Missouri (page does not exist)">Missouri</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Montana&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Montana (page does not exist)">Montana</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Nebraska&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Nebraska (page does not exist)">Nebraska</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Nevada&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Nevada (page does not exist)">Nevada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_New_Hampshire" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of New Hampshire">New Hampshire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_New_Jersey" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of New Jersey">New Jersey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_New_Mexico" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of New Mexico">New Mexico</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_New_York_(state)" title="Administrative divisions of New York (state)">New York</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_North_Carolina&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of North Carolina (page does not exist)">North Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_North_Dakota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of North Dakota (page does not exist)">North Dakota</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Ohio" title="Administrative divisions of Ohio">Ohio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Oklahoma" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Oregon&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Oregon (page does not exist)">Oregon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Pennsylvania" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Rhode_Island" title="Administrative divisions of Rhode Island">Rhode Island</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_South_Carolina&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of South Carolina (page does not exist)">South Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_South_Dakota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of South Dakota (page does not exist)">South Dakota</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Tennessee&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Tennessee (page does not exist)">Tennessee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Texas" title="Administrative divisions of Texas">Texas</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Utah&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Utah (page does not exist)">Utah</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Vermont&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Vermont (page does not exist)">Vermont</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Virginia</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Washington_(state)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Washington (state) (page does not exist)">Washington</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_West_Virginia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of West Virginia (page does not exist)">West Virginia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Wisconsin" title="Administrative divisions of Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Administrative_divisions_of_Wyoming&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Administrative divisions of Wyoming (page does not exist)">Wyoming</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Federal_district" title="Federal district">Federal district</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Washington,_D.C." class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States" title="Territories of the United States">Territories</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_American_Samoa" title="Administrative divisions of American Samoa">American Samoa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Guam" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Guam">Guam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of the Northern Mariana Islands">Northern Mariana Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Puerto_Rico" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of Puerto Rico">Puerto Rico </a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands" class="mw-redirect" title="Administrative divisions of the United States Virgin Islands">U.S. Virgin Islands</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Local_government_in_the_United_States" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:United_States_topic" title="Template:United States topic"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:United_States_topic" title="Template talk:United States topic"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:United_States_topic" title="Special:EditPage/Template:United States topic"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Local_government_in_the_United_States" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_the_United_States" title="Local government in the United States">Local government in the United States</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">States</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Alabama" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Alabama">Alabama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Alaska" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Alaska">Alaska</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Arizona" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Arizona">Arizona</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Arkansas&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Arkansas (page does not exist)">Arkansas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_California" title="Local government in California">California</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Colorado&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Colorado (page does not exist)">Colorado</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Connecticut" title="Local government in Connecticut">Connecticut</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Delaware&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Delaware (page does not exist)">Delaware</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Florida" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Florida">Florida</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Georgia_(U.S._state)" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Hawaii" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Hawaii">Hawaii</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Idaho&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Idaho (page does not exist)">Idaho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Illinois" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Illinois">Illinois</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Indiana&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Indiana (page does not exist)">Indiana</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Iowa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Iowa (page does not exist)">Iowa</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Kansas&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Kansas (page does not exist)">Kansas</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Kentucky&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Kentucky (page does not exist)">Kentucky</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Louisiana&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Louisiana (page does not exist)">Louisiana</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Maine&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Maine (page does not exist)">Maine</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Maryland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Maryland (page does not exist)">Maryland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Massachusetts" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Michigan" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Michigan">Michigan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Minnesota" title="Local government in Minnesota">Minnesota</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Mississippi&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Mississippi (page does not exist)">Mississippi</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Missouri&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Missouri (page does not exist)">Missouri</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Montana&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Montana (page does not exist)">Montana</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Nebraska&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Nebraska (page does not exist)">Nebraska</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Nevada&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Nevada (page does not exist)">Nevada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_New_Hampshire" title="Local government in New Hampshire">New Hampshire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_New_Jersey" title="Local government in New Jersey">New Jersey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_New_Mexico" title="Local government in New Mexico">New Mexico</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_New_York_(state)" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in New York (state)">New York</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_North_Carolina" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in North Carolina">North Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_North_Dakota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in North Dakota (page does not exist)">North Dakota</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Ohio" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Ohio">Ohio</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Oklahoma&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Oklahoma (page does not exist)">Oklahoma</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Oregon&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Oregon (page does not exist)">Oregon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Pennsylvania" title="Local government in Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Rhode_Island" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Rhode Island">Rhode Island</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_South_Carolina&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in South Carolina (page does not exist)">South Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_South_Dakota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in South Dakota (page does not exist)">South Dakota</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Tennessee&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Tennessee (page does not exist)">Tennessee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Texas" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Texas">Texas</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Utah&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Utah (page does not exist)">Utah</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Vermont&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Vermont (page does not exist)">Vermont</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Virginia" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Virginia">Virginia</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Washington_(state)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Washington (state) (page does not exist)">Washington</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_West_Virginia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in West Virginia (page does not exist)">West Virginia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Wisconsin" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Wyoming&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local government in Wyoming (page does not exist)">Wyoming</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Federal_district" title="Federal district">Federal district</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Washington,_D.C." class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States" title="Territories of the United States">Territories</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_American_Samoa" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in American Samoa">American Samoa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Guam" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in Guam">Guam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands" class="mw-redirect" title="Local government in the Northern Mariana Islands">Northern Mariana Islands</a></li> <li><a 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