This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Alexander, Washington, Massie/Massey, Williams Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/SBC.2ACI/632.1 Message Board Post: There is actually only one City of Alexandria, but the Federal government took it over long with a portion of Fairfax County to establish Alexandria County, DC in 1801. Congress returned the county to VA in 1846 an it was reorganized as Alexandria Co, VA. Even more confusing, its name was changed to Arlington County in 1920. "Old Town" Alexandria refers to the original city. Genealogical records before 1801 for Alexandria would most probably be found in the Alexandria Library on Queen Street, but the Fairfax Library has a lot of information after that time frame. If you still can't find it, it's worth checking The Arlington Library's Virginia room.