Formed January 1, 1847 (94th county)
Highland County (2,233), Monterey (165)
The classic Greek Revival red brick courthouse was erected in 1847 and rebuilt in 1947. It is located on Main Street at Spruce Street. United States Highway 250 is Main Street in the town. Robert Johnson was the original architect. The courthouse features a tower with a working clock and columns. Veteran memorials are on the grounds. The county was founded on January 1, 1847 from parts of Bath and Pendleton counties as the 94th county with Monterey as the only county seat. Highland County is named for its geographical location. The county seat was named for the Mexican American War battle site of Monterey, Mexico.
Highland County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Supervisors. Three Circuit Court Judges and Eight District Court Judges serve Highland, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, and Rockbridge counties and Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro cities and Fifty-nine Magistrate Court Judges serve Highland, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Nelson, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Roanoke, and Rockbridge counties and Buena Vista, Covington, Danville, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Waynesboro cities. The county is on the western border with West Virginia. Roanoke, Virginia is southwest and Richmond, Virginia is southeast of the county. The county center is 1.7 miles South of Monterey. The county is surrounded clockwise by West Virginia and Augusta and Bath counties.
The area of the county is 416 square miles. It is 42 out of 133 in the state. It ranks 133 out of 133 in population in the state. It has a density of 5.4 persons per square mile making it 133 out of 133 in the state. Highland County has 7.4% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 220 enters the county from the northeast, West Virginia, and exits to the southwest, Bath County. United States Highway 250 passes southeast to northwest from Augusta County to West Virginia. The county is shaped like the State of Oregon. Monterey is located in the western third of the county. Monterey is the county seat and the largest city since it is the only incorporated city. It is 7.4% of the county population.
Monterey
