West Virginia's 4th congressional district

West Virginia's 4th congressional district is an obsolete district existing from 1883 to 1993. While the district's bounds were changed many times over the years, from the 1940 redistricting to the 1970 redistricting, the district was focused on Huntington and the industrial mill towns north of that city. In the 1970 redistricting, the district focused on Huntington and the rural coal producing areas of southwestern West Virginia. Today most of the last version of the old 4th District is the western half of the current 3rd District.

History

The Fourth District was formed in 1882. It originally consisted of Pleasants, Wood, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun, Jackson, Roane, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Lincoln and Wayne counties. In 1902, Tyler Braxton, Gilmer, and Doddridge were added, while Putnam, Cabell, Lincoln and Wayne were removed. The district was totally reconstituted in 1916 as Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Wirt, Jackson, Roane, Mason, Putnam, and Cabell counties. In 1934, Wayne and Lincoln were added. The district was unchanged for 1952. In 1962, Logan was added. In 1972, the district was totally reconstituted as Cabell, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne and Wyoming counties. The district was abolished in the 1992 redistricting.

List of representatives

Representative	Party	Dates	District Residence	Notes
District created		March 4, 1883
Eustace Gibson	Democratic	March 4, 1883 – March 4, 1887
Charles E. Hogg	Democratic	March 4, 1887 – March 4, 1889
James M. Jackson	Democratic	March 4, 1889 – February 3, 1890		Lost contested election
Charles B. Smith	Republican	February 3, 1890 – March 4, 1891		Won contested election
James Capehart	Democratic	March 4, 1891 – March 4, 1895
75px Warren Miller	Republican	March 4, 1895 – March 4, 1899
Romeo H. Freer	Republican	March 4, 1899 – March 4, 1901
James A. Hughes	Republican	March 4, 1901 – March 4, 1903
Harry C. Woodyard	Republican	March 4, 1903 – March 4, 1911
John M. Hamilton	Democratic	March 4, 1911 – March 4, 1913
75px Hunter H. Moss, Jr.	Republican	March 4, 1913 – July 15, 1916		Died
Vacant		July 15, 1916 – November 7, 1916
Harry C. Woodyard	Republican	November 7, 1916 – March 4, 1923
George W. Johnson	Democratic	March 4, 1923 – March 4, 1925
Harry C. Woodyard	Republican	March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1927
James A. Hughes	Republican	March 4, 1927 – March 2, 1930		Died
Vacant		March 2, 1930 – November 4, 1930
Robert L. Hogg	Republican	November 4, 1930 – March 4, 1933
George W. Johnson	Democratic	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943
Hubert S. Ellis	Republican	January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1949
Maurice G. Burnside	Democratic	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Will E. Neal	Republican	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955
Maurice G. Burnside	Democratic	January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957
Will E. Neal	Republican	January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1959
75px Ken Hechler	Democratic	January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977
Nick Rahall	Democratic	January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993		Redistricted to the 3rd district
District eliminated		January 3, 1993

References

• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present