Princess Anne County, Virginia

Princess Anne County is an extinct county which was located in the British and the  in the  from  until. Most of the former county is now located within the limits of the of.

Shires, Counties
When Admiral and the colonists of the  arrived  in, George Percy and his fellow Englishmen's 'first landing was at  in what was to become Princess Anne County. They named the spot in honor of, the eldest son of King. A few days later, they travelled up the and established the. During the early 17th century, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1610, the English colonists had established a permanent settlement in the area of what was to become  (sic) in 1619. Today a part of, it is the oldest known continuously occupied English settlement in North America.

was an early leader in the area which became Princess Anne County, settling along the. In, the King of England directed the formation of eight s (or ) in the colony of Virginia. One of these was, which included land area on both sides of.

was formed in from Elizabeth City Shire. New Norfolk County included all the area in now incorporated in the five independent cities located there in modern times.

The following year, in, it was divided into and. In, Lower Norfolk County was in turn subdivided to form and Princess Anne County, which contained the area of.

Princess Anne County was named for the heir to the English throne, who later became.

Communities in Princess Anne County
The various communities in Princess Anne County included:


 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.
 * and the small resort town of Virginia Beach which was established in the 1880s, and was in the county until 1952 when it became an independent city.



Virginia Beach resort: becomes town in 1908, city in 1952
Beginning in the late 19th century, the small resort area of Virginia Beach along the Atlantic Ocean at the north eastern portion of the county's vast expanse of shoreline grew, particularly after with the arrival of rail service and electricity. It was incorporated as a town in and became an independent city from Princess Anne County in.

However, in the mid 20th century, the western borders of Princess Anne County lost territory to annexation suits by the which adjoined it after annexing all of the northern portion of. A merger with the tiny became seen as a way to prevent the independent City of Norfolk from annexing more (or potentially all) of Princess Anne County.

1963: consolidation with City of Virginia Beach
In, after approval of the voters of both the City of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, and with the approval of the , the two political subdivisions were consolidated as a new, much larger independent city, retaining the better-known name of Virginia Beach. About the same time, at similar risk of annexations from Norfolk, the remaining portion of Norfolk County took similar action, consolidating with the small independent. The independent city that resulted from the merger,, became Virginia Beach's new neighbor to the southwest.

Most of the area formerly in Princess Anne County when it was formed in 1691 is now located within the independent city of Virginia Beach. The only exceptions are some territory of the northwestern portion which became part of the City of Norfolk through annexation and a land swap agreement between the two cities in 1988.