West Virginia's 6th congressional district

West Virginia's 6th congressional district is an obsolete district existing from 1917 to 1963. The district's bounds changed greatly over the years, but its last version focused on the capital city of Charleston and some safe Democratic territory running south of that city to Beckley. Today the state has two districts, the 1st covering the southern half of the state and the 2nd the northern half.

West Virginia's 6th congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1917
Eliminated1960
Years active1917-1963

History

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The 6th district was formed in 1916 after a period of two elections where the state elected an additional congressman "at large" in addition to the districts formed in 1902. It consisted of Kanawha, Boone, Raleigh, Fayette, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas counties. In practical effect, it was the core of the previous 3rd district. In 1934, Fayette, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas were removed and Logan was added. The district was unchanged for 1952, and was abolished in 1962.

List of representatives

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Representative Party Dates Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1917
 
Adam B. Littlepage
(Charleston)
Democratic March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1919
65th Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1916.
Lost re-election.
 
Leonard S. Echols
(Huntington)
Republican March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1923
66th
67th
Elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Lost re-election.
 
J. Alfred Taylor
(Fayetteville)
Democratic March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1927
68th
69th
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Lost re-election.
 
Edward T. England
(Charleston)
Republican March 4, 1927 –
March 3, 1929
70th Elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.
 
Joe L. Smith
(Beckley)
Democratic March 4, 1929 –
January 3, 1945
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
Elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Retired.
 
E. H. Hedrick
(Beckley)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1953
79th
80th
81st
82nd
Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Retired to run for governor.
 
Robert Byrd
(Beckley)
Democratic January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1959
83rd
84th
85th
Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
 
John M. Slack, Jr.
(Charleston)
Democratic January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1963
86th
87th
Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the 3rd district.
District dissolved January 3, 1963

References

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  • 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