Administrative divisions of Massachusetts have a distinct local government organization from much of the rest of the nation. As a New England commonwealth, Massachusetts shares with the six New England states, plus New York and New Jersey, a governmental structure known as the "New England town." This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ...

The city/town distinction

Massachusetts law maintains a distinction between "cities" and "towns"; the largest town in population is Framingham. Politically, the only difference between a town and a city is that a town is governed under the Town Meeting or Representative Town Meeting form of government, whereas a city has a city council (and may or may not have a mayor, a city manager, or both). This distinction dates to the 1820s; prior to that, all municipalities were governed by Town Meeting. There are now a number of municipalities which are legally cities and thus have city councils, but retained the word "town" in their names, including Agawam, Methuen, Watertown, Weymouth, and Westfield. These cities are legally styled "the City Known as the Town of X". Massachusetts has a very limited home rule mechanism; in order to exercise jurisdiction outside of these bounds, a municipality must petition the General Court for special legislation giving it that authority. Settled: 1650 â€“ Incorporated: 1700 Zip Code(s): 01702 â€“ Area Code(s): 508 / 774 Official website: http://www. ... Town meeting is a form of local government commonly practiced in the U.S. region of New England, but uncommon elsewhere in the United States. ... Events and Trends Nationalistic independence movements helped reshape the world during this decade: Greece declares independence from the Ottoman Empire (1821). ... Main street in Bastrop, Texas, a small town A town is a residential community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... Agawam is a city located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... Seal of Methuen, MA The Town of Methuen is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts. ... Seal of Watertown, MA Browne House. ... Settled: 1630 â€“ Incorporated: 1635 Zip Code(s): 02189 â€“ Area Code(s): 339 / 781 Official website: http://www. ... Nickname: The Whip City Founded Incorporated May 19, 1669   County Hampden County Mayor Richard K. Sullivan Jr. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ...

Massachusetts municipalities are subject to a budgetary law known as "Proposition 2½", by which they may not increase expenditures by more than 2½% per annum without the approval of the voters in a plebiscite. Proposition 2½[1] was a ballot initiative passed by Massachusetts voters in 1980 to limit property tax increases. ...

The incorporation of land

In many states, a town is a compact incorporated area. Between the towns are unincorporated areas, usually quite large, which do not belong to any town. In contrast, the state is completely apportioned into counties. County governments have significant importance, particularly to those living outside towns, and often perform major functions such as operating airports. Main street in Bastrop, Texas, a small town A town is a residential community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ...

In contrast, the cities and towns of Massachusetts divide up all of the land between them and there are no "unincorporated" areas or population centers. This complicates comparisons with other states, as most residents identify strongly with the town or city in which they reside, and not with the "populated places" as defined and used in the U.S. Census Bureau, which in most data products considers towns to be minor civil divisions, equivalent to townships in other states (usually with much weaker forms of government). However, many residents also identify with neighborhoods, villages, or other districts of their towns. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Minor civil division (MCD) is a term used by the United States Census Bureau to designate the primary governmental and/or administrative subdivisions of a county, such as a civil township, precinct, or magisterial district. ...

The growing abolition of county governments

By the 1990s, most functions of county governments (including operation of courts and road maintenance) had been taken over by the state, and most county governments were seen as inefficient and outmoded. The government of Suffolk County was substantially integrated with the city government of Boston more than one hundred years ago, to the extent that the members of the Boston city council are ex officio the Suffolk County Commissioners, and Boston's treasurer and auditor fulfill the same offices for the county. Thus, residents of the other three Suffolk County communities do not have a voice on the county commission, but all the county expenses are paid by the city of Boston. Suffolk County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub of the Universe (The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System), Athens of America Location Location in Massachusetts Government Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (Dem) Geographical characteristics Area     City 232. ... A city council is the most common style of legislative government in a city or town. ...

The government of Nantucket County, which is geographically coterminous with the Town of Nantucket, is operated along similar lines- the town selectmen (executive branch) act as the county commissioners. Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ...

Mismanagement of Middlesex County's public hospital in the mid 1990s left that county on the brink of insolvency, and in 1997 the legislature stepped in by assuming all assets and obligations of the county. The government of Middlesex County was officially abolished on July 11, 1997. Later that year, the Franklin County Commission voted itself out of existence. The law abolishing Middlesex County government also provided for the elimination of Hampden County and Worcester County governments on July 1, 1998. This law was later amended to abolish the governments of Hampshire County on January 1, 1999; Essex County on July 1, 1999; and Berkshire County on July 1, 2000. Chapter 34B of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that other counties may also vote to abolish themselves, or to reorganize as a "regional council of governments", as Hampshire and Franklin Counties have done.^[1] The governments of Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk Counties remain substantially unchanged. Barnstable and Dukes Counties have adopted modern county charters, enabling them to act as efficient regional governments. Middlesex County is a county located in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Franklin County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Hampden County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Worcester County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Hampshire County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the state of Massachusetts. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Berkshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Hampshire County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Franklin County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Bristol County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Plymouth County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ... Norfolk County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Dukes County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ...

See also

• List of Massachusetts counties
• List of cities in Massachusetts
• Political divisions of the United States

This is a list of Massachusetts counties: Massachusetts counties Barnstable County: one of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony in 1685. ... This is a complete list of cities in Massachusetts. ... The political units and divisions of the United States include: the fifty states, which units are typically divided into counties and townships, and incorporate cities, villages, towns, and other types of municipalities, and other autonomous or subordinate public authorities and institutions; and the federal state, which unit is the United...

References

1. ^ Chapter 34B of the Massachusetts General Laws