WASHINGTON — One Northern Virginia county does a better job engaging with local government electronically than any other.

Fairfax County has just received a first-place technology award from the National Association of Counties.

Among counties of similar size Fairfax County leads the nation as a technical innovator — for everything from providing budget information online to coordinating regionwide emergency response using data exchanges.

Fairfax County has a consistent record of excellence in the digital realm: It’s won this award five times in the past 12 years.