Nansemond, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Nansemond is an extinct independent city
which was located in the State of Virginia
in the United States
from 1972 until 1974. It was created from Nansemond County, Virginia
, and is now part of the independent city of Suffolk, Virginia
.
s (or counties) in the colony of Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth City Shire
, which included land area on both sides of Hampton Roads
. New Norfolk County was formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City Shire. It included all the area in South Hampton Roads
now incorporated in the five independent cities located there in modern times. In 1637, New Norfolk County was divided into Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County. Upper Norfolk County became Nansemond County in 1646.
Nansemond County joined a wave of political consolidations in southeastern Virginia between 1952 and 1976, and the county became the independent city of Nansemond in July 1972.
On 1 January 1974, the City of Nansemond and the City of Suffolk united to become the present City of Suffolk, consolidating with the outlying unincorporated towns of Holland
and Whaleyville
. The end result was a new municipality encompassing a total of 430 square miles (1,113.7 km²), making it the largest city in Hampton Roads
and in all of Virginia in land area and the 11th largest in the United States. With a life of 18 months, Nansemond was the shortest-lived independent city of any in Virginia.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
which was located in the State of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1972 until 1974. It was created from Nansemond County, Virginia
Nansemond County, Virginia
Nansemond County is an extinct county which was located in Virginia Colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, from 1646 until 1972...
, and is now part of the independent city of Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
.
History
In 1634, the King of England directed the formation of eight shireShire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
s (or counties) in the colony of Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth City Shire
Elizabeth City Shire
Elizabeth City Shire was one of eight shires created in colonial Virginia in 1634. The shire and the Elizabeth River were named for Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of King James I....
, which included land area on both sides of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
. New Norfolk County was formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City Shire. It included all the area in South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
now incorporated in the five independent cities located there in modern times. In 1637, New Norfolk County was divided into Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County. Upper Norfolk County became Nansemond County in 1646.
Nansemond County joined a wave of political consolidations in southeastern Virginia between 1952 and 1976, and the county became the independent city of Nansemond in July 1972.
On 1 January 1974, the City of Nansemond and the City of Suffolk united to become the present City of Suffolk, consolidating with the outlying unincorporated towns of Holland
Holland, Virginia
Holland, Virginia was an incorporated town in the southwestern section of Nansemond County, Virginia. Since 1974, it has been a community in the independent city of Suffolk, Virginia following a [political consolidation which formed Virginia's largest city in geographic area.-History:Holland is...
and Whaleyville
Whaleyville, Virginia
Whaleyville, Virginia is a former incorporated town which was located in southern Nansemond County, Virginia. It is located midway between the former county seat at downtown Suffolk and the North Carolina border along U.S. Route 13....
. The end result was a new municipality encompassing a total of 430 square miles (1,113.7 km²), making it the largest city in Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
and in all of Virginia in land area and the 11th largest in the United States. With a life of 18 months, Nansemond was the shortest-lived independent city of any in Virginia.
See also
- Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia