Editing List of counties in West Virginia

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Counties of West Virginia
| alt_name           =  
| map                = <imagemap>
Image:West_Virginia_counties_map.png|480px|West Virginia counties (clickable map)

poly 374 56 372 57 375 75 366 55 375 50 372 81 376 75 377 48 [[Hancock County, West Virginia]]
poly 374 101 374 120 373 109 373 101 371 122 374 123 377 122 365 125 376 130 376 98 [[Brooke County, West Virginia]]
poly 236 599 269 625 248 624 263 648 259 654 276 638 276 638 288 625 238 600 231 601 240 611 226 592 241 590 260 656 282 648 299 626 221 603 304 622 280 609 267 638 263 639 235 618 260 658 [[Raleigh County, West Virginia]]
poly 264 544 273 551 267 558 254 563 309 585 289 557 289 559 256 559 270 572 272 582 303 588 319 598 296 551 302 549 266 590 296 595 310 602 325 581 268 536 251 569 259 578 299 542 [[Fayette County, West Virginia]]
poly 200 472 224 517 190 504 185 514 227 540 245 505 240 479 219 470 183 523 177 503 235 552 235 563 243 539 253 515 176 494 169 503 180 523 200 467 192 459 251 477 [[Kanawha County, West Virginia]]
poly 161 682 173 693 213 707 191 683 228 696 234 704 208 717 198 730 164 707 154 686 181 685 185 690 196 694 185 696 164 679 149 679 205 732 239 696 [[McDowell County, West Virginia]]
poly 197 632 235 670 181 658 216 670 239 677 223 637 207 644 190 650 179 661 177 670 244 684 247 675 [[Wyoming County, West Virginia|Wyoming]]
poly 173 553 193 602 201 576 201 553 188 540 206 602 186 602 186 558 160 562 160 576 212 569 220 569 210 582 173 581 175 549 167 549 175 547 [[Boone County, West Virginia|Boone]]
poly 96 602 154 658 140 660 93 612 98 638 104 591 89 604 84 609 149 667 158 655 109 637 123 652 [[Mingo County, West Virginia|Mingo]]
poly 137 590 144 627 168 631 173 635 178 617 186 617 161 590 131 580 121 584 126 609 140 634 158 637 [[Logan County, West Virginia|Logan]]
poly 354 573 362 605 419 598 396 574 405 630 370 627 350 600 450 580 376 556 349 588 419 608 [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]]
poly 275 675 261 714 266 713 302 706 305 692 286 672 265 725 251 712 313 711 [[Mercer County, West Virginia|Mercer]]
poly 311 660 327 657 332 625 332 625 346 633 324 679 298 660 303 648 325 616 321 620 318 625 314 647 303 656 332 619 322 680 [[Summerington County, West Virginia|Summers]]
poly 354 676 390 670 344 684 361 654 363 644 392 652 414 656 409 649 344 696 333 688 392 681 [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe]]
poly 311 512 349 538 347 492 316 511 292 522 338 550 370 530 357 506 341 485 336 515 [[Nicholas County, West Virginia|Nicholas]]
poly 119 520 127 550 160 522 133 566 113 568 105 532 126 513 130 522 160 519 [[Lincoln County, West Virginia|Lincoln]]
poly 440 522 440 546 414 550 462 509 481 482 467 539 448 557 465 555 420 559 504 463 498 445 511 452 435 496 501 497 430 508 418 526 416 532 [[Pocahontas County, West Virginia|Pocahontas]]
poly 66 517 82 567 61 538 71 577 96 561 74 587 58 503 78 520 86 525 88 535 88 551 49 542 49 522 [[Wayne County, West Virginia|Wayne]]
poly 109 470 109 494 82 493 104 506 102 511 125 480 108 461 98 476 76 492 86 506 [[Cabell County, West Virginia|Cabell]]
poly 297 457 308 483 282 495 275 504 274 510 299 500 316 477 266 481 268 491 311 468 285 467 [[Clay County, West Virginia|Clay]]
poly 153 464 147 492 147 508 176 449 141 451 141 467 141 482 183 443 142 502 [[Putnam County, West Virginia|Putnam]]
poly 142 390 148 428 121 442 125 458 164 427 130 400 123 416 133 427 123 434 150 375 138 379 [[Mason County, West Virginia|Mason]]
poly 202 377 205 408 204 440 184 410 201 446 205 453 209 382 192 368 188 391 195 412 172 397 199 405 203 452 215 448 [[Jackson County, West Virginia|Jackson]]
poly 242 414 232 448 264 457 259 421 232 401 253 400 229 394 226 423 228 452 258 462 274 457 246 450 [[Roane County, West Virginia|Roane]]
poly 236 306 226 329 208 353 198 337 254 320 248 334 220 347 210 357 194 349 196 325 230 297 [[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood]]
poly 280 385 286 423 288 440 292 379 279 376 267 387 273 409 [[Calhoun County, West Virginia|Calhoun]]
poly 236 354 244 372 248 352 226 365 225 380 247 384 264 374 251 389 250 350 223 361 [[Wirt County, West Virginia|Wirt]]
poly 263 305 290 292 259 305 295 297 293 285 263 310 257 302 263 295 266 309 297 301 [[Pleasants County, West Virginia|Pleasants]]
poly 271 320 299 338 305 360 270 347 264 335 306 320 318 339 311 311 316 349 319 356 330 345 296 313 [[Ritchie County, West Virginia|Ritchie]]
poly 318 375 312 407 308 417 331 404 348 392 340 365 [[Gilmer County, West Virginia|Gilmer]]
poly 324 441 350 420 363 402 379 415 351 458 369 452 328 453 309 440 329 424 [[Braxton County, West Virginia|Braxton]]
poly 392 448 381 484 412 455 421 483 401 501 383 505 399 511 370 491 362 475 400 450 [[Webster County, West Virginia|Webster]]
poly 320 269 330 289 312 276 305 263 332 261 332 296 307 287 346 280 [[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler]]
poly 354 294 355 320 344 339 364 331 348 346 332 319 325 319 369 294 370 301 338 344 [[Doddridge County, West Virginia|Doddridge]]
poly 380 352 397 389 366 369 363 369 352 361 402 361 403 369 389 402 374 387 371 349 [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]]
poly 493 392 468 436 450 451 531 393 491 373 471 393 457 405 445 436 441 461 460 471 477 458 [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]]
poly 559 411 554 449 562 478 579 480 590 450 598 426 570 400 539 451 548 461 [[Pendleton County, West Virginia|Pendleton]]
poly 423 376 423 405 408 418 430 416 442 404 442 374 425 363 409 387 407 421 415 428 [[Upshur County, West Virginia|Upshur]]
poly 460 332 466 367 482 323 476 372 440 345 462 374 443 336 476 326 477 319 431 346 [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour]]
poly 361 150 372 160 369 144 359 137 371 138 375 159 354 157 377 162 [[Ohio County, West Virginia|Ohio]]
poly 355 176 370 196 375 216 343 219 333 218 376 219 344 198 342 210 335 218 350 216 [[Marshall County, West Virginia|Marshall]]
poly 352 243 373 268 349 266 378 277 386 237 330 240 341 253 [[Wetzel County, West Virginia|Wetzel]]
poly 406 293 409 337 384 336 421 346 421 304 387 295 389 312 386 322 390 331 [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]]
poly 446 241 476 270 484 241 492 234 407 239 [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia]]
poly 413 266 438 284 459 284 434 258 400 273 399 252 [[Marion County, West Virginia|Marion]]
poly 440 298 448 308 473 294 475 308 447 317 [[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor]]
poly 510 239 534 241 534 298 496 286 495 310 509 313 536 319 501 262 [[Preston County, West Virginia|Preston]]
poly 514 341 515 360 554 372 560 342 513 330 497 340 507 358 [[Tucker County, West Virginia|Tucker]]
poly 583 322 599 334 597 372 579 383 600 396 608 332 570 327 585 357 584 363 576 374 [[Grant County, West Virginia|Grant]]
poly 607 300 651 274 653 261 626 308 625 320 590 303 [[Mineral County, West Virginia|Mineral]]
poly 628 347 635 391 640 401 673 365 683 356 631 338 [[Hardy County, West Virginia|Hardy]]
poly 682 273 699 309 651 320 702 340 671 338 678 285 662 294 714 285 643 324 [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire]]
poly 727 259 752 245 727 269 740 275 743 267 745 260 [[Morgan County, West Virginia|Morgan]]
poly 767 266 773 295 754 291 783 255 802 271 [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley]]
poly 804 300 791 311 808 289 808 321 797 323 805 332 783 314 807 282 [[Jefferson County, West Virginia|Jefferson]]

</imagemap>

| category           = 
| territory          = [[State of West Virginia]]
| start_date         =
| current_number     = 55
| number_date        =
| population_range   =  4,924 ([[Wirt County, West Virginia|Wirt]]) – 173,906 ([[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]])
| area_range         =  {{Convert|83|sqmi}} ([[Hancock County, West Virginia|Hancock]]) – {{Convert|1040|sqmi}} ([[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]])
| government         = [[County government]]
| subdivision        = cities, towns, unincorporated communities, [[census designated place]]
}}

The [[U.S. state]] of [[West Virginia]] has 55 [[County (United States)|counties]]. Fifty of them existed at the time of the [[Wheeling Convention]] in 1861, during the [[American Civil War]], when those counties seceded from the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]] to form the new state of West Virginia.<ref name="WV County Founding Dates and Etymology"/> West Virginia was admitted as a separate state of the United States on June 20, 1863.<ref name="WV Statehood">{{cite book |title= Commonwealth of Virginia, plaintiff vs.&nbsp;... State of West Virginia, defendant|last= Littlefield |first= Charles |year= 1910|publisher= Lovett Printing Company |edition= 1st |location= Charleston, WV |pages=9–10 }} (WV Statehood). Other editions available at {{ISBN|9781274843111}} and [https://books.google.com/books?id=3jguAAAAYAAJ&q=Commonwealth+of+Virginia+versus+West+Virginia Google Books]</ref> Five additional counties ([[Grant County, West Virginia|Grant]], [[Mineral County, West Virginia|Mineral]], [[Lincoln County, West Virginia|Lincoln]], [[Summers County, West Virginia|Summers]], and [[Mingo County, West Virginia|Mingo]]) were formed from the original counties<ref name="WV County Founding Dates and Etymology"/> in the decades following admission.

After the Civil War, [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley County]] and [[Jefferson County, West Virginia|Jefferson County]], the two easternmost counties of West Virginia, refused to recognize their inclusion in the state, and the [[Virginia General Assembly]] passed legislation attempting to reclaim them. In March 1866, the [[United States Congress]] passed a joint mandate assenting to their inclusion in the new state, and the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] confirmed this outcome in the case of ''[[Virginia v. West Virginia]]'' (1871).<ref name="WV State shape">{{cite book |title= West Virginia, A History|last1= Rice |first1= Otis |last2=Brown|first2=Stephen|name-list-style=amp|year= 1993|publisher= University Press of Kentucky|edition =2nd|location= Lexington |page=153 }} (WV State Boundaries). Other editions available: {{ISBN|9780813118543}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=August 5, 2020|title=August 5, 1863: Berkeley Co. Admitted to New State of WV|url=https://www.wvpublic.org/radio/2020-08-05/august-5-1863-berkeley-co-admitted-to-new-state-of-wv|access-date=November 18, 2021|website=WVPB|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Constitution of West Virginia|West Virginia Constitution]] was ratified in 1872, replacing the state constitution created in 1863 when West Virginia became a state.<ref name="Bastress">{{cite book |title= The West Virginia Constitution: A Reference Guide|last= Bastress |first= Robert |year= 1995|publisher= Greenwood Press |location= Westport, CT |page= 18 |isbn=0313274096 }}</ref>  Article 9, Section 8, of the West Virginia Constitution permits the creation of additional counties if a majority of citizens in the proposed new county vote for its creation and the new county has a minimum area of {{convert|400|sqmi|0}} and a population of at least 6,000. Creation of a new county is prohibited if it would bring another county below these thresholds.<ref name="WV Code">{{cite book |title= The Code of West Virginia|last= Warth |first= John |year= 1887|publisher= West Virginia Printing Company, Printers and Binders |location= Wheeling and Charleston WV|pages= 271–273}} Other editions available at {{ISBN|9781231066737}} and [https://books.google.com/books?id=6GsnAAAAYAAJ Google Books].</ref> Three counties ([[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]], [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], and [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]]) have sufficient population (based on the 2020 [[United States Census]]) and land area to allow a new county to be split off.<ref name="WV Code" /><ref name="NACO" /><ref name="WV Census QuickFacts">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.html|title=West Virginia QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 4, 2013}} (2010 Census)</ref> The remaining counties cannot be split, as either their land area would decrease to under 400 square miles, or their population would decrease to below 6,000.<ref name="WV Code" /><ref name="NACO" /><ref name="WV Census QuickFacts" />

The role of counties in local government had been minimized under the 1863 constitution, which vested most local government authority in a system of townships based on the [[New England town|New England model]]. The authors of the 1872 constitution chose to return to the system used in Virginia, in which each county was governed by a county court with combined authority for executive, legislative, and judicial functions of the county government.<ref>{{harvp|Bastress|1995| p= 20}}.</ref> In 1880, West Virginia amended its constitution and replaced the county court system with an arrangement that divides county government powers between seven county offices, each of which is independently elected: the county commission, county clerk, circuit clerk, county sheriff, county assessor, county prosecuting attorney, and county surveyor of lands.<ref name="WV County Functions">{{cite book |title= West Virginia Politics and Government|last= Brisbin |first= Richard |year= 1996|publisher= University of Nebraska Press|pages= 142–146 |isbn=0803212712}}</ref> Counties have only those powers that are expressly granted to them by the state Constitution or by state statute. These powers include, but are not limited to, maintaining the infrastructure of the state, funding libraries, maintaining jails and hospitals, and waste disposal.<ref name="WV County Functions"/> Reforming public education became a county function in 1933. In May 1933, a county unit plan was adopted. Under this plan, the state's 398 school districts were consolidated into the current 55 county school systems. This enabled public schools to be funded more economically and saved West Virginia millions of dollars.<ref>{{harvp|Rice|Brown|1993|p= 247}}.</ref>

Randolph County is the largest by area at {{convert|1040|sqmi|0}}, and [[Hancock County, West Virginia|Hancock County]] is the smallest at {{convert|83|sqmi|0}}.<ref name="WV Census QuickFacts"/> Kanawha County contributed land to the founding of 12 West Virginia counties<ref name="WV Culture and History"/> and has the largest population (173,906 in 2024). [[Wirt County, West Virginia|Wirt County]] has the smallest population (4,924 in 2024).<ref name="Census"/> The oldest county is [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire]], established in 1754, and the newest is Mingo, established in 1895.<ref name="WV County Founding Dates and Etymology"/> [[Spruce Knob]], located in [[Pendleton County, West Virginia|Pendleton County]], is the state's highest point at {{convert|4863|ft|0}}.<ref name="Pendleton County History">{{cite book |title= A History of Pendleton County, West Virginia|last= Morton |first= Oren |year= 1910|publisher= Ruebush-Elkins Company|edition=1st|location= Dayton, VA |page= 3}} Other editions available at {{ISBN|9781165299102}}.</ref> [[Federal Information Processing Standard]] (FIPS) codes, which are used by the United States government to identify counties uniquely, are five-digit numbers. For West Virginia, they start with 54 and end with the three-digit county code (for example, Barbour County has FIPS code 54001). Each county's code is provided in the table below, linked to census data for that county.<ref name="FIPS"/>

{{clear}}

==Counties==
{{Countytabletop
|+ List of West Virginia counties
| region_width      = 
| fips_ref          = <ref name="FIPS">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/wv.html |title=EPA County FIPS Code Listing |work=EPA.gov |access-date=February 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321202643/http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/wv.html |archive-date=March 21, 2014 }}</ref>
| region_seat_width = 10px
| region_seat_title = County seat
| region_seat_ref   = <ref name="NACO">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|title=Find A County|publisher=National Association of Counties|access-date=February 4, 2013}} (Find a county)</ref>
| data2_width       = 
| data2_title       = {{abbr|Est.|Established}}
| data2_ref         = <ref name="WV County Founding Dates and Etymology">{{cite book |title= History and Government of West Virginia|last= Lewis |first= Virgil |year= 1896|publisher= Werner School Book Company |edition= 1st|location= New York|pages= 264–270}} (WV County Founding Dates and Etymology). Other editions available at [[ASIN]] [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009CI6FRI B009CI6FRI] and [https://books.google.com/books?id=xrgUAAAAYAAJ Google Books].</ref>
| data3_width       = 
| data3_title       = Origin
| data3_ref         = <ref name="WV County Founding Dates and Etymology"/><ref name="WV Culture and History">{{cite web|url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |title=West Virginia Counties |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History |access-date=February 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010923185022/http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |archive-date=September 23, 2001 }} (WV County Formation)</ref>
| data4_width       = 
| data4_unsortable  = yes
| data4_title       = Etymology
| data4_ref         = <ref name="WV County Founding Dates and Etymology"/><ref name="WV Culture and History"/>
| population_ref    = <ref name="Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WV/PST045219 |title=West Virginia QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 14, 2025}} (2024 Census estimate)</ref>
| area_ref          = <ref name="NACO"/>
}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=001| Name=Barbour| Seat=Philippi| Data2=1843 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]], [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]], and [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]] counties| Data4=[[Philip P. Barbour]]<br> (1783–1841) <br>[[United States Speaker of the House]] <br>(1821–23) |Population=15369| Area=341| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=003| Name=Berkeley| Seat=Martinsburg| Data2=1772 | Data3= [[Frederick County, Virginia|Frederick County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt|Norborne Berkeley]]<br> (1717–70)<br>[[Royal Governor of Virginia]] <br>(1768–70) | Population=136287| Area=321| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=005| Name=Boone| Seat=Madison| Data2=1847 | Data3= [[Cabell County, West Virginia|Cabell]], [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], and [[Logan County, West Virginia|Logan]] counties| Data4=[[Daniel Boone]] <br>(1734–1820)<br>American frontiersman| Population=20496| Area=503| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=007| Name=Braxton| Seat=Sutton| Data2=1836 | Data3= [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]], and [[Nicholas County, West Virginia|Nicholas]] counties| Data4=[[Carter Braxton]]<br> (1736–97)<br>Signer of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]| Population=12051| Area=514| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=009| Name=Brooke| Seat=Wellsburg| Data2=1796 | Data3= [[Ohio County, West Virginia|Ohio County]]| Data4=[[Robert Brooke (Virginia governor)|Robert Brooke]]<br> (1761–1800)<br>[[Governor of Virginia]] <br> (1794–96)| Population=21285| Area=89| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=011|Name=Cabell| Seat=Huntington| Data2=1809 | Data3= [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha County]]| Data4=[[William H. Cabell]] <br>(1772–1853)<br>[[Governor of Virginia]] <br> (1805–08)| Population=91489| Area=282| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=013| Name=Calhoun| Seat=Grantsville| Data2=1856 | Data3= [[Gilmer County, West Virginia|Gilmer County]]| Data4=[[John C. Calhoun]] <br>(1782–1850)<br>[[United States Vice President]]<br>(1825–32)| Population=5873| Area=281| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=015| Name=Clay| Seat=Clay| Data2=1858 | Data3= [[Braxton County, West Virginia|Braxton]] and [[Nicholas County, West Virginia|Nicholas]] counties| Data4=[[Henry Clay]] <br>(1777–1852)<br>[[United States Senator]] [[Kentucky]]<br>(1823–25)<br>[[United States Speaker of the House]] <br> (1849–52)| Population=7689| Area=342| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=017| Name=Doddridge| Seat=West Union| Data2=1845 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]],  [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]], [[Ritchie County, West Virginia|Ritchie]], and [[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler]] counties| Data4=[[Philip Doddridge (Virginia politician)|Philip Doddridge]] <br>(1773–1832)<br>[[United States Congressman]] (Virginia)<br>(1829–32)| Population=7615| Area=320| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=019| Name=Fayette| Seat=Fayetteville| Data2=1831 | Data3= [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]], [[Logan County, West Virginia|Logan]], and [[Nicholas County, West Virginia|Nicholas]] counties| Data4=[[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]]<br>(1757–1834)<br>French-born [[American Revolutionary War]] General| Population=38600| Area=664| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=021| Name=Gilmer| Seat=Glenville| Data2=1845 | Data3= [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]] and [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]] counties| Data4=[[Thomas Walker Gilmer]]<br>(1802–44)<br>[[United States Secretary of the Navy]]<br>(1844)<br>Governor of Virginia<br> (1840–41)| Population=7116| Area=340| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=023| Name=Grant| Seat=Petersburg| Data2=1866 | Data3= [[Hardy County, West Virginia|Hardy County]]| Data4=[[Ulysses S. Grant]]<br>(1822–85)<br>[[United States President]]<br>(1869–77)| Population=10971| Area=477| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=025| Name=Greenbrier| Seat=Lewisburg| Data2=1778 | Data3= [[Montgomery County, Virginia|Montgomery County (Virginia)]] and [[Botetourt County, Virginia|Botetourt County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[Greenbrier River]]| Population=31851| Area=1021| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=027| Name=Hampshire| Seat=Romney| Data2=1754 | Data3= [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County (Virginia)]] and [[Frederick County, Virginia|Frederick County (Virginia)]]| Data4=County of [[Hampshire]] in [[England]]| Population=23793| Area=642| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=029| Name=Hancock| Seat=New Cumberland| Data2=1848 | Data3= [[Brooke County, West Virginia|Brooke County]]| Data4=[[John Hancock]] <br>(1737–93)<br>One of the [[Signers of the Declaration of Independence]] <br>[[Governor of Massachusetts]]<br> (1780–85)<br> and (1787–93)| Population=28054| Area=83| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=031| Name=Hardy| Seat=Moorefield| Data2=1786 | Data3= [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire County]]| Data4=[[Samuel Hardy]]<br> (1758–85)<br>Virginia delegate to the [[Continental Congress]] <br>(1783–85)| Population=14335| Area=583| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=033| Name=Harrison| Seat=Clarksburg| Data2=1784 | Data3= [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]]| Data4=[[Benjamin Harrison V]] <br>(1726–91)<br>Governor of Virginia<br> (1781–84)| Population=64472| Area=416| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=035| Name=Jackson| Seat=Ripley| Data2=1831 | Data3= [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], [[Mason County, West Virginia|Mason]], and [[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood]] counties| Data4=[[Andrew Jackson]] <br>(1767–1845)<br>[[United States President]]<br>(1829–37) | Population=27718| Area=466| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=037| Name=Jefferson| Seat=Charles Town| Data2=1801 | Data3= [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley County]]| Data4=[[Thomas Jefferson]] <br>(1743–1826)<br>[[United States President]]<br>(1801–09)| Population=61264| Area=210| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=039| Name=Kanawha| Seat=Charleston| Data2=1789 | Data3= [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]] and [[Montgomery County, Virginia|Montgomery County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[Kanawha River]]| Population=173906| Area=903| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=041| Name=Lewis| Seat=Weston| Data2=1816 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]]| Data4= Charles Lewis<br>(1736–74)<br> American Colonel killed at the <br> [[Battle of Point Pleasant]]<ref name="Charles Lewis bio data">{{cite book |title= American Historical Magazine Volume 3|last= McCulloch  |first= Delia |year= 1908|publisher= Americana Society |location= New York NY|pages= 628–629}} Available at {{ISBN|1144825210}} and [https://books.google.com/books?id=aWQKAQAAMAAJ Google Books].</ref>|Population=16477| Area=389| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=043| Name=Lincoln| Seat=Hamlin| Data2=1867 | Data3= [[Boone County, West Virginia|Boone]], [[Cabell County, West Virginia|Cabell]], [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], and [[Putnam County, West Virginia|Putnam]] counties| Data4=[[Abraham Lincoln]]<br> (1809–65)<br>[[United States President]]<br>(1861–65)| Population=19377| Area=438| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=045| Name=Logan| Seat=Logan| Data2=1824 | Data3= [[Cabell County, West Virginia|Cabell]] and [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]] counties, [[Giles County, Virginia|Giles County (Virginia)]], and [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[Chief Logan]]<br>({{Circa|1723}}-80)<br>Mingo leader| Population=30560| Area=454| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=049| Name=Marion| Seat=Fairmont| Data2=1842 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]] and [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia]] counties| Data4=[[Francis Marion]]<br>(1732–95)<br>[[American Revolutionary War]]  General<br>(1757–82)| Population=55649| Area=310| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=051| Name=Marshall| Seat=Moundsville| Data2=1835 | Data3= [[Ohio County, West Virginia|Ohio County]]| Data4=[[John Marshall]]<br>(1755–1835)<br>[[United States Secretary of State]]<br> (1800–01)<br>[[Chief Justice of the United States]]<br>(1801–35)| Population=29354| Area=307| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=053| Name=Mason| Seat=Point Pleasant| Data2=1804 | Data3= [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha County]]| Data4=[[George Mason]]<br> (1725–92)<br>[[United States Constitutional Convention]]<br>"Father of the Bill of Rights"| Population=24770| Area=432| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=047| Name=McDowell| Seat=Welch| Data2=1858 | Data3= [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[James McDowell]]<br> (1795–1851)<br>Governor of Virginia<br> (1843–46) | Population=17147| Area=535| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=055| Name=Mercer| Seat=Princeton| Data2=1837 | Data3= [[Giles County, Virginia|Giles County (Virginia)]] and [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[Hugh Mercer]]<br>(1726–77)<br>[[American Revolutionary War]] General<br>(1775–76)| Population=57524| Area=420| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=057| Name=Mineral| Seat=Keyser| Data2=1866 | Data3= [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire County]]| Data4=abundant mineral resources| Population=26778| Area=328| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=059| Name=Mingo| Seat=Williamson| Data2=1895 | Data3= [[Logan County, West Virginia|Logan County]]| Data4=[[Mingo]] Native Americans| Population=21712| Area=423| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=061| Name=Monongalia| Seat=Morgantown| Data2=1776 | Data3= [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County (Virginia)]]| Data4=Latin derivation for [[Monongahela River]]| Population=108697| Area=361| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=063| Name=Monroe| Noseat=[[Union, Monroe County, West Virginia|Union]]| Data2=1799 | Data3= [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier County]]| Data4=[[James Monroe]]<br>(1758–1831)<br>[[United States Senator]] (Virginia)<br>(1790–94)<br>Governor of Virginia<br> (1799–1802)<br> and (1811)<br>[[United States President]]<br>(1817–25)| Population=12462| Area=473| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=065| Name=Morgan| Seat=Berkeley Springs| Data2=1820 | Data3= [[Berkeley County, West Virginia|Berkeley]] and [[Hampshire County, West Virginia|Hampshire]] counties| Data4=[[Daniel Morgan]]<br> (1736–1802)<br>[[United States Congressman]] (Virginia) <br>(1797–99) | Population=17780| Area=229| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=067| Name=Nicholas| Seat=Summersville| Data2=1818 | Data3= [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]], [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], and [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]] counties| Data4=[[Wilson Cary Nicholas]]<br> (1761–1820)<br>[[United States Senator]] (Virginia)<br>(1799–1804)<br>Governor of Virginia<br> (1814–16)| Population=24017| Area=649| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=069| Name=Ohio| Seat=Wheeling| Data2=1776 | Data3= [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County (Virginia)]]| Data4=[[Ohio River]]| Population=41090| Area=106| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=071| Name=Pendleton| Seat=Franklin| Data2=1788 | Data3= [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County (Virginia)]], [[Rockingham County, Virginia|Rockingham County (Virginia)]], and [[Hardy County, West Virginia|Hardy]]| Data4=[[Edmund Pendleton]] <br>(1721–1803)<br>[[First Continental Congress]]<br>(1774)| Population=5944| Area=698| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=073| Name=Pleasants| Seat=Saint Marys| Data2=1851 | Data3= [[Ritchie County, West Virginia|Ritchie]], [[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler]], and [[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood]] counties| Data4=[[James Pleasants|James Pleasants, Jr.]] <br>(1769–1836)<br>[[United States Senator]] (Virginia) <br>(1819–22)<br>Governor of Virginia<br>(1822–25)| Population=7358| Area=131| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=075| Name=Pocahontas| Seat=Marlinton| Data2=1821 | Data3= [[Bath County, Virginia|Bath County (Virginia)]], [[Pendleton County, West Virginia|Pendleton]], and [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]]| Data4=[[Pocahontas]] <br>({{circa|1595}}–1617)<br>[[Powhatan]] Native American| Population=7653| Area=940| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=077| Name=Preston| Seat=Kingwood| Data2=1818 | Data3= [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]]| Data4=[[James Patton Preston]]<br>(1774–1843)<br>Governor of Virginia<br>(1816–19)| Population=34055| Area=648| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=079| Name=Putnam| Seat=Winfield| Data2=1848 | Data3= [[Cabell County, West Virginia|Cabell]], [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]], and [[Mason County, West Virginia|Mason]] counties| Data4=[[Israel Putnam]]<br>(1718–90)<br>[[American Revolutionary War]] General| Population=57067| Area=346| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=081| Name=Raleigh| Seat=Beckley| Data2=1850 | Data3= [[Fayette County, West Virginia|Fayette County]]| Data4=[[Walter Raleigh|Sir Walter Raleigh]]<br>(1554–1618)<br>English explorer and poet| Population=72379| Area=607| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=083| Name=Randolph| Seat=Elkins| Data2=1787 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]]| Data4=[[Edmund Randolph|Edmund Jennings Randolph]]<br>(1753–1813)<br>Governor of Virginia<br>(1786–88)<br>First [[United States Attorney General]]<br>(1789–94)| Population=27190| Area=1040| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=085| Name=Ritchie| Seat=Harrisville| Data2=1843 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]], [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]], and [[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood]] counties| Data4=[[Thomas Ritchie (journalist)|Thomas Ritchie]]<br>(1778–1854)<br>nationally influential Virginia newspaper publisher| Population=8170| Area=454| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=087| Name=Roane| Seat=Spencer| Data2=1856 | Data3= [[Gilmer County, West Virginia|Gilmer]], [[Jackson County, West Virginia|Jackson]], and [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha]] counties| Data4=[[Spencer Roane]]<br>(1762–1822)<br>[[Virginia Supreme Court]] Justice <br>(1794–1822)| Population=13540| Area=484| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=089| Name=Summers| Seat=Hinton| Data2=1871 | Data3= [[Fayette County, West Virginia|Fayette]], [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier]], [[Mercer County, West Virginia|Mercer]], and [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe]] counties| Data4=[[George W. Summers]]<br>(1804–68)<br>[[United States Congressman]] (Virginia)<br>(1843)| Population=11544| Area=361| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=091| Name=Taylor| Seat=Grafton| Data2=1844 | Data3= [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour]], [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]], [[Marion County, West Virginia|Marion]] counties| Data4=[[John Taylor of Caroline]]<br>(1753–1824)<br>[[United States Senator]] (Virginia)<br>(1792–94) and <br>(1803) and <br>(1822–24)| Population=16438| Area=173| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=093| Name=Tucker| Seat=Parsons| Data2=1856 | Data3= [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph County]]| Data4=[[Henry St. George Tucker, Sr.|Henry St. George Tucker]]<br>(1780–1848)<br>[[United States Congressman]] (Virginia)<br>(1815–19)<br>[[Virginia Supreme Court]]<br>(1831–41)| Population=6573| Area=419| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=095| Name=Tyler| Seat=Middlebourne| Data2=1814 | Data3= [[Ohio County, West Virginia|Ohio County]]| Data4=[[John Tyler, Sr.]]<br>(1747–1813)<br>Governor of Virginia<br>(1808–11)| Population=7843| Area=258| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=097| Name=Upshur| Seat=Buckhannon| Data2=1851 | Data3= [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour]], [[Lewis County, West Virginia|Lewis]], and [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]] counties| Data4=[[Abel P. Upshur|Abel Parker Upshur]]<br>(1790–1844)<br>[[United States Secretary of the Navy]]<br>(1841–43)<br>[[United States Secretary of State]]<br>(1843–44)| Population=23650| Area=355| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=099| Name=Wayne| Seat=Wayne| Data2=1842 | Data3= [[Cabell County, West Virginia|Cabell County]]| Data4=[[Anthony Wayne|"Mad" Anthony Wayne]]<br>Major General<br>(1745–96)<br>[[American Revolutionary War]]<br>(1775–83)<br>and (1792–96)<br>[[United States Congressman]] [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]<br>(1791)| Population=37589| Area=506| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=101| Name=Webster| Seat=Webster Springs| Data2=1860 | Data3= [[Braxton County, West Virginia|Braxton]], [[Nicholas County, West Virginia|Nicholas]], and [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph]] counties| Data4=[[Daniel Webster]]<br>(1782–1852)<br>[[United States Senator]] [[Massachusetts]]<br>(1827–41) and<br>(1845–50)<br> [[United States Secretary of State]]<br>(1841–53) and <br>(1850–52)| Population=7947| Area=556| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=103| Name=Wetzel| Seat=New Martinsville| Data2=1846 | Data3= [[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler County]]| Data4=[[Lewis Wetzel]]<br>(1763–1808)<br>noted frontiersman| Population=13766| Area=359| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=105| Name=Wirt| Seat=Elizabeth| Data2=1848 | Data3= [[Jackson County, West Virginia|Jackson]] and [[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood]] counties| Data4=[[William Wirt (Attorney General)|William Wirt]]<br>(1772–1834)<br>[[United States Attorney General]]<br>(1817–29)| Population=4924| Area=233| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=107| Name=Wood| Seat=Parkersburg| Data2=1798 | Data3= [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]]| Data4=[[James Wood (governor)|James Wood]]<br>(1741–1813)<br>Governor of Virginia<br>(1796–99)| Population=82757| Area=367| Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow|N=54|Num=109| Name=Wyoming| Seat=Pineville| Data2=1850 | Data3= [[Logan County, West Virginia|Logan County]]| Data4=derived from [[Lenape]] Native American term for "wide plain"| Population=19964| Area=501| Size=100px}}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of governors of West Virginia]]
* [[List of National Historic Landmarks in West Virginia]]
* [[List of West Virginia counties by socioeconomic factors]]

== Further reading==
* {{cite web |last1=writer |first1=Statf |author-link1= |collaboration= |df= |year=2022 |location= |title=WEST VIRGINIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT OVERVIEW |url=https://ce.naco.org//app/profiles/CountyGov/CountyGov_54000.pdf |url-access= |format= |department= |website=ce.naco.org |type= |language= |edition= |agency=National Association of Counties (NACo) |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |ref= }}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{U.S. Counties}}
{{West Virginia}}
{{featured list}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Counties In West Virginia}}
[[Category:West Virginia counties| ]]
[[Category:Lists of counties of the United States by state|West Virginia, counties in]]
[[Category:Local government in West Virginia|Counties]]
[[Category:West Virginia geography-related lists|Counties in West Virginia, List of]]