Six Extinct Independent Cities
Six Virginia cities are now considered extinct. These should not be confused with many small developments in the 17th century that were called "cities," but in modern terminology were towns.
Virginia laws enacted late in the 20th century enabled smaller independent cities to revert (or convert) to town status, which included rejoining a county. Advocates considered this option as a potential way to streamline local governmental structure. As of 2007, two small independent cities had done so and several others were reported considering it.
The "lost" independent cities of Virginia (alphabetically) were:
- City of Clifton Forge (1906–2001) reverted to become an incorporated town in Alleghany County
- City of Manchester (1874–1910) consolidated with the independent City of Richmond
- City of Nansemond (1972–1974) consolidated with the independent City of Suffolk
- City of South Boston (1960–1995) reverted to become an incorporated town in Halifax County
- City of South Norfolk (1919–1963) boundaries extended to include Norfolk County and name changed to independent City of Chesapeake
- City of Warwick (1952–1958) consolidated with the independent City of Newport News
Read more about this topic: Lost Counties, Cities And Towns Of Virginia, Areas Now in Virginia
Famous quotes containing the words independent and/or cities:
“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society, depend so much upon an upright and skilful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“If I be false, or swerve a hair from truth,
When time is old and hath forgot itself,
When waterdrops have worn the stones of Troy,
And blind oblivion swallowed cities up,
And mighty states characterless are grated
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Upbraid my falsehood.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)