<P> Counties were among the earliest units of local government established in the Thirteen Colonies that would become the United States . Virginia created the first counties in order to ease the administrative workload in Jamestown . The House of Burgesses divided the colony first into four `` incorporations '' in 1617 and finally into eight shires ( or counties ) in 1634 : James City , Henrico , Charles City , Charles River , Warrosquyoake , Accomac , Elizabeth City , and Warwick River . America 's oldest intact county court records can be found at Eastville , Virginia , in Northampton ( originally Accomac ) County , dating to 1632 . Maryland established its first county , St. Mary 's , in 1637 , and Massachusetts followed in 1643 . Pennsylvania and New York delegated significant power and responsibility from state government to county governments and thereby established a pattern for most of the United States , although counties remained relatively weak in New England . </P>
<P> Counties were among the earliest units of local government established in the Thirteen Colonies that would become the United States . Virginia created the first counties in order to ease the administrative workload in Jamestown . The House of Burgesses divided the colony first into four `` incorporations '' in 1617 and finally into eight shires ( or counties ) in 1634 : James City , Henrico , Charles City , Charles River , Warrosquyoake , Accomac , Elizabeth City , and Warwick River . America 's oldest intact county court records can be found at Eastville , Virginia , in Northampton ( originally Accomac ) County , dating to 1632 . Maryland established its first county , St. Mary 's , in 1637 , and Massachusetts followed in 1643 . Pennsylvania and New York delegated significant power and responsibility from state government to county governments and thereby established a pattern for most of the United States , although counties remained relatively weak in New England . </P>
what is the oldest county in the united states
what is the oldest county in the united states
Virginia , in Northampton ( originally Accomac ) County
Virginia , in Northampton ( originally Accomac ) County