The Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council (Region 9) is a council, created by the State of West Virginia, comprising of representatives (both elected and appointed) from three counties: Berkeley County, Jefferson County, Morgan County and the municipalities of Berkeley Springs (Bath), Bolivar, Charles Town, Harpers Ferry, Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Paw Paw, Ranson and Shepherdstown. Region 9 was organized on June 20, 1972 in response to enabling legislation passed by the West Virginia Legislature and approved by the Governor on November 17, 1971. This enabling legislation is known as the Regional Planning and Development Act of 1971 and re-enacted Article 25, Chapter 8 of the West Virginia Code.