l\ NOTICE of the counties, cities, tovvnfhips, and villages?
The counties have been enumerated under Query IX. They are 74 in num- ber, of very unequal fize and population. Of thefe 35 are on the tide waters, or in that parallel; 23 are in the midlands, between the tide waters and Blue ridge of mountains ; 8 between the Blue ridge and Alleghaney ; and 8 weftward of the AI- leghaney.
The ftate, by another divifion, is formed into parifhes, many of which are commen- furate with the counties : but fometimes a county comprehends more than one parifh, and fometimes a parifli more than one county. This divifion had relation to the religion of the ftate, a parfon of the An- glican church, with a fixed falary, having been heretofore eftablifhed in each parifh. The care of the poor was another obje^a of the parochial divifion.
[ 203 1 We have no townftiips. Our country being much interfered with navigable waters, and trade brought generally to our doors, inftead of our being obliged to go in queft of it, has probably been one of the caufes why we have no towns of any confequence. Williamfburgh, which till the year 1780, was the feat of our government, never contained above 1800 inhabitants; and Norfolk the moft popu- lous town we ever had, contained but 6000. Our towns, but more properly our villages or hamlets, are as follows:
On James river and its waters, Norfolk, Portfmouth, Hampton, Suffolk, Smith- field, Williamfburgh, Peterfburgh, Richmond the feat of our government, Man chefter, Charlottefville, New-London.
On York river and its waters, York, Newcaftle, Hanover.