[3] The earliest inhabitants of the area eventually comprising Alleghany County were Cherokee and Shawnee Native Americans.

[7] In 1894, textile executive Hugh Chatham pushed for the founding of a resort in Roaring Gap.

[8] The construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the 1930s led to increased tourism and growth in Alleghany County.

[10][11] Due to unreliable electricity, the company relied on its own generator for power,[11] but utility service improved after the war.

[9] Alleghany County's economy grew in the 30 years following World War II with the expansion of manufacturing, aided by the improved electricity service and outside companies' desire to locate their facilities in areas with lower land costs, fewer regulations, and less competitive wages.

Most of the county is located atop a rolling plateau that ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 feet (760 to 910 m) above sea level.

The southern border of the county drops abruptly nearly 1,500 feet (460 m) to the Foothills region of North Carolina.

The highest point in the county is Peach Bottom Mountain - Catherine Knob at 4,175 feet (1,273 m) above sea level.

[19] Due to its elevation, Alleghany County enjoys slightly cooler summers than the lowland areas to the east and south, with temperatures seldom rising over 90 °F (32 °C).

Alleghany County is led by a five-member board of commissioners elected county-wide in partisan contests to serve staggered four-year terms.

[30] The county also has its own Soil and Water Conservation District led by two appointed and three elected board members.

[39] For 2023, the North Carolina Department of Commerce rated Alleghany as a Tier 2 county, between the state's most prosperous and economically distressed.

[41] According to the 2021 American Community Survey, an estimated 20.4 percent of county residents have attained a bachelor's degree or higher level of education.

The town hosts a "Music on Main" series of weekly public concerts for local musicians from June through September every year.