List of magisterial districts in West Virginia

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1970 map of West Virginia, showing all of the counties, magisterial districts, and municipalities. West Virginia; county subdivisions, magisterial districts and places. 1970. LOC gm72003080.jpg
1970 map of West Virginia, showing all of the counties, magisterial districts, and municipalities.

The U.S. state of West Virginia is divided into fifty-five counties, each of which is further subdivided into magisterial districts. The U.S. Census Bureau 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. [1]

Contents

After attaining independence from Virginia in 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, 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. [2] Following the adoption of the Constitution of West Virginia in 1872, the townships were converted into magisterial districts, and the county courts (later county commissions) empowered to establish, consolidate, or otherwise modify them. [3]

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. [3]

The only state other than West Virginia to use magisterial districts as a minor civil division of its counties is Virginia, [1] which like West Virginia initially established a system of civil townships, in its Constitution of 1870. These were replaced by magisterial districts in 1874. [4]

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, Mason, Ohio, and Wood Counties each contained ten districts, the maximum number provided for by state law. Brooke, Grant, and Hancock 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, and nine counties each had districts named for George Washington and Henry Clay.

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. [5] This created confusion with county land and tax records, in response to which the legislature 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. [6]

A List of the current and former magisterial districts of West Virginia, sorted by county: [1] [7]

Barbour County

Current

Historic

Berkeley County

Current

Historic

Boone County

Current

Historic

Braxton County

Current

Historic

Brooke County

Current

Historic

Cabell County

Current

Historic

Calhoun County

Current

Historic

Clay County

Current

Historic

Doddridge County

Current

Historic

Fayette County

Current

Historic

Gilmer County

Current

Historic

Grant County

Greenbrier County

Current

Historic

Hampshire County

Hancock County

Current

Historic

Hardy County

Harrison County

Current

Historic

Jackson County

Current

Historic

Jefferson County

Current

Historic

Kanawha County

Current

Historic

Lewis County

Current

Historic

Lincoln County

Current

Historic

Logan County

Current

Historic

Marion County

Current

Historic

Marshall County

Current

Historic

Mason County

McDowell County

Current

Historic

Mercer County

Current

Historic

Mineral County

Current

Historic

Mingo County

Current

Historic

Monongalia County

Current

Historic

Monroe County

Current

Historic

Morgan County

Current

Historic

Nicholas County

Ohio County

Current

Historic

Pendleton County

Current

Historic

Pleasants County

Current

Historic

Pocahontas County

Preston County

Current

Historic

Putnam County

Current

Historic

Raleigh County

Current

Historic

Randolph County

Ritchie County

Roane County

Current

Historic

Summers County

Current

Historic

Taylor County

Current

Historic

Tucker County

Tyler County

Current

Historic

Upshur County

Current

Historic

Wayne County

Current

Historic

Webster County

Current

Historic

Wetzel County

Current

Historic

Wirt County

Current

Historic

Wood County

Wyoming County

Current

Historic

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham District, Mason County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Graham Magisterial District is one of ten magisterial districts in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. In 2020, Graham District was home to 2,618 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waggener District, Mason County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Waggener Magisterial District is one of ten magisterial districts in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. In 2020, Waggener District was home to 2,483 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooper District, Mason County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Cooper Magisterial District is one of ten magisterial districts in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. In 2020, Cooper District was home to 1,700 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cologne District, Mason County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Cologne Magisterial District is one of ten magisterial districts in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. In 2020, Cologne District was home to 1,413 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arbuckle District, Mason County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Arbuckle Magisterial District is one of ten magisterial districts in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. In 2020, Arbuckle District was home to 1,054 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannan District, Mason County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Hannan Magisterial District is one of ten magisterial districts in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. In 2020, Clendenin District was home to 2,688 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant District, Jackson County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Grant District, formerly Grant Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, the area of Grant District was included in the new Northern Magisterial District. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravenswood District, Jackson County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Ravenswood District, formerly Ravenswood Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally known as Gilmore Township, one of five civil townships established in 1863; the name officially became "Ravenswood" in 1871, and Jackson County's townships were converted into magisterial districts in 1872. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, the area of Ravenswood District was divided between the new Northern and Western Magisterial Districts. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union District, Jackson County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Union District, formerly Union Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally known as Hushan's Mills Township, one of five civil townships established in 1863, at the height of the Civil War; it was subsequently given the patriotic name of Union Township. In 1872, West Virginia's townships were converted into magisterial districts. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, the area of Union District was included in the new Western Magisterial District. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ripley District, Jackson County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Ripley District, formerly Ripley Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally known as Mill Creek Township, one of five civil townships established in Jackson County after West Virginia became a state in 1863; it was renamed "Ripley Township" after its chief town in 1871, and the following year, all of West Virginia's townships were converted into magisterial districts. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, the area of Ripley District was divided between the new Eastern and Western Magisterial Districts. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington District, Jackson County, West Virginia</span> Magisterial district in West Virginia, United States

Washington District, formerly Washington Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as one of five civil townships in Jackson County after West Virginia became a state in 1863; in 1872, all of West Virginia's townships were converted into magisterial districts. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, Washington District was combined with the eastern portion of Ripley District, including the city of Ripley, to form the new Eastern Magisterial District. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.

References

  1. 1 2 3 United States Census Bureau. Geographic Areas Reference Manual: Chapter 8 - County Subdivisions (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  2. ↑ Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  3. 1 2 W. Va. Code § 7–2–2.
  4. ↑ Library of Virginia, "A Guide to the Frederick County (Va.) Township Records, 1871–1875" (2010).
  5. ↑ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions of West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  6. ↑ W. Va. Code § 11–3–1A.
  7. ↑ United States Census Bureau. West Virginia: County Subdivisions – Magisterial Districts and Places. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
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