List of former United States counties

This article provides 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 list 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)
• Baker County, Alabama (1868-1874, renamed Chilton County)
• Benton County, Alabama (named for COL T.H. Benton, Creek War officer and U.S. Senator, renamed Calhoun County in 1858 for John C. Calhoun)
• Cahawba County, Alabama (1818-1820, renamed Bibb County)
• Cotaco County, Alabama (1818-1821, renamed Morgan County)
• Decatur County, Alabama (1821-~1825, land redistributed between Madison and Jackson counties)
• Jones County, Alabama (Feb 1867-Nov 1867, area was re-established in Oct 1868 as Sanford County and then renamed Lamar County in 1877)
• Jones County, Alabama (Aug 1868-Oct 1868, Covington County was briefly renamed Jones County then changed back)

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. The county was never officially organized.

Colorado

• Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory, (1855-08-25 - 1861-01-29) was created but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• Broderick County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 - 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• El Paso County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 - 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• Fremont County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 - 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• Montana County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 - 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• Oro County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 - 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• Peketon County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 - 1861-01-29) was created but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
• Arrappahoe County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Cheyenne County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• El Paso County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Fountain County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Heele County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Jackson County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Montana County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• North County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Park County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Saratoga County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• St. Vrains County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 - 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
• Guadalupe County, Colorado Territory, (1861-11-01 - 1861-11-07) was one of the 17 original counties created by the Territory of Colorado. The county was renamed Conejos County after only six days.
• Greenwood County, Colorado Territory, (1870-02-11 - 1874-02-06) was created from former Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal land and the eastern portion of Huerfano County. The county was abolished four years later, and its territory split between Elbert County and Bent County.
• Platte County, Colorado Territory, (1872-02-09 - 1874-02-09) was created from the eastern portion of Weld County. The county was abolished two years later after organizers failed to secure voter approval, and the territory of the county was returned to Weld County.
• Carbonate County, Colorado, (1879-02-08 - 1879-02-10). Lake County was renamed Carbonate County in 1879. Only two days later, Carbonate County was split into the new Chaffee County and the re-renamed Lake County.
• Uncompaghre County, Colorado, (1883-02-27 - 1883-03-02). Ouray County was renamed Uncompaghre County for only four days in 1883.
• South Arapahoe County, Colorado, (1902-11-15 - 1903-04-11) was one of three counties created from Arapahoe County in 1902. The name was changed back to Arapahoe County after five months.

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.

Florida

• Benton County, Florida, renamed Hernando County
• Fayette County, Florida
• Mosquito County, Florida Renamed Orange County, Florida in 1845.
• New River County, Florida

Georgia

• Bourbon County, Georgia (organized by Georgia in 1785 out of disputed Yazoo lands in present day Mississippi; dissolved in 1788)
• Campbell County, Georgia (1828-1931); merged with Fulton County, Georgia
• Cass County, Georgia (1832-1861); renamed Bartow County, Georgia
• Kinchafoonee County, Georgia (1853-1856); renamed Webster County, Georgia
• Milton County, Georgia (1857-1931); merged with Fulton County, Georgia

Idaho

• Alturas County, Idaho (1864-1895)
• Lah-Toh County, Idaho Territory (1864-1867)
• Logan County, Idaho (1889-1895)

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
• Wahkaw County, Iowa, was established on January 15, 1851, but on January 12, 1853, its name was changed to Woodbury 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

The Territory of Orleans was divided into 12 counties on 10 Apr 1805; these were later re-organized into parishes on 31 Mar 1807. 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)

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)

Montana

• Edgerton County, Montana, created by the Territorial Legislature in 1865, renamed Lewis and Clark County in 1867

Nevada

• Bullfrog County, Nevada, created from a small portion of Nye County, Nevada in 1987, reabsorbed in 1989. Population: 0.
• 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

See also: Counties 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, North Carolina (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

• Swanson County, Oklahoma (1910-1911)

Indian Territory

Chickasaw Nation

• Tishomingo County
• Pontotoc County
• Pickens County
• Ponola County

Choctaw Nation

• Apuckshunnubbee District:
  • Atoka County
  • Jack's Fort County
  • Cedar County
  • Nashoba County
  • Wade County
  • Eagle County
  • Red River County
  • Bok Tuklo County
• Blue District:
  • Towson County
  • Kiamichi County
• Moshulatubbee District
  • Gaines County
  • Tobucksy County
  • Sugar Loaf County
  • Skullyville County
  • Sans Bois County

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 part of Hamilton County. The county seat was Ooltewah.
• 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

See also Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia.

• 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

See also

• List of extinct states
• Historic regions of the United States

External links

• Ghost Counties: Your Guide to America's Dead, Forgotten Counties
• Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
• Handbook of Texas Online: DEFUNCT COUNTIES
• Iowa's Defunct Counties
• Defunct Kansas Counties
• Ancestry.com: County Boundaries & Boundary Changes
• Formation of South Carolina Counties
• SDGENWEB Extinct County Selection List
• Virginia Counties
• Missing Counties of Virginia
• Extinct Louisiana parishes and counties