Rockbridge County, Virginia was formed in 1778 from Augusta
and Botetourt Counties, but virtually all of current Rockbridge falls within
what was, in 1737, known as the "Borden Tract", a 92,100-acre
expansion of land that was granted to an early land speculator, Benjamin
Borden. Since land from the "Beverley Patent" was being acquired by
early settlers to the north, many families pushed south (into what is now
Rockbridge County) and west (into what is Bath and Highland Counties), to
acquire land for their families. Because of this, many of these settlers of
early Rockbridge County were the same families that settled earlier in Augusta
County, in addition to a throng of additional settlers coming from Ireland,
Scotland, Germany.
https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Settlers_Locations_and_Arrivals_in_Rockbridge_County%2C_Virginia
Rockbridge County held the first county elections in May 1778. It was named for Natural Bridge, a notable landmark in the southern portion of the county. Rockbridge County was formed during an act of assembly intended to reduce the amount of travel to the nearest courthouse, and to ensure trials were held fairly, and among friends rather than strangers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockbridge_County,_Virginia
