Dickenson County was formed in 1880 from Russell, Wise, and Buchanan Counties. The district was named for William J. Dickenson, a delegate to the general assembly, who played a major role in establishing the new county. This formation came as a result of demands from the inhabitants that they be represented by a county government closer to the people. In 1880, Delegate Dickenson sponsored the bill in the House of Delegates to establish Dickenson County as the one-hundredth county in Virginia. Dickenson County has since become known as “Virginia’s Baby.”