Virgin Valley was traveled by Jedediah Smith in 1826 and by Fremont in 1844.

The valley served as the right-of-way for the Old Spanish Trail (1829-1848) and for the Mormon road or southern route of travel to southern California.

The area was settled by pioneers of the Latter-Day Saints Church, who colonized Bunkerville in 1877 and Mesquite in 1880.

The Virgin River provided water for the development of the valley's agricultural resources.