[2] The county was created by an act of the West Virginia Legislature on February 27, 1871, from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer and Monroe counties and named in honor of George W. Summers (1804–1868).

This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.

[5] Summers County was initially divided into five townships: Forest Hill, Greenbrier, Green Sulphur, Jumping Branch, and Pipestem.

Forest Hill consisted of territory received from Monroe County, where it had been part of a township of the same name.

29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Out of the total population, 34.30% of those under the age of 18 and 14.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 13,927 people, 5,572 households, and 3,632 families living in the county.

It voted Republican only in the landslide wins of 1920, 1928 (aided by powerful anti-Catholic sentiment against Al Smith), 1972 and 1984.

[17] The Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Prison Camp, Alderson is partly in unincorporated Monroe County and partly in unincorporated Summers County.

[24][25][26][27] Summers County is also home to one private school, Pipestem Christian Academy.

[30][31] Greenbrier Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for girls, is also located in Summers County, in the community of Pence Springs.