Upper Norfolk County, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Upper Norfolk County is an extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia
from 1637 until 1646.
In 1634, the King of England directed the formation of eight shire
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. 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.
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...
from 1637 until 1646.
In 1634, the King of England directed the formation of eight shire
Shire
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
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
) 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
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....
. 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. The county became the independent city
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,...
of Nansemond in 1972, and in 1974, merged with the city of Suffolk
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:...
. The new consolidated city assumed the name of Suffolk.