Simplify the following text for a Grade 7 native English-speaking person.
Original: In Virginia , a town is an incorporated municipality similar to a city ( though with a smaller required minimum population ) , but while cities are by Virginia law independent of counties , towns are contained within a county .
Simplified: In Virginia , a town is similar to a city , but it can have a smaller number of people in it . By Virginia law cities are independent of counties ( they have power without counties ) , towns are part of a county .