Rockingham County
During its October 1777 session, the Virginia General Assembly carved Rockingham County out of a large portion of Augusta County. The first court was held on 27 April 1778. Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, a British prime minister who helped secure the repeal of the Stamp Act. During the Civil War, Stonewall Jackson concluded his famous Valley campaign with victories at Cross Keys and at Port Republic, 8–9 June 1862. Rockingham County is known for its poultry industry, particularly its turkey production.
Augusta County
Named for Augusta, Princess of Wales and mother of King George III, the county stretched to the Pacific Ocean in 1738 when formed from Orange. Staunton, the original county seat, was named for the wife of Lt. Gov. William Gooch, whose policies attracted Scots-Irish and German settlers. English settlers and free and enslaved African Americans were also early arrivals. After the Revolutionary War, Del. Zachariah Johnston helped bring religious freedom to Virginia and the U.S. Textiles, grains, apples, and livestock have been central to the economy. Many educational institutions, including colleges, military schools, and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, have originated in Augusta.