Covington Magistrate serves as the magistrate office for Alleghany county in the Twenty-Fifth judicial district of Virginia. This office also conducts video conferences for the Clifton Forge, Virginia office.

Covington was first laid claim to around 1745 when the area was in Augusta County. Around 1769 Botetourt County was in control of much of the area. However boundaries being what they were at the time; both Bath and Monroe Counties contained portions of the present Covington region of Alleghany county. Around 1818 when it became important to provide services to the area; Alleghany County was formed by Act of the Virginia General Assembly from portions of Botetourt, Bath and Monroe counties. In the 1890's an economic boom came to Covington and the railroad ran fourteen passenger trains daily through Covington. In addition to the Armory which gives area residents an opportunity to enjoy recreational activities indoors, the town maintains seven parks, a sports complex, senior center and a skate park.