History
Patrick County was formed in 1791 when Patrick Henry County was divided into Patrick County and Henry County. The name comes from Patrick Henry, first governor of the Commonwealth.
Prior to the formation of Patrick County, one of the first frontier forts lay within Halifax County (created from Lunenberg County in 1752) on the banks of the North Mayo River, now within present-day Patrick County. Fort Mayo was the southernmost of the Virginia frontier forts and saw action during the French and Indian War.