Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-04-18
Formation of West Virginia Counties.

Civil government was first established
in West Virginia in the eastern Pan Han
die, then within the jurisdiction OF Spot
sylvania county; and secondly in the
Greenbrier Valley within the bounds OF
Augusta county the former east OF the
Blue Ridge but extending westward
across the Shenandoah Valley, the latter
lying west of that mountain barrier. But
Virginia ever endeavored to keep civil
government abreast OF the most daring
pioneers, and her assembly created what
are now West Virginia counties as neces-
sity seemed to require and after the forma-
tion OF the new State others were created
by her legislature as the demand for them
arose. Of the fifty-five counties OF the
State, fifty were created by Virginia be-
fore the division of the State, and five
Grant, Mineral, Lincoln, Summers and
Mingo-have been organized since the
formation of West Virginia. From the
following it will be seen that Hampshire is
the oldest county and Mingo the most
recently formed. Randolph is the largest,
Brooke the smallest. One is named from
county in England, one from an Indian
chief, one from an Indian tribe; four from
West Virginia rivers, and all the others
in honor of distinguished men.
Barbour county was formed in 1912
from parts of Lewis, Harrison and Ran
dolph; named from James Barbour, Gov
ernor of Virginia in 1912.
Berkeley county was formed in l772
from part OF Frederick county, and named
from Norbourn Berkeley, Governor under
King George Ill in l76S.
Boone county was formed in lS47 from
parts of Kanawha, Cabell and Logan and
named from Daniel Boone, the founder
of Kentucky.
Braxton county was formed in 1896
from Lewis, Kanawha and Nicholas and
named from Carter Braxton, one of Viz
ginias signers of the Declaration OF In
dependence.
Brooke county was formed in 1877
from part of Ohio county and named from
Robert Brooke, Governor of Virginia in
1894.
Cabell county was formed in 1909 from
part of Kanawha and named from VIM.
H. Cabell, Governor OF Virginia in 1905.
Calhoun county was formed in 1853
from part of Gilmer and named from John
c. Calhoun, an American statesman.
Clay county was formed in 1856 from
parts of Braxton and Nicholas, and named
from Henry Clay, an American statesman.
Doddridge county was formed in lS45
from parts OF Harrison, Tyler, Richie
and Lewis and named from Philip Dod-
bridge, member of Congress from Viz
ginia.
Fayette county was formed in 1881
from parts of Kanawha, Greenbrier, Mich
olas and Logan, and named from General
Lafayette.
Gilmer county was formed in lS45 from
parts of Lewis and Kanawha and was
named from Thos. w. Gilmer, Secretary
of the Navy, who was killed on board
the steamer Princeton at Mount Vernon in
| 1874.
Grant county was formed in 1866 from
part OF Hardy county and named from
Gen. U. S. Grant.
Greenbrier was formed in TIT from
parts OF Montgomery and Botetourt
counties, and named from its principal
river.
Hampshire county was formed in ll54
from parts of Frederick and Augusta
counties and named from Hampshire,
England.
Hancock county was formed in lS4o
from part of Brooke and named from John
Hancock, president of the Continental
Congress.
Hardy county was formed in 1856 from
part of Hampshire and named from Sam
uel Hardy, an early member of Congress
from Virginia.
Harrison county was formed in lIo4
from part of Monongalia and named from
BENJAMIN Harrison, a governor OF VIZ
ginia in 1871 and one of the signers oil
the Declaration OF independence.
Jackson county was formed in 1881
from parts of Mason, Kanswha and Wood
and named from Andrew Jackson, Presl-
dent of the United States.
Jefferson county was formed in 1901
from part of Berkeley and named from
Thos. Jefferson, a Governor OF Virginia
and President of the United States.
Kanawha county was formed in lISs
from parts of Greenbrier and Mo1tgom-
ery and named from its chief river.
Lewis county was formed in 1916 from
mart of Harrison and named from Col
Charles Lewis, who was killed at the
hattie of Point Pleasant in l774.
Lincoln county was formedin 1867 from
parts of Cabell. Putnam and Kanawha
and Boone and named from Abraham
Lincoln.
Logan county was formed in 1924 iron
| parts of Giles, Tazewell, Cabell anc
Kanawta and named from Logan. an In
| dian chief of the -Mingo tribe.
Marion county was formed in lS42 iron
| parts of Monongalia and Harrison ant
named from General Francis Marion, o
| the Revolution.
| ..,,e for,,od In 1925