DISTRICT, a word denoting in its more general sense, a tract or extent of a country, town, etc., marked off for administrative or other 'purposes, or having some special and distinguishing characteristics (see LOCAL GOVERNMENT, etc.). In mediaeval Latin the word districtus is defined by Du Cange as Territorium feudi, seu tractus, in quo Dominus vassallos et tenentes suos dis tringere potest; and as justitiae exercendae in eo tractu facultas. It was also used of the territory over which the feudal lord exer cised his jurisdiction generally. In British India the word is used to represent the zillah, an administrative subdivision of a province or presidency.
In the United States of America the word has many adminis trative, judicial and other applications. In South Carolina it was used instead of "county" for the chief division of the State other than in the coast region. In the Virginias, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Maryland it answers to "township" or precinct, elsewhere the principal subdivision of a county. It is used for an electoral "division," each State being divided into Congressional and State legislatorial districts; and also for a political subdivision either of an unorganized or an organized Territory.