 The southeastern boundary of the Northern District follows the original boundary of Ravenswood District, while the southwestern boundary follows U.S. Route 35 and Old West Virginia 56 to The Y, then runs south along the Parkersburg Road until it meets the original line of Ravenswood District.Because redistricting proved confusing with county records, the West Virginia Legislature provided for the original magisterial districts to continue in the form of tax districts, which continued to serve administrative functions other than the apportionment of county officials.The current magisterial districts are used for those functions requiring equal representation between the residents of the various district, and as such are currently the minor civil division of record for the United States Census Bureau.