Va beach has always been an independent city. It was first very small and was where the hotels and the boardwalk are located. In 1960's the County of Princess Anne, which had no city within it's boundary, merged with the City of VaBeach. They had the choice to call it either Princess Anne or Va Beach, but chose Va Beach. The same is true for the City of Norfolk, it is not within a county, and never has been. Jan