New Norfolk County, Virginia

New Norfolk County is a long-extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1636 until 1637.

It was formed in 1636 from Elizabeth River Shire, one of the eight original shires (or counties) formed in 1634 in the colony of Virginia by direction of the King of England. The following year, in 1637, it was divided into into Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County.

Upper Norfolk County became Nansemond County in 1646. The county became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, and in 1974, merged with the city of Suffolk. The new consolidated city assumed the name of Suffolk.

In 1691 Lower Norfolk County was in turn divided to form Norfolk County and Princess Anne County.

In 1963, after approval by referendum of the voters of the City of South Norfolk and the rest of Norfolk County and the Virginia General Assembly, they were combined and reorganized as a new city, ending the threat of additional annexations. The new name selected by the voters was Chesapeake, and so, the new city of Chesapeake, Virginia was created.

Also in 1963, after approval by referendum of the voters of the City of Virginia Beach and the rest of Princess Anne County and the Virginia General Assembly, they were consolidated as an independent city, assuming the better-known name of Virginia Beach.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)