Southampton County covers 604 square miles and was formed in 1748 from Isle of Wight and Nansemond. It was named for a locality originally named for the Earl of Southampton, who was active in the first settlement, and General William Mahone was born there. Isle of Wight County covers 314 square miles and was one of the original shires formed in 1634. Its name was first Warrascoyack and was changed in 1637 to Isle of Wight, and one of the oldest churches in the United States is in the county.