Bath County
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Alleghany County

Bath County, also, Alleghany County. . , Alleghany County. The Virginia General Assembly formed Alleghany Co. in 1822 from parts of Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe. Within its boundaries are the Towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate and the City of Covington, the county seat. Public lands, including portions of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and Douthat State Park, make up about half of the county’s area. The Jackson River and the Cowpasture River, which combine to form the James River, flow through Alleghany. Agriculture, the railroad, the iron industry, paper production, and many small businesses have been central to the economy. Alleghany Co. is known for its beautiful mountain scenery, outdoor recreation, and strong arts community., Bath County. Bath County, formed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1790 from Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier, is named after the spa city of Bath, England. Likely known to Native Americans, the area’s mineral springs began attracting visitors of European descent in the mid-18th century, and the first resorts were developed before the Revolutionary War. These establishments evolved into fashionable stops on the social circuit in the 19th century, when elite families came here to escape the summer heat and to seek the benefits of the waters’ perceived medicinal properties. Bath Alum, Healing Springs, Hot Springs, and Warm Springs (the county seat) were among the most popular destinations.