The south fork of the Staunton River was named after John Pigg sometime after his purchasing land along its north side. The original Pigg River Covered Bridge was built in 1768 by Jacob Stover, Sr. In the early 19th century, the bridge became traditionally called the Lou's Island bridge, owing to Lou, a relative of the Noward family, having been drowned while fording the river on horseback, and being found washed up on a small island near the bridge.
