Fairfax County Most Populous in the Commonwealth

Fairfax County continues to lay claim to its status as the most populous county in the commonwealth and boasts the most densely populated neighborhood in Virginia, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

The county grew 1.3 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, rising from a population of 1.1 million to 1.12 million.

By comparison, Arlington County made a 2.3 percent increase in its population to reach 221,045 by July 2012. It is the 9th largest county in the state, according to U.S. Census data.

Arlington’s next-door neighbor, the City of Alexandria, grew 1.5 percent to reach a population of 146,294 in July 2012. It ranks number 12 among cities and counties in the commonwealth.

The City of Alexandria boasts the most persons per square mile (9,314) in the commonwealth of Virginia. But Fairfax County’s Seven Corners neighborhood hosts an astonishing 13,526 people per square mile.

The City of Falls Church bested its Northern Virginia neighbors in population growth by jumping up 3.6 percent to reach a July 2012 population of 13,229.

There are 134 Virginia counties. There are 95 governmental counties, each governed by a board of supervisors or in Arlington County’s case, a county board.  The remaining 39 entities are independent cities such as the City of Alexandria and the City of Falls Church.

In July 2011, Virginia recorded a population of 8.1 million and in July 2012, 8.18 million.

Eight of the fastest-growing large U.S. cities and towns in 2012 are in Texas. The Texas cities that added the most people included Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth. And it’s no surprise which city is the most populous in the nation – New York with 8.3 million residents followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.