Lionism came to West Virginia on September 30, 1921, when the Charleston Lions Club was chartered. Judge Ben Moore was District Governor over a single district (29).  By 1941-1942, Lionism grew to the point that District 29 divided into two sub-districts, 29-W and 29-V. In the Lions' Year 1947-1948, a third sub-district, 29-A, was added.

Club extension and membership growth allowed an additional sub-district in 1959-1960. That left the structure in West Virginia to include Districts 29-L, 29-I, 29-O, and 29-N. That structure has remained intact until the present.