__NOTOC__
The
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...
is divided into fifty-five counties, each of which is further subdivided into
magisterial districts. The
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
defines these districts as non-functioning subdivisions used for various purposes, such as conducting elections, apportioning county officials from different areas, recording land ownership, assessing property taxes, and collecting vital statistics. Magisterial districts possess no governmental organization or authority.
After attaining independence from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...
in 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into
civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States that is subordinate to a county, most often in the northern and midwestern parts of the country. The term town is used in New England, New York, and Wisconsin to ref ...
s, with the goal of placing authority in the hands of local governments. However, township government proved impractical across the heavily rural state, with citizens unable to meet on a regular basis, and inadequate tax revenue to meet township responsibilities. Following the adoption of the
Constitution of West Virginia in 1872, the townships were converted into magisterial districts, and the county courts (later
county commission
A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States; such commissions usually comprise ...
s) empowered to establish, consolidate, or otherwise modify them.
[W. Va. Code § 7–2–2.]
Each county shall be laid off by the county court into magisterial districts, not less than three nor more than ten in number, and as nearly equal as may be in territory and population. The districts as they now exist shall remain until changed by the county court. The county court may, from time to time, increase or diminish the number of such districts, and change the boundary lines thereof as necessity may require, in order to conform the same to the provisions of the Constitution of the State.
The only state other than West Virginia to use magisterial districts as a minor civil division of its counties is Virginia,
which like West Virginia initially established a system of civil townships, in its
Constitution of 1870. These were replaced by magisterial districts in 1874.
For most of the state's history, there were three hundred and fifty magisterial districts in West Virginia, an average of six districts per county.
Greenbrier,
Harrison
Harrison may refer to:
People
* Harrison (name)
* Harrison family of Virginia, United States
Places
In Australia:
* Harrison, Australian Capital Territory, suburb in the Canberra district of Gungahlin
In Canada:
* Inukjuak, Quebec, or " ...
,
Mason,
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
, and
Wood Counties each contained ten districts, the maximum number provided for by state law.
Brooke Brooke may refer to:
People
* Brooke (given name)
* Brooke (surname)
* Brooke baronets, families of baronets with the surname Brooke
Places
* Brooke, Norfolk, England
* Brooke, Rutland, England
* Brooke, Virginia, US
* Brooke's Point, Palawan ...
,
Grant
Grant or Grants may refer to:
Places
*Grant County (disambiguation)
Australia
* Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia
United Kingdom
* Castle Grant
United States
* Grant, Alabama
* Grant, Inyo County, ...
, and
Hancock Hancock may refer to:
Places in the United States
* Hancock, Iowa
* Hancock, Maine
* Hancock, Maryland
* Hancock, Massachusetts
* Hancock, Michigan
* Hancock, Minnesota
* Hancock, Missouri
* Hancock, New Hampshire
** Hancock (CDP), New Hampshir ...
were the only counties with the minimum number of three. Twenty-four different counties included a Union District, thirteen had districts named after
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union A ...
, and nine counties each had districts named for
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
and
Henry Clay
Henry Clay Sr. (April 12, 1777June 29, 1852) was an American attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate, U.S. Senate and United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives. He was the seven ...
.
Beginning in the 1970s, many counties combined or consolidated their original magisterial districts in order to equalize their area and population, creating districts that were fewer in number, but larger in area. This created confusion with county land and tax records, in response to which the
legislature
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
provided for the establishment of tax districts following the former magisterial district lines, as they existed on January 1, 1969. In these counties, the new magisterial districts are used only for the allocation of county officials, and the collection of census data; the former magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts.
[W. Va. Code § 11–3–1A.]
A List of the current and former magisterial districts of West Virginia, sorted by county:
Barbour County
Current
* North
* South
* West
Historic
* Barker
* Cove
* Elk
* Glade
* Philippi
* Pleasant
* Union
* Valley
Berkeley County
Current
* Adam Stephens
* Norborne
* Potomac
* Shenandoah
* Tuscarora
* Valley
Historic
* Arden
* Falling Water
* Gerardstown
* Hedgesville
* Martinsburg
* Mill Creek
* Opequon
Boone County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Crook
* Peytona
* Scott
* Sherman
* Washington
Braxton County
Current
* Eastern
* Northern
* Southern
* Western
Historic
* Birch
* Holly
* Kanawha
* Otter
* Salt Lick
Brooke County
Current
* Follansbee
* Weirton
* Wellsburg
Historic
* Buffalo
* Cross Creek
Cabell County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
* District 4
* District 5
Historic
* Barboursville
* Gideon
* Grant
* Guyandotte
* Kyle
* McComas
* Union
Calhoun County Calhoun County is the name of several counties in the United States of America named after U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun:
* Calhoun County, Alabama
* Calhoun County, Arkansas
* Calhoun County, Florida
* Calhoun County, Georgia
* Calhoun Cou ...
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
* District 4
* District 5
Historic
* Center
* Lee
* Sheridan
* Sherman
* Washington
Clay County Clay County is the name of 18 counties in the United States. Most are named for Henry Clay, U.S. Senator and statesman:
* Clay County, Alabama
* Clay County, Arkansas (named for John Clayton, and originally named Clayton County)
* Clay County, Flor ...
Current
* District A
* District B
* District C
Historic
* Buffalo
* Henry
* Otter
* Pleasant
* Union
Doddridge County
Doddridge County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,808. Its county seat is West Union.
Doddridge County is part of the Clarksburg, West Virginia, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area.
...
Current
* Beech
* Maple
* Oak
* Pine
Historic
* Central
* Cove
* Grant
* Greenbrier
* McClellan
* New Milton
* Southwest
* West Union
Fayette County
Current
* New Haven
* Plateau
* Valley
Historic
* Falls
* Fayetteville
* Kanawha
* Mountain Cove
* Nuttall
* Quinnimont
* Sewell Mountain
Gilmer County
Current
* Center
* City
* De Kalb-Troy
* Glenville
Historic
* De Kalb
* Troy
Grant County Grant County may refer to:
Places
;Australia
* County of Grant, Victoria
;United States
*Grant County, Arkansas
*Grant County, Indiana
* Grant County, Kansas
*Grant County, Kentucky
*Grant County, Minnesota
*Grant County, Nebraska
*Grant C ...
* Grant
* Milroy
* Union
Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County () is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977. Its county seat is Lewisburg. The county was formed in 1778 from Botetourt and Montgomery counties in Virginia.
History
P ...
Current
* Central
* Eastern
* Western
Historic
* Anthony's Creek
* Big Levels
* Blue Sulphur
* Falling Spring
* Fort Spring
* Frankford
* Irish Corner
* Lewisburg
* Meadow Bluff
* White Sulphur
* Williamsburg
Hampshire County
* Bloomery
* Capon
* Gore
* Mill Creek
* Romney
* Sherman
* Springfield
Hancock County
Current
* Butler
* Clay
* Grant
Historic
* Poe
Hardy County
* Capon
* Lost River
* Moorefield
* Old Fields
* South Fork
Harrison County
Current
*Eastern
*Northern
*North Urban
*Southern
*South Urban
*Southwest
Historic
* Clark
* Clay
* Coal
* Eagle
* Elk
* Grant
* Sardis
* Simpson
* Southeast
* Suburban
* Tenmile
* Union
Jackson County
Current
* Eastern
* Northern
* Western
Historic
*
Grant
Grant or Grants may refer to:
Places
*Grant County (disambiguation)
Australia
* Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia
United Kingdom
*Castle Grant
United States
* Grant, Alabama
*Grant, Inyo County, C ...
*
Ravenswood
*
Ripley
*
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
*
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
Jefferson County
Current
* Charles Town
* Harpers Ferry
* Kabletown
* Middleway
* Shepherdstown
Historic
* Bolivar
* Potomac
* Shepherd
Kanawha County
Kanawha County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charlest ...
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
* District 4
Historic
* Big Sandy
* Cabin Creek
* Elk
* Jefferson
* Loudon
* Malden
* Poca
* Union
* Washington
* District 5
* District 6
Lewis County
Current
*Courthouse-Collins Settlement
*Freemans Creek
*Hackers Creek-Skin Creek
Historic
* Collins Settlement
* Court House
* Hackers Creek
* Skin Creek
Lincoln County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Carroll
* Duval
* Harts Creek
* Jefferson
* Laurel Hill
* Sheridan
* Union
* Washington
Logan County Logan County is the name of ten current counties and one former county in the United States:
* Logan County, Arkansas
* Logan County, Colorado
* Logan County, Idaho (1889–1895)
* Logan County, Illinois
* Logan County, Kansas
* Logan County, ...
Current
* Central
* Eastern
* Western
Historic
* Buffalo
* Chapmanville
* East
* Guyan
* Hardee
* Island Creek
* Lee
* Logan
* Magnolia
* Northwest
* Triadelphia
* West
Marion County
Current
* Middletown
* Palatine
* West Augusta
Historic
* Fairmont
* Grant
* Lincoln
* Mannington
* Paw Paw
* Union
* Winfield
Marshall County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Cameron
* Clay
* Franklin
* Liberty
* Meade
* Sand Hill
* Union
* Washington
* Webster
Mason County
*
Arbuckle
*
Clendenin
*
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
*
Cooper
Cooper, Cooper's, Coopers and similar may refer to:
* Cooper (profession), a maker of wooden casks and other staved vessels
Arts and entertainment
* Cooper (producers), alias of Dutch producers Klubbheads
* Cooper (video game character), in ...
*
Graham
Graham and Graeme may refer to:
People
* Graham (given name), an English-language given name
* Graham (surname), an English-language surname
* Graeme (surname), an English-language surname
* Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer
* Clan ...
*
Hannan
*
Lewis
Lewis may refer to:
Names
* Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name
* Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname
Music
* Lewis (musician), Canadian singer
* "Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohead ...
*
Robinson Robinson may refer to:
People and names
* Robinson (name)
Fictional characters
* Robinson Crusoe, the main character, and title of a novel by Daniel Defoe, published in 1719
Geography
* Robinson projection, a map projection used since the 1960 ...
*
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
*
Waggener
McDowell County
Current
* Big Creek
* Browns Creek
* North Elkin
* Sandy River
Historic
* Adkin
* Elk
* North Fork
Mercer County
Current
* District I
* District II
* District III
Historic
* Beaver Pond
* East River
* Jumping Branch
* Plymouth
* Rock
Mineral County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Cabin Run
* Elk
* Frankfort
* New Creek
* Piedmont
* Welton
Mingo County
Mingo County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,568. Its county seat and largest city is Williamson. Created in 1895, Mingo is West Virginia's newest county, named for the historic Iroq ...
Current
* Beech Ben Mate
* Kermit Harvey
* Lee
* Magnolia
* Stafford
* Tug Hardee
* Williamson
Historic
* Hardee
* Harvey
* Kermit
* Tug River
Monongalia County
Current
* Central
* Eastern
* Western
Historic
* Battelle
* Cass
* Clay
* Clinton
* Grant
* Morgan
* Union
Monroe County Monroe County may refer to seventeen counties in the United States, all named for James Monroe:
* Monroe County, Alabama
*Monroe County, Arkansas
* Monroe County, Florida
* Monroe County, Georgia
*Monroe County, Illinois
*Monroe County, Indian ...
Current
* Central
* Eastern
* Western
Historic
* Forest Hill
* Red Sulphur
* Second Creek
* Springfield
* Sweet Springs
* Union
* Wolf Creek
Morgan County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Allen
* Bath
* Cacapon
* Rock Gap
* Sleepy Creek
* Timber Ridge
* District 4
Nicholas County
* Beaver
* Grant
* Hamilton
* Jefferson
* Kentucky
* Summersville
* Wilderness
Ohio County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Center
* Clay
* Liberty
* Madison
* Richland
* Ritchie
* Triadelphia
* Union
* Washington
* Webster
Pendleton County
Current
* Central
* Eastern
* Western
Historic
* Bethel
* Circleville
* Franklin
* Mill Run
* Sugar Grove
* Union
Pleasants County
Current
* District A
* District B
* District C
* District D
Historic
* Grant
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* McKim
* Union
* Washington
Pocahontas County
* Edray
* Greenbank
* Huntersville
* Little Levels
Preston County
Preston County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, the population was 34,216. Its county seat is Kingwood, West Virginia, Kingwood. The county was form ...
Current
* First
* Second
* Third
* Fourth
* Fifth
Historic
* Grant
* Kingwood
* Lyon
* Pleasant
* Portland
* Reno
* Union
* Valley
Putnam County
Current
* Buffalo-Union
* Curry
* Pocatalico
* Scott
* Teays
Historic
* Buffalo
* Union
Raleigh County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Clear Fork
* Marsh Fork
* Richmond
* Shady Spring
* Slab Fork
* Town
* Trap Hill
Randolph County Randolph County is the name of eight counties in the United States:
*Randolph County, Alabama
*Randolph County, Arkansas
*Randolph County, Georgia
*Randolph County, Illinois
*Randolph County, Indiana
*Randolph County, Missouri
*Randolph County, Nort ...
* Beverly
* Dry Fork
* Huttonsville
* Leadsville
* Middle Fork
* Mingo
* New Interest
* Roaring Creek
* Valley Bend
Ritchie County
Ritchie County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,444. Its county seat is Harrisville. The county was created in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Richmond newspaper pu ...
* Clay
* Grant
* Murphy
* Union
Roane County
Current
*Eastern
*Northern
*Southern
*Western
Historic
* Curtis
* Geary
* Harper
* Reedy
* Smithfield
* Spencer
* Walton
Summers County
Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,959. Its county seat is Hinton. The county was created by an act of the West Virginia Legislature on February 27, 1871, from pa ...
Current
* Bluestone River
* Greenbrier River
* New River
Historic
* Forest Hill
* Greenbrier
* Green Sulphur
* Jumping Branch
* Pipestem
* Talcott
Taylor County
Current
* Eastern
* Tygart
* Western
Historic
* Booths Creek
* Court House
* Fetterman
* Flemington
* Grafton
* Knottsville
Tucker County
Tucker County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,762, making it West Virginia's fourth-least populous county. Its county seat is Parsons. The county was created in 1856 from a part of ...
* Black Fork
* Clover
* Davis
* Dry Fork
* Fairfax
* Licking
* St. George
Tyler County
Current
* Central
* North
* South
* West
Historic
* Centreville
* Ellsworth
* Lincoln
* McElroy
* Meade
* Union
Upshur County
Current
* First
* Second
* Third
Historic
* Banks
* Buckhannon
* Meade
* Union
* Warren
* Washington
Wayne County
Current
* Butler
* Ceredo
* Stonewall
* Union
* Westmoreland
Historic
* Grant
* Lincoln
Webster County
Current
* Central
* Northern
* Southern
Historic
* Fork Lick
* Glade
* Hacker Valley
* Holly
Wetzel County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Center
* Church
* Clay
* Grant
* Green
* Proctor
* Magnolia
Wirt County
Wirt County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,194, making it the least populous county in West Virginia. Its county seat is Elizabeth. The county was created in 1848 by the Virginia Gene ...
Current
* Central
* Northeast
* Southwest
Historic
* Burning Springs
* Clay
* Elizabeth
* Newark
* Reedy
* Spring Creek
* Tucker
Wood County
* Clay
* Harris
* Lubeck
* Parkersburg
* Slate
* Steele
* Tygart
* Union
* Walker
* Williams
Wyoming County
Current
* District 1
* District 2
* District 3
Historic
* Baileysville
* Barkers Ridge
* Center
* Clear Fork
* Huff Creek
* Oceana
* Slab Fork
References
{{West Virginia
Magisterial districts