The modern history of Greene County, Virginia began in August, 1716, when Governor Spotswood and his "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe" traveled through Greene on their history-making expedition to the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains, reaching Swift Run Gap, a short distance from what is now Stanardsville.
Tradition has it the former Governor bestowed golden horseshoes upon his followers at a point approximately three miles west of Stanardsville.
Greene County, named for Nathanael Greene of Revolutionary War fame, was formed in 1838.
Originally, Greene was part of Orange County, but was eventually partitioned from Orange County when settlers complained of the long distance between their farms and the Orange County Seat.
The present courthouse stands on the land donated by William Stanard in 1838, establishing Stanardsville as the County Seat.
Swift Run Gap was used by General Stonewall Jackson during the "War Between the States", to shift troops from the Shenandoah Valley to the Piedmont battle areas. Now U.S. Route 33 crosses the Blue Ridge through this gap.