Three incorporated towns, Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna, are located entirely within Fairfax County.

The independent cities of Falls Church and Fairfax were formed out of areas formerly under the jurisdiction of Fairfax County, but are politically separate, despite the status of the City of Fairfax being the county seat.
 Nevertheless, many areas of Fairfax county have mailing addresses in Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax City despite not being part of any of these cities.
 In this case of Alexandria, many locals refer to these non-City of Alexandria neighborhoods collectively as "South Alexandria", "Lower Alexandria", or "Alexandria, Fairfax County."
 "South Alexandria" communities include Hollin Hills, Franconia, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Huntington, Belle Haven, Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Engleside, Burgundy Village, Waynewood, Wilton Woods, Rose Hill, Virginia Hills, Hayfield, and Kingstowne.

It has been proposed to convert the entire county into a single independent city, primarily to gain more control over taxes and roads.
The most recent such proposal was made June 30, 2009.

Other communities within Fairfax County are unincorporated areas.
Virginia law dictates that no unincorporated area of a county may be incorporated as a separate town or city following the adoption of the urban county executive form of government.
Fairfax County adopted the urban county executive form of government in 1966.

As of the 2000 census, the thirteen largest communities of Fairfax County are all unincorporated CDPs, the largest of which are Burke, Reston, and Annandale, each with a population exceeding 40,000. (
The largest incorporated place in the county is the town of Herndon, its fourteenth-largest community.)
Three incorporated towns, Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna, are located entirely within Fairfax County.
The independent cities of Falls Church and Fairfax were formed out of areas formerly under the jurisdiction of Fairfax County, but are politically separate, despite the status of the City of Fairfax being the county seat.  Nevertheless, many areas of Fairfax county have mailing addresses in Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax City despite not being part of any of these cities.  In this case of Alexandria, many locals refer to these non-City of Alexandria neighborhoods collectively as "South Alexandria", "Lower Alexandria", or "Alexandria, Fairfax County."  "South Alexandria" communities include Hollin Hills, Franconia, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Huntington, Belle Haven, Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Engleside, Burgundy Village, Waynewood, Wilton Woods, Rose Hill, Virginia Hills, Hayfield, and Kingstowne.
It has been proposed to convert the entire county into a single independent city, primarily to gain more control over taxes and roads. The most recent such proposal was made June 30, 2009.
Other communities within Fairfax County are unincorporated areas. Virginia law dictates that no unincorporated area of a county may be incorporated as a separate town or city following the adoption of the urban county executive form of government. Fairfax County adopted the urban county executive form of government in 1966.
As of the 2000 census, the thirteen largest communities of Fairfax County are all unincorporated CDPs, the largest of which are Burke, Reston, and Annandale, each with a population exceeding 40,000. (The largest incorporated place in the county is the town of Herndon, its fourteenth-largest community.)
Fairfax County, Virginia