Evolution of Norfolk County
Elizabeth City Co
(1634; original shire)
(now city of Hampton)
|
New Norfolk Co
(1636) extinct
|
+------------------.---------------+
| |
Upper Norfolk Co Lower Norfolk Co
(1637) extinct (1637) extinct
| |
Nansimum Co +----------------+
(Nansemond) Princess Anne Co |
(1645/6) extinct (1691) extinct |
| | |
Suffolk Virginia Beach |
(City) (City) |
(1974) (1963) |
|
|
Norfolk Co
(1691) extinct
+--------|---------|--------+
Norfolk Portsmouth | South Norfolk
(City) (City) | (City)
(1846) |
(1858) | (1921)
+---|----|
Chesapeake
(City)
(1963)
From the Norfolk County Historical Society's brochure:
"In 1636, less than three decades after the settling of Jamestown, New Norfolk
was formed from Elizabeth City County, one of the nine original shires of the
Colony of Virginia.
In 1637, New Norfolk was divided into Lower Norfolk County
and Upper Norfolk County. Lower Norfolk County encompasses the area that is
now the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. Lower
Norfolk County's first court was held on May 15, 1637, and was presided over
by Captain Adam Thoroughgood.
Chesapeake is the most direct descendent of Lower Norfolk County. The records
housed in care of the Chesapeake's Clerk of the Circuit Court are the oldest
records held by any of the four cities that were once Lower Norfolk County:
they date back to 1637 and the first court held in the jurisdiction."
South Norfolk has been combined with and is now a part of Chesapeake City.
"Chesapeake's history dates back much further than 1963 when Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk merged to create Chesapeake" Source: http://www.chesapeake.va.us/communty/about/history.html
