Formerly published as Bulletin of the Virginia State Library, Volume 9, January, April, July, 1916, Nos. 1, 2 and 3. The content of this work was originally developed in 1914, when Mr. Robinson, then employed by the United States Government, as the Historian for the War and Navy Departments, authored a report entitled the Development of Virginia Counties. Later, and following his appointment as Virginia State Archivist, Mr. Robinson became aware of the constant sources of annoyance to title examiners, genealogists, and historians was the absence of some handy reference volume which would provide reliable data on Virginia counties. The author, using his original report of 1914, edited and added new material, a new index, and a bibliography, then issued this Bulletin of the Virginia State Library. Today there are 100 Virginia counties in existence, of 172 counties which were originally created by Virginia legislation. Of the original 172 counties, many merged with other counties, realigned, changed their names, became extinct, and, in the case of West Virginia and Kentucky, seceded from Virginia to form their own state. This work provides, in a single volume, and in concise form, the most reliable and accurate county information concerning the dates of formation, the territory from which formed, and the origin of the names, of the counties which have resulted from Virginia legislation.