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First established in the late 19th century as county boards of health, creation and operation of local boards of health are authorized by state law and are responsible for directing, supervising and carrying out matters relating to public health of their respective counties or municipalities. The legislature enacted uniform provisions applicable to all local boards of health, whatever organizational form is elected, to ensure the consistent performance of duties relating to basic public health services and other health services and the enforcement of the laws of this state pertaining to public health. Thus, the State's public health system is a decentralized, bottom up arrangement that empowers local communities to carry out core public health activities necessary to promote health and prevent disease, injury and disability for their citizens. West Virginia's forty-nine (49) autonomous local boards of health serve West Virginia's fifty-five (55) counties (Figure 1). Local boards of health are organized in accordance to West Virginia Code Chapter 16, Article 2 of the West Virginia Code. West Virginia Code authorizes boards to form in four distinct manners: 1. Single County
Barbour ▪ Berkely ▪ Boone ▪ Braxton ▪ Brooke ▪ Clay ▪ Doddridge ▪ Fayette ▪ Gilmer ▪ Grant ▪ Greenbrier ▪ Hampshire ▪ Hancock ▪ Hardy ▪ Jackson ▪ Jefferson ▪ Lewis ▪ Lincoln ▪ Logan ▪ Marion ▪ Marshall ▪ Mason ▪ McDowell ▪ Mercer ▪ Mineral ▪ Mingo ▪ Monongalia ▪ Monroe ▪ Nicholas ▪ Pendleton ▪ Pocahontas ▪ Preston ▪ Putnam ▪ Wayne ▪ Webster ▪ Wyoming
2. Combined Municpal /County Boards of Health Wheeling-Ohio ▪ Harrison-Clarksburg ▪ Grafton-Taylor ▪ Upshur-Buckhannon ▪ Randolph-Elkins ▪ Kanawha-Charleston ▪ Cabell-Huntington ▪ Beckley-Raleigh 3. Combined County Boards of Health
Wetzel-Tyler Mid-Ohio Valley: Calhoun ▪ Pleasants ▪ Ritchie ▪ Roane ▪ Wirt ▪ Wood 4. Single Muncipalities Figure 1. West Virginia Local Boards of Health