Greene County vs. Smallest Counties in Virginia

Several myths and questions surround the topic of the smallest county in Virginia. We often hear about Greene County, but is it really the smallest?

Greene County: A Small County in Virginia

Is Greene County the smallest county in Virginia? The answer is no. Greene County, located in the southwestern corner of Virginia, is not the smallest county in the state in terms of area. According to the United States Census Bureau, Greene County covers an area of approximately 155.57 square miles, which makes it the second-smallest county in Virginia.

City of Falls Church: The Smallest County in Virginia

The City of Falls Church, an independent city, holds the title of the smallest county by area in Virginia. Falls Church, known for its prime location within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, covers just 2.25 square miles. This small city is tucked between Fairfax County and Arlington County, making it a unique entity amongst the counties and independent cities in Virginia.

Smallest County by Population

When population is considered, Greene County still does not hold the title. Arlington County, only 159.56 square miles in total area, is actually the smallest when it comes to the total number of residents. It only covers about a sixth the size of Greene County. However, Greene County still has a larger population than Arlington County due to its larger total area.

Kalawao County: A Similar Case of Smallest Counties by Area

It is important to note that if we broaden our geographical scope, Kalawao County in Hawaii, which is an administrative division of the state of Hawaii, is the actual smallest county by area in the United States. Kalawao County is a part of Molokai, covering a mere 12 square miles.

Comparison Across Counties and Cities in Virginia

When comparing counties to one another within Virginia, it is crucial to understand that Greene County's size varies significantly from other counties. Counties like Arlington and City of Falls Church are significantly smaller than Greene County. Greene County ranks third in size among all counties in Virginia, with the City of Falls Church being the tiniest at 2.25 square miles and Arlington County following closely at 159.56 square miles.

Population Considerations

It is also worth considering the population when examining the size of counties. Many counties in Virginia are much smaller than Greene County by population alone. For example, only a handful of the smaller counties have populations even close to Greene County. This makes Greene County one of the smaller counties, but not the smallest in terms of area.

Conclusion

So, while Greene County is relatively small by Virginia standards, it is by no means the smallest county in the state. The City of Falls Church holds the title for the smallest by area, and similar cases of smaller counties can be found in other states, such as Kalawao County in Hawaii.

References

United States Census Bureau. (Year). County and city distance tables - 2020 Census. Retrieved from [Website URL]

Council of State Governments. (Year).Your Guide to Understanding County Government. Retrieved from [Website URL]

City of Falls Church. (Year). Official City Website. Retrieved from [Website URL]

Kalawao County. (Year). Official Kalawao County Website. Retrieved from [Website URL]