Summers County was formed in 1871 from Monroe, Fayette, Greenbrier, and Mercer counties and was named for George W. Summers, a distinguished jurist of Kanawha. In 1750, Dr. Thomas Walker and his companions explored the Greenbrier Valley for the Greenbrier Company. Raleigh County was formed in 1850 from Fayette County and was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, who planted the first English colony in America. Beckley, the county seat, was founded by Alfred Beckley and named for his father, John, the first clerk of the House of Representatives.