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.
History 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. The district was subsumed by the 3rd district's new boundaries; today, the 1973-1993 area of the 4th district is within the state's 1st district.
List of representatives Representative Party Dates Congress Electoral history District established March 4, 1883 Eustace Gibson Democratic March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 Elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Lost renomination. Charles E. Hogg Democratic March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 Elected in 1886.Lost renomination. James M. Jackson Democratic March 4, 1889 – February 3, 1890 Elected in 1888.Lost contested election. Charles B. Smith Republican February 3, 1890 – March 3, 1891 Won contested election.Lost re-election. James Capehart Democratic March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895 Elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Retired. Warren Miller Republican March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Retired. Romeo H. Freer Republican March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 Elected in 1898.Retired to run for Attorney General of West Virginia. James A. Hughes Republican March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 Elected in 1900.Redistricted to the . Harry C. Woodyard Republican March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911 Elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Lost re-election. John M. Hamilton Democratic March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 Elected in 1910.Lost re-election. Hunter H. Moss Jr. Republican March 4, 1913 – July 15, 1916 Elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Died. Vacant July 15, 1916 – November 7, 1916 Harry C. Woodyard Republican November 7, 1916 – March 3, 1923 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 Democratic March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 Elected in 1922.Lost re-election. Harry C. Woodyard Republican March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 Elected in 1924.Retired. James A. Hughes Republican March 4, 1927 – March 2, 1930 Elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Died. Vacant March 2, 1930 – November 4, 1930 Robert L. Hogg Republican November 4, 1930 – March 3, 1933 Elected to finish Hughes's term.Also elected to the next full term.Lost re-election. George W. Johnson Democratic March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943 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 Republican January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1949 Elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Lost re-election. Maurice G. Burnside Democratic January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 Elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Lost re-election. Will E. Neal Republican January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 Elected in 1952.Lost re-election. Maurice G. Burnside Democratic January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957 Elected in 1954.Lost re-election. Will E. Neal Republican January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1959 Elected in 1956.Lost re-election. Ken Hechler Democratic January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977 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 Democratic January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993 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 . District dissolved January 3, 1993
References
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present