Northern Virginia–commonly referred to as
NOVA–comprises several
counties and
independent cities in the
Commonwealth of
Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C. With 2.8 million residents (about a third of the state), it is the most populous region of Virginia and the
Washington metropolitan area. As the term is most often used, it excludes such areas as
Warren County and
Winchester; "Northeastern Virginia" more closely approximates the area usually meant.