This is a list of
U.S. counties that were established by a state, provincial, colonial, or territorial government, which no longer exist, for one reason or another. This does not include 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).
- 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.
- Crocker County, Iowa Iowa's 100th, "Lost County". Created in 1870 from portions of Bancroft County. The county seat was located at Greenwood, Iowa. In December, 1871, the Supreme Court of Iowa declared the act creating this county a violation of the constitution, which in article eleven declares that no new county shall be created which contains less than four hundred thirty two square miles. As Crocker County was smaller than the law allowed for, it ceased to exist from and after the rendition of that decision and its territory reverted to Kossuth County. To this day, Iowa is divided into just 99 counties.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.)
- 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)
See also
External links
*To be harvested.
