West Virginia's 4th congressional district

Summary

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 the state has only two districts, the 1st covering the southern half of the state, and the 2nd the northern half.

West Virginia's 4th congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1880
Eliminated1990
Years active1883-1993

History edit

The 4th 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 edit

Representative Party Dates Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1883
 
Eustace Gibson
(Huntington)
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Lost renomination.
 
Charles E. Hogg
(Point Pleasant)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889
50th Elected in 1886.
Lost renomination.
 
James M. Jackson
(Parkersburg)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
February 3, 1890
51st Elected in 1888.
Lost contested election.

Charles B. Smith
(Parkersburg)
Republican February 3, 1890 –
March 3, 1891
51st Won contested election.
Lost re-election.

James Capehart
(Point Pleasant)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1895
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Retired.
 
Warren Miller
(Ripley)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899
54th
55th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Retired.
 
Romeo H. Freer
(Harrisville)
Republican March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
56th Elected in 1898.
Retired to run for Attorney General of West Virginia.
 
James A. Hughes
(Huntington)
Republican March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903
57th Elected in 1900.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
 
Harry C. Woodyard
(Spencer)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1911
58th
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.

John M. Hamilton
(Grantsville)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.
 
Hunter H. Moss, Jr.
(Parkersburg)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
July 15, 1916
63rd
64th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Died.
Vacant July 15, 1916 –
November 7, 1916
64th
 
Harry C. Woodyard
(Spencer)
Republican November 7, 1916 –
March 3, 1923
64th
65th
66th
67th
Elected to finish Moss's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Lost re-election.
 
George W. Johnson
(Parkersburg)
Democratic March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1925
68th Elected in 1922.
Lost re-election.
 
Harry C. Woodyard
(Spencer)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1927
69th Elected in 1924.
Retired.
 
James A. Hughes
(Huntington)
Republican March 4, 1927 –
March 2, 1930
70th
71st
Elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Died.
Vacant March 2, 1930 –
November 4, 1930
71st

Robert L. Hogg
(Point Pleasant)
Republican November 4, 1930 –
March 3, 1933
71st
72nd
Elected to finish Hughes's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Lost re-election.
 
George W. Johnson
(Parkersburg)
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1943
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.

Hubert S. Ellis
(Huntington)
Republican January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1949
78th
79th
80th
Elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.
 
Maurice G. Burnside
(Huntington)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953
81st
82nd
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Lost re-election.
 
Will E. Neal
(Huntington)
Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1955
83rd Elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.
 
Maurice G. Burnside
(Huntington)
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1957
84th Elected in 1954.
Lost re-election.
 
Will E. Neal
(Huntington)
Republican January 3, 1957 –
January 3, 1959
85th Elected in 1956.
Lost re-election.
 
Ken Hechler
(Huntington)
Democratic January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1977
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Retired to run for governor.
 
Nick Rahall
(Beckley)
Democratic January 3, 1977 –
January 3, 1993
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the 3rd district.
District dissolved January 3, 1993

References edit

  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present