A method and system of querying a partitioned data set organized in a static hierarchy. The method includes receiving a query for data in the partitioned data set at a first node, applying the query to a virtual data set of the first node to determine at least one child node having a child virtual data set with data for the query, generating at least one sub query for the at least one child node, where the at least one sub query is based on the query, and sending the at least one sub query to the at least one child to process.