Hancock County is governed by a three member County Commission who each serve in rotation 6-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Hancock County Commissioners elected for 2009 are President Michael Swartzmiller, Dan Greathouse, and Jeff Davis.
Additionally, Hancock County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Brooke and Ohio Counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Honorable Martin J. Gaughan, The Honorable James Mazzone, the Honorable Arthur M. Recht, and the Honorable Ronald E. Wilson.
Hancock County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Brooke and Ohio Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges are first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002, and were elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Honorable Joyce Chernenko and the Honorable William Sinclair, both of whom were elected to eight-year terms in November 2008.
Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Hancock County currently has three magistrates: Chief Magistrate Betty Bauer, Williams S. Hicks, and Michael Powell.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 88 square miles of which, 83 square miles of it is land and 6 square miles of it is water. The highest point of elevation in Hancock County is approximately 1363 ft. and located about 1800 ft. ESE of Emmanuel Mission Church.
Hancock County has three incorporated communities: City of Chester, City of New Cumberland and the City of Weirton.
Hancock County has 10 unincorporated communities: Chestnut Hill, Congo, Fairhaven, Kings Creek, Lawrenceville, Lennyville, Moscow, New Manchester, Newell and Sun Valley.