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Virginia Genealogy Genealogy, history, and research resources for the Old Dominion

Alexandria* Genealogy

* Independent city (not a county). Series and offices differ from the surrounding county of the same name.

Edited by Avery J. Parker · Virginia Genealogy · Continuously operated research hub (1997-origin site)

Alexandria (independent city) is a Virginia independent city—a separate recording jurisdiction from surrounding counties (Fairfax, Arlington).

Northern Virginia port city; separate from Alexandria County / Arlington history. Always match the year of the event to the correct city or county office.

Start catalogs at Library of Virginia.

History notes

Virginia’s independent cities keep their own deed, will, and court series for many periods. A family “in Alexandria” may appear in city books while rural kin remain in the adjacent county.

Method: (1) fix the year, (2) decide city vs. county, (3) search both if the line crosses the line, (4) use LVA chancery and microfilm guides when local indexes are thin.

Newspapers

Title-by-title year ranges below are digitized holdings listed below (digitized issues), not always the full publication span. Open each title to confirm gaps. Mastheads and successors change often.

Statewide newspapers guide · newspaper portals · Chronicling America

Cemeteries & burial research

Starting points and portals—not a complete inventory of every graveyard in the county.

  • Alexandria cemeteries & churchyards
    Alexandria
    Port-city burial landscape; confirm denomination and decade before ordering records.
    Find a Grave

Cemeteries research guide

Societies & repositories

  • Alexandria Library — Special Collections
    library · Alexandria
    Northern Virginia port-city local history and genealogy.
  • Alexandria public library / local history desk
    library · Alexandria
    Start with the independent city public library local history desk or Virginia room for Alexandria*. Hours and catalog portals change—verify before visiting. Pair with Library of Virginia catalogs and Virginia Chronicle for newspapers.
  • Alexandria historical / genealogical societies
    society · Alexandria
    Search for active historical and genealogical societies serving Alexandria (independent city). Names and websites change; VAGenWeb and Library of Virginia society lists are good discovery points.
  • Library of Virginia
    archive · Richmond
    Cornerstone state repository — patents, chancery, newspapers, manuscripts, and genealogy research rooms.
  • Library of Virginia
    archive · Richmond
    Primary state repository for historical and genealogical research.
  • Encyclopedia Virginia
    other · Online
    Published encyclopedia / historical essays useful for place and context research.
  • Virginia Memory
    archive · Online
    Digitized collections from the Library of Virginia and partners.
  • Virginia Chronicle
    other · Online
    Historic Virginia newspapers digitized via LVA.

Full societies & libraries directory

Courthouse & contacts

Alexandria Circuit Court / city records offices. Confirm which series are city-held vs. at Library of Virginia. Neighbors: Fairfax, Arlington.

What to do next

Stay in Alexandria County only after the event year matches this courthouse. Otherwise open parents first.

Start here guide Free PDF checklist Cheatsheet bundle This week in Alexandria history

Sources & further reading

Formation, place-names, and series notes on this hub will cite standard Virginia references. Always verify at the repository—fires and thin series vary by book and decade.

  • Encyclopedia Virginia
    State encyclopedia / published historical essays — search for Alexandria County topics.
  • County formation & boundaries
    Virginia county formation and independent-city research — verify in Library of Virginia guides . See also the counties & formation guide when published.
  • Place-names & communities
    Virginia place-names, former communities, and watercourses (local histories + GNIS).
  • Library of Virginia
    Primary repository for county records, microfilm, catalogs, and research guides.
  • Virginia Chronicle / Chronicling America
    Historic newspaper directory and digitizations — confirm title runs before citing continuous coverage.
  • Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
    National newspaper directory + selected digitized pages.
  • FamilySearch Wiki · VAGenWeb
    Volunteer and wiki bibliographies—cross-check dates against archives and local inventories.

Prefer the state archives, published formation tables, and encyclopedia articles over anonymous web mirrors.