Covington is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia, located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek. It is in Alleghany County where it is also the county seat. The population was 5,957 in 2009. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Covington with Alleghany county for statistical purposes. Covington is one of three cities (with Roanoke and Salem) in the Roanoke Regional Partnership. The current mayor of Covington is Robert Bennett.