The county is probably named for Sir Richard Grenville, leader of the settlement on Roanoke Island, 1585.

There is also belief that it may be named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army and one of George Washington's brightest officers.

However, he died in 1943, as efforts to desegregate the county's schools began with the assistance of attorney Oliver Hill.

[3] After service in World War II, Hill's colleague Samuel W. Tucker moved to Emporia, married a schoolteacher and became the county's only African American attorney, as well as a leader in desegregating schools across Virginia.

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 11,560 people, 3,375 households, and 2,396 families living in the county.

25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[14] Greensville County has supported the Democratic nominee in every election since 1912, with the exception of 1972 when it backed Richard Nixon during his landslide victory over George McGovern.