sentences:  The ship was laid down on 7 November 1970 at San Diego, California, by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Corporation.Named for two counties, one in Alabama, and the other in West Virginia, "Barbour County" was launched on 15 May 1971, sponsored by the wife of J. Victor Smith.The vessel was commissioned at Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 3 February 1972 and assigned to Amphibious Squadron (PhibRon) 7, based at Long Beach, California.