Its bounds were thus prescribed: "Beginning at the widow Litterell's, thence a straight line to John Thrasher's; thence a straight line to John Cooper's old place; thence a straight line to where the Waggon road crosses the Laurel ridge; from thence along the highest part of said ridge to Little river; and down the same to Mack's mountain; and with the same to the Grayson line and with the same to the Patrick line and with the same to the Franklin line and with the same to the line of Montgomery and Franklin, opposite the widow Litterell's; from thence a straight line to the beginning."
In addition to Floyd, Fayette County was also formed in 1831. This county, the second attempt Virginia had made to honor the Marquis de la Fayette, fell later into West Virginia. Taken from parts of Logan, Greenbrier, Nicholas and Kanawha, Fayette lies in the southeastern part of the state, and is traversed by the New River.
The lengthy description of its bounds notes several streams besides the New River; namely: Lick creek, Meadow river, Mill creek, Gauley river, Twenty Mile creek, Kanawha river, Guyandotte and Cole (Coal) river. For the first time we find mention of a turnpike, "the Kanawha turnpike." In the decade 1820-1830, a great interest in highways developed, and turnpikes and toll roads became numerous. In Virginia a well-known toll road ran through the Valley of Virginia called "the Valley Pike." National highway Route Number 11 largely follows its path.
The third county created in 1831 also is now a West Virginia county, Jackson. Formed from Mason, Kanawha and Wood, Jackson lies in the western part of the state along the Ohio River south of Parkersburg. It was named for General Andrew Jackson, then in his first term as President of the United States. A song popular at that time carried these two lines complimenting his exploits:
"Glory be to Jackson for the Battle of New Orleans For there he gave the enemy the hot butter-beans"
referring to his victory over the British in the battle of that name.
We come back to Virginia now and discuss the fourth county created in 1831. Formed from Shenandoah and Rockingham counties, it lies in the Valley of Virginia with the famed Luray Cavern within its borders. It was named in honor of John Page, Governor of Virginia 1802-1805.