List of extinct United States counties

This is an incomplete list of U.S. counties that no longer exist. They were established by a state, provincial, colonial, or territorial government. Most of these counties were created and disbanded in the 19th century; county boundaries have changed little since 1900 in the vast majority of states. A county is repeated on the list if its jurisdiction changed from one state/colony/territory to another.

This includes (but is not limited to) counties that were renamed but retained their territorial integrity, or counties that were transferred wholesale to another state when it was separated from another state (Massachusetts counties transferred to Maine; Virginia counties transferred to West Virginia).

Alabama

Baine County, Alabama (1866-1867, re-established as Etowah County a year later)
Decatur County, Alabama (1821-~1825)
Jones County, Alabama (1867) (eventually re-established in 1868 as Sanford County, Alabama and then renamed Lamar County, Alabama)
Baker, County, Alabama (renamed Chilton County)

Arizona

Pah-Ute County, Arizona

Arkansas

Lovely County, Arkansas (1827-1828)
Miller County, Arkansas Territory (1820-1825, became part of Indian Territory and present-day Texas)

California

Klamath County, California - created in 1851 from the northern half of Trinity County, but in 1874 it was divided between Humboldt and Siskiyou counties.
Pautah County, California - created by the California legislature out of territory the state believed would be ceded to it north of Lake Tahoe, but which was given to Nevada. County never officially organized.

Colorado

Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory (organized as Colorado Territory in 1861)
Greenwood County, Colorado Territory (1870-1874)
Platte County, Colorado Territory (1872-1874)

Connecticut

Westmoreland County, Connecticut (see Yankee-Pennamite Wars and State of Westmoreland)

District of Columbia

Washington County, D.C. Abolished in 1871. Under the current (2001, revised through 2005) District of Columbia Code, the entire District of Columbia is a single body corporate for municipal purposes; the code does not mention Washington County except to make the District of Columbia the successor in title to its property.
Alexandria County, D.C.

Iowa

Bancroft County, Iowa was established in 1851. It was abolished in 1857 and the area was joined to Kossuth County.
Crocker County, Iowa, was created in 1870 out of Kossuth County from portions of what had been Bancroft County. It was merged back into Kossuth County in 1871.
Des Moines County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Des Moines County, Iowa
Dubuque County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Dubuque County, Iowa

Illinois

Illinois County, Virginia, formed in 1778 and constituted most of present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; abolished 5 January 1782; territory ceded by Virginia to Congress in March 1784; see Illinois Country.

Indiana

Illinois County, Virginia, formed in 1778 and constituted most of present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; abolished 5 January 1782; territory ceded by Virginia to Congress in March 1784; see Illinois Country.

Kansas

Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory (organized as Colorado Territory in 1861)
Howard County, Kansas (1875)
Otoe County, Kansas

Kentucky

Beckham County, Kentucky (1904)
Fincastle County, Virginia (land now part of Kentucky)

See also Virginia & Virginia Colony, below

Louisiana

See List of parishes of Louisiana

Maine

Devonshire County, District of Maine, Massachusetts Bay Colony (1674–1675)
York County, Massachusetts (land that later became state of Maine)

See also Massachusetts, below.

Maryland

Charles County: formed in 1650 from part of Saint Mary's County. Abolished in 1654. Referred to as Old Charles County.
Durham County: formed in 1669 from part of Somerset County and nonorganized territory. Abolished in 1672 and incorporated in Worcester County.
Worcester County: formed in 1672 from part of Durham County and nonorganized territory. Lost in 1685 when Delaware Colony was established.

Massachusetts

Cornwall County, Province of New York (transferred to Massachusetts in 1686).
Devonshire County, District of Maine, Massachusetts Bay Colony (1674–1675)
Dukes County, Province of New York (transferred to Massachusetts in 1691).
Norfolk County, Massachusetts Colony (1643–1679)
York County, Massachusetts (land that later became state of Maine)

Most Massachusetts county governments were abolished between 1997 and 2000, with the exception of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties. The counties remain as legal venues, and the remaining countywide elective offices became part of state government.

Michigan

Brown County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory now remains as Brown County, Wisconsin
Crawford County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Crawford County, Wisconsin
Des Moines County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Des Moines County, Iowa
Dubuque County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Dubuque County, Iowa
Illinois County, Virginia, formed in 1778 and constituted most of present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; abolished 5 January 1782; territory ceded by Virginia to Congress in March 1784; see Illinois Country.
Iowa County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Iowa County, Wisconsin
Isle Royale County, Michigan, abolished in 1897 to become part of Keweenaw County, Michigan
Manitou County, Michigan, abolished in 1895 and to become part of Charlevoix County, Michigan and Leelanau County, Michigan
Milwaukee County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Omeena County, Michigan, 1840-1853, abolished, and integrated into Grand Traverse County
Washington County, Michigan, formed in 1867 from Marquette County, Michigan but declared unconstitutional

Minnesota

Manomin County, Minnesota (1857-1869)
Monongalia County, Minnesota (1861-1870)
Pembina County, Minnesota Territory (1849-1858, reconstituted as Pembina County, Dakota Territory in 1861, eventually reduced to present-day Pembina County, North Dakota.)

Mississippi

Bourbon County, Georgia (organized by Georgia in 1785 out of disputed Yazoo lands in present day Mississippi; dissolved in 1788)
Pearl County, Mississippi (1872-1878, later reformed as Pearl River County, Mississippi)

Missouri

Clark County, Missouri (1818-1819) (Not the same as the current Clark County, Missouri)
Dodge County, Missouri (1849-1853)
Hempstead County, Missouri (1818-1819)
Lillard County, Missouri (1821-1825)

Nevada

Ormsby County, Nevada, now independent city of Carson City
Pautah County, California - created by the California legislature out of territory the state believed would be ceded to it north of Lake Tahoe, but which was given to Nevada. County never officially organized.
Roop County, Nevada - Portions west of 120°W became Lassen County, California, remainder annexed by Washoe County, Nevada in 1883. Also known as Lake County.

New Hampshire

Norfolk County, Massachusetts Colony (1643–1679) - became Essex County, Massachusetts and the entire state of New Hampshire.

New Mexico Territory

Santa Ana County, New Mexico Territory (1844-1876)

New York & Province of New York

Charlotte County, Province of New York (renamed and partitioned). See Washington County, New York.
Cornwall County, Province of New York (transferred to Massachusetts in 1686).
Cumberland County, Province of New York (claimed by and transferred to Vermont, unclear if ever implemented or administered). See Albany County, New York.
Dukes County, Province of New York (transferred to Massachusetts in 1691).
Gloucester County, New York (claimed by and transferred to Vermont, unclear if ever implemented or administered).
Tryon County, New York (renamed and partitioned). See also: Montgomery County, New York
Yorkshire County, Province of New York (original English county, partitioned in 1683 into Kings, Queens (including modern Nassau), Suffolk, Richmond and Westchester (including modern Bronx) counties.)

North Carolina

Albemarle County, North Carolina
Bath County, North Carolina
Bute County, North Carolina
Dobbs County, North Carolina
Glasgow County, North Carolina
Tennessee County, Tennessee (1796) - A North Carolina county that was renamed Montgomery County, Tennessee when Tennessee achieved statehood to lessen confusion.
Tryon County, North Carolina
Washington County, North Carolina (1788–1796), present-day Tennessee

North Dakota

Pembina County, Minnesota Territory (1849-1858, reconstituted as Pembina County, Dakota Territory in 1861, eventually reduced to present-day Pembina County, North Dakota.)

Ohio

Illinois County, Virginia, formed in 1778 and constituted most of present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; abolished 5 January 1782; territory ceded by Virginia to Congress in March 1784; see Illinois Country.

Oklahoma Territory

Beaver County, Oklahoma Territory
Day County, Oklahoma Territory Abolished at Oklahoma statehood. Split into Roger Mills County and Ellis County
Greer County, Texas (1888-1895, transferred to Oklahoma Territory under a Supreme Court decision)

Oregon

Umpqua County, Oregon created 1851, gradually reduced in size until 1862, when what remained was incorporated into Douglas County

South Dakota

Washabaugh County, South Dakota (1889-1979) The eastern part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is now under the control of Jackson County.
Armstrong County, South Dakota Armstrong County was disorganized in 1952.
Washington County, South Dakota (1883-1943)

Tennessee

James County, Tennessee (1870-1919) - Now occupied by Hamilton County.
Tennessee County, Tennessee (1796) - A North Carolina county that was renamed Montgomery County, Tennessee when Tennessee achieved statehood to lessen confusion.

Texas

Greer County, Texas (1888-1895, transferred to Oklahoma Territory under a Supreme Court decision)
Miller County, Arkansas Territory (1820-1825, became part of Indian Territory and present-day Texas)
Santa Fe County, Texas (1848-1850, abolished November 25, 1850; land ceded to United States in compliance with Compromise of 1850)
Worth County, Texas (1850, formed from part of Santa Fe County, abolished November 25, 1850; land ceded to United States in compliance with Compromise of 1850)

Vermont & Vermont Republic

Cumberland County, Republic of Vermont (1771-1781)
Cumberland County, Province of New York (claimed by and transferred to Vermont, unclear if ever implemented or administered). See Albany County, New York.
Gloucester County, New York (claimed by and transferred to Vermont, unclear if ever implemented or administered).
Washington County, Republic of Vermont (1781-1782, land now in New Hampshire; Vermont relinquished claim; there is a present-day "new" Washington County, Vermont)

Virginia & Virginia Colony

Alexandria County, D.C. (retroceded to Virginia, most of which now comprises Arlington County, Virginia with a portion becoming part of Alexandria, Virginia)
Elizabeth City County, Virginia (incorporated into the independent city of Hampton in 1952)
Fincastle County, Virginia (land now part of Kentucky)
Illinois County, Virginia, formed in 1778 and constituted most of present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin; abolished 5 January 1782; territory ceded by Virginia to Congress in March 1784; see Illinois Country.
Kentucky County, Virginia (1777-1780, land that later became the state of Kentucky in 1792)
Lower Norfolk County (Colonial Virginia) (in 1691, divided into Norfolk County, Virginia and Princess Anne County, Virginia
Nansemond County, Virginia became independent city of Nansemond in 1972; merged with independent city of Suffolk in 1974
New Norfolk County (Colonial Virginia) Formed in 1636 from Elizabeth River Shire, divided into Lower Norfolk County and Upper Norfolk County in 1637
Norfolk County, Virginia Formed in 1691 from part of Lower Norfolk County, was merged with independent city of South Norfolk to become new independent city of Chesapeake in 1963
Old Rappahannock County, Province of Virginia
Princess Anne County, Virginia (Formed in 1691 from part of Lower Norfolk County, was merged with independent city of Virginia Beach in 1963)
Upper Norfolk County (Colonial Virginia) (renamed Nansemond County in 1642; see Nansemond County for subsequent history)
Warwick River County, Virginia (renamed Warwick County in 1642; became independent city of Warwick in 1952; merged with city of Newport News in 1958)
Yohogania County, Virginia (1776-1779, land now in Pennsylvania)

West Virginia

See Virginia & Virginia Colony, above

Wisconsin

Brown County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory now remains as Brown County, Wisconsin
Crawford County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Crawford County, Wisconsin
Des Moines County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Des Moines County, Iowa
Dubuque County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Dubuque County, Iowa
Illinois County, Virginia, formed in 1778 and constituted most of present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; abolished 5 January 1782; territory ceded by Virginia to Congress in March 1784; see Illinois Country.
Iowa County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Iowa County, Wisconsin
Milwaukee County, Michigan Territory, became part of Wisconsin Territory, now Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

External links

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New York & Province of New York

Vermont & Vermont Republic

Virginia & Virginia Colony

See also

External links