While the district's bounds were changed over the years, for most of its existence it was focused on Bluefield and the coal producing southwestern part of the state.
For the last 40 years of its existence, it was held by the Kee family.
It was originally formed of Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne, Boone, Lincoln, Mingo, Raleigh, Wyoming, McDowell, and Mercer counties.
It was revised in 1916 to consist of Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo, Logan, McDowell, Wyoming, Mercer, Summers, and Monroe counties.
In 1934, Wayne, Lincoln, and Logan were removed and Greenbrier was added.