This is a list of former United States counties, a list of United States counties (administrative subunits of a U.S. state) 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, or 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 Kentucky and West Virginia; and North Carolina counties transferred to Tennessee).
Alabama Baine County, Alabama (1866–1867, reestablished as Etowah County a year later) Baker County, Alabama (1868–1874, renamed Chilton County) Benton County, Alabama (1832–1858, named for Thomas Hart 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) Elk County, Alabama (1817-1818), Land split into Lauderdale and Limestone Counties and redistributed to Madison County. The Eastern boundary of Elk County followed what is now the present day Ardmore Highway. Hancock County, Alabama (1850–1858, renamed Winston County) Jones County, Alabama (Feb–Nov 1867, area was reestablished in Oct 1868 as Sanford County and then renamed Lamar County in 1877) Jones County, Alabama (Aug–Oct 1868, Covington County was briefly renamed Jones County then changed back) Sanford County, Alabama (1868–1877, renamed Lamar County)
Alaska Alaska has never created counties. Under Section 9 of the 1912 organic act creating the Territory of Alaska, Alaska was prohibited from establishing counties without explicit approval from the U.S. Congress. The framers of the Constitution of Alaska chose to forgo consideration of a county system in favor of a system of boroughs, both organized and unorganized. In 1961, the Alaska Legislature formalized the borough structure to encompass multiple, separate organized boroughs and a single unorganized borough. Alaska currently has 18 organized boroughs. The United States Census Bureau, beginning with the 1970 United States census, divided the Unorganized Borough into census areas. The boundaries of these census areas were largely based upon the early election districts of the state, which in turn were largely based upon the recording districts of the territory. The following is a list of former boroughs and census areas in Alaska:
Chugiak–Eagle River Borough (1974–1975, incorporation invalidated by the Alaska Supreme Court) Greater Anchorage Area Borough (1964–1975, succeeded by Municipality of Anchorage) Greater Juneau Borough (1963–1970, succeeded by City and Borough of Juneau) Greater Sitka Borough (1963–1971, succeeded by City and Borough of Sitka) The Haines Borough was incorporated in 1968 as a third-class borough. Through consolidation, this municipality was dissolved, along with the City of Haines, in 2002. A home rule borough, also called the Haines Borough, was incorporated in the place of these two municipalities. Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area (1992–2007), renamed Hoonah-Angoon Census Area after Skagway incorporated as a city-borough. Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Census Area (1980–1992), renamed Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area after Yakutat incorporated as a city-borough. Valdez-Cordova Census Area (1980–2019), split in 2019 into Chugach Census Area and Copper River Census Area. Wade Hampton Census Area (1980–2015), renamed to Kusilvak Census Area.
Arizona Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory (1865–1871) majority of the county transferred to Nevada in 1866, the remainder transferred to Mohave County
Arkansas Clayton County, Arkansas (1873–1875, renamed Clay County) Dorsey County, Arkansas (1873–1885, renamed Cleveland County) Lovely County, Arkansas Territory (1827–1828) most of the county was lost to Oklahoma due to the Cherokee Treaty of 1828, the remainder became Washington County Miller County, Arkansas Territory (1820–1838, became part of Indian Territory and present-day Texas) Sarber County, Arkansas (1871–1875, renamed Logan County)
California Branciforte County - renamed to Santa Cruz County in 1850 after less than a year of existence. Buena Vista County – created in 1855 by the California legislature out of the southeastern territory of Tulare County on the west of the Sierra Nevada but was never officially organized. Some of that region was later organized as Kern County in 1866, with additions from Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Coso County – created in 1864 by the California legislature out of territory of Tulare County on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada but was never officially organized. The region was later organized in 1866 as Inyo County with additions from Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Klamath County – created in 1851 from the northern half of Trinity County. In 1874 it was divided between Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. Pautah County – created by the California legislature in 1852 out of territory the state believed would be ceded to it east of Lake Tahoe, but which was given to Nevada. The county was never officially organized.
Colorado
Colorado Territory was formed from the lands of four organized territories: Kansas to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, and Nebraska to the northeast. Before Colorado Territory was organized, all of these except Nebraska had declared county boundaries that included part of modern-day Colorado.
Counties formed by New Mexico Territory Taos County, New Mexico Territory was originally one of the seven partidos of the Spanish, and later Mexican, province of Nuevo México. One of the nine original counties created by the U.S. Territory of New Mexico on January 29, 1852; ceased to have jurisdiction over Colorado in 1861. Mora County, New Mexico Territory was split from Taos County and San Miguel County on February 1, 1860, and ceased to have jurisdiction over Colorado in 1861.
Counties formed by Utah Territory On March 3, 1852, the following counties were organized by Utah Territory, with boundaries reaching into what is now western Colorado: Great Salt Lake County Iron County Sanpete County Utah County Washington County Upon the organization of Colorado Territory in 1861, which became law on February 28, these counties ceased to have jurisdiction in Colorado.
Green River County was also created on March 3, 1852, but never organized; it was dissolved in 1857 and recreated in 1859. After losing land to Colorado Territory in 1861 and Wyoming Territory in 1868, Green River County was finally dissolved in 1872.
Beaver County was formed on January 5, 1856 from parts of Iron and Millard counties, and like other Utah counties, ceased to have jurisdiction in Colorado.
Counties created by Kansas Territory Kansas Territory's western reaches encompassed the mining centers of Aurora and Pike's Peak. Beginning with the massive Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory provided for a number of counties in what would become Colorado, but organized none of them before achieving statehood in 1861.
Arapahoe County was proclaimed August 25, 1855 but never organized; it reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union on January 29, 1861. On February 7, 1859, several counties were split from Arapahoe County; none of them were organized, and also reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas became a state. They were: Broderick County El Paso County Fremont County Montana County Oro County
Peketon County was created on the same day in 1859, but never organized. Like Arapahoe and its daughter counties, it reverted to unorganized territory upon Kansas achieving statehood.
Note on Nebraska Territory No counties were organized in Nebraska Territory's portion of the future Colorado Territory.
Counties created by the Provisional Territory of Jefferson On November 28, 1859, the Provisional General Assembly of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson established 12 counties:
Arrappahoe County Cheyenne County El Paso County Fountain County Heele County Jackson County Jefferson County Montana County North County Park County Saratoga County St. Vrains County
Although it was never officially recognized by the federal government embroiled in the debate over slavery, the provisional government of the Territory of Jefferson held effective control of what became Colorado for a year and a half. Although the act establishing the Colorado Territory became law on February 28, 1861, the first Federal governor, William Gilpin, did not arrive in Denver until late May, and the Jefferson government disbanded itself on June 6, 1861. In November 1861, Colorado's territorial legislature would establish counties of its own, with many boundaries following those of the Jefferson counties.
Counties created by the Territory of Colorado Guadalupe County, Colorado Territory (November 1–7, 1861), 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 (February 11, 1870 to February 6, 1874), 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 (February 9, 1872 to February 9, 1874), 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.
Counties created by the State of Colorado Carbonate County, Colorado (February 8–10, 1879). Lake County was renamed Carbonate County in 1879. Only two days later, Carbonate County was split into the new Chaffee County and a reestablished Lake County. Uncompaghre County, Colorado (February 27 to March 2, 1883). Ouray County was renamed Uncompaghre County for only four days in 1883. South Arapahoe County, Colorado (November 15, 1902, to April 11, 1903), 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 Pennamite–Yankee War and State of Westmoreland)
Delaware
Kent County, Delaware was formerly known as St. Jones County. Sussex County, Delaware was formerly known as Deale County.
District of Columbia
The United States Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget currently consider the District of Columbia to consist of a single county equivalent. Otherwise the District of Columbia currently has no counties or county equivalents. The former counties of the District of Columbia are: Alexandria County, D.C. (1791–1846) retroceded to Virginia becoming Alexandria County, Virginia. Washington County, D.C. Abolished in 1871 and consolidated with the District of Columbia. Under the current (2001, revised through 2005) District of Columbia Code, the entire District of Columbia is a single body corporate for district purposes; the code does not mention Washington County except to make the District of Columbia the successor in title to its property.