Alleghany County

Alleghany County location. Alleghany County took its name from the mountain range in which it is located. It was formed by act of Virginia Legislature on 5 January 1822 from parts of Botetourt, Bath, and Monroe counties. At that time Monroe was a Virginia county and remained so until the formation of West Virginia in May 1862 during the War Between the States.

There are three main towns in Alleghany County: Covington, a city of the second class and the county seat; Clifton Forge, formerly an independent city from 1906 to 2001, and; Iron Gate, the town where the James River begins. All county records, including those that belonged to Clifton Forge, are now housed in the Covington (Independent City) Courthouse.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county had a total area of 1,154 kmÃ‚Â² (446 miÃ‚Â²) in 2000. 1,152 kmÃ‚Â² (445 miÃ‚Â²) of it is land and 3 kmÃ‚Â² (1 miÃ‚Â²) of it (0.23%) is water. After Clifton Forge rejoined the county in 2001, the county’s total area increased to 1,162 kmÃ‚Â² (449 miÃ‚Â²). The land area is now 1,160 kmÃ‚Â² (448 miÃ‚Â²), and the water area was unchanged. The total area now consists of 0.22% water.

Alleghany County seal Alleghany County Clerk
Main Street
Covington, VA 24426
Telephone: (540) 965-1730