Original: In 1963 , after approval by referendum of the voters of the City of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County , and with the approval of the Virginia General Assembly , the two political subdivisions were consolidated as a new , much larger independent city , retaining the better-known name of the Virginia Beach resort .
Simplified: In 1963 , Virginia Beach and Princess Anne county merged into a new , much larger independent city keeping the name of the Virginia Beach resort .