Iberian Publishing Company's On-Line Catalog: Lee County Virginia
Lee County was formed in 1793 from the western portion of Russell County. It was named to honor Henry (Light-Horse Harry) Lee, Revolutionary soldier and Governor of Virginia, 1791-1794. In 1815 a portion was taken when Scott County was created, and again in 1822 a further adjustment was made in the Scott-Lee boundary (it was set so that four residences at the east end of Powell's Valley were now in Lee County. The final change in Lee's boundaries came in 1856 when territory was taken from it to form part of Wise County.
Union raiders burned the county courthouse in 1863, and many of the early marriage records were destroyed.