in the mid 20th century, the northwestern borders of princess anne county lost territory to annexation suits by the city of norfolk after annexing the entire northeastern portion of norfolk county. because cities in virginia cannot annex each other's territory, leaders and residents of princess anne county came to see a merger with the tiny independent city of virginia beach as a way to prevent the independent city of norfolk, whose population included a far greater number and proportion of african-americans (about 43% as opposed to under 20% in virginia beach), from annexing more or potentially all of the county.