United States of America, showing states, divided into counties.

A county of the United States is a local level of government smaller than a state but almost always larger than a city or town, in a U.S. state or territory. The actual term "county" describes them in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana uses the term "parish" and Alaska uses the word "borough." Including those, there are 3,086 counties in the United States, an average of 62 counties per state. The state with the fewest counties is Delaware (three), and the state with the most is Texas (254). In many states, counties are subdivided into townships or towns and may contain other independent, self-governing municipalities. Download high resolution version (1513x983, 73 KB) Map of the USA showing borders of states and counties. ... Download high resolution version (1513x983, 73 KB) Map of the USA showing borders of states and counties. ... A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ... A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... Night view of Taipei City. ... 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. ... Motto: (1789 to 1956) (Latin for Out of many, one) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice... A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq. ... Parish Hall of St. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq. ... A borough is a local government administrative subdivision used in the Canadian province of Quebec, in some states of the United States, and formerly in New Zealand. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq. ... A civil township is a widely-used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to a county. ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ...

The U.S. Census Bureau lists 3,141 counties or county-equivalent administrative units. The power of the county government varies widely from state to state as does the relationship between counties and incorporated municipal governments.^[1] The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Local government of the United States. ...

Terminology

Louisiana uses the term parish; these are functionally equivalent to counties and are not religious in nature. Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq. ... Parish Hall of St. ...

The term county equivalents includes in addition three types of units which are different from the type of county found in most states:

1. Alaska census areas: Most of the land area of Alaska is not contained within any of Alaska's 16 boroughs. This vast area, larger than France and Germany combined, is referred to by the Alaska state government as the Unorganized Borough and, outside municipal limits, has no local government. The United States Census Bureau, in cooperation with the Alaska state government, has divided the Unorganized Borough into 11 census areas for statistical purposes.
2. Independent cities: These are cities that legally belong to no county in a state. As of 2004, there are 42 such cities in the United States:
   • Baltimore, Maryland
   • Carson City, Nevada
   • St. Louis, Missouri
   • All 39 cities in Virginia, where any municipality incorporated as a city (in contrast to town) is by law severed from any county that might otherwise have contained it.
3. The District of Columbia, a federal district under the absolute jurisdiction of the US Congress, which has for the last several decades allowed the District a limited home rule.

Including these jurisdictions, the United States has 3,141 counties and county equivalents. A census tract, census area, or census district is a particular community defined for the purpose of taking a census. ... A borough is a local government administrative subdivision used in the Canadian province of Quebec, in some states of the United States, and formerly in New Zealand. ... Map of Alaska boroughs and census areas The Unorganized Borough is that part of Alaska not contained in any of its 16 organized boroughs. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... An independent city is a city that does not form part of another local government entity. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Monument City (by John Quincy Adams on a visit in 1827), Charm City, Mob Town, B-more Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Location Location of Baltimore in Maryland Government Country... Motto: Proud of its Past. ... Nickname Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location Location in the state of Missouri Government Country State County United States Missouri Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Geographical characteristics Area  - City    - Land    - Water 66. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq. ... ... Federal districts are subdivisions of a federal system of government. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... ...

City-county exceptions

As noted, the territory of most counties includes that of municipalities, within and smaller than the respective counties. However, there are three kinds of exceptions to this arrangement:

1. By a series of annexations or other mergers, a city government may come to have exactly the same territory as the county that contains it, even though they remain separate governments. This is nearly the case in Jacksonville, Florida, which has incorporated all of Duval County except for four smaller suburban cities.
2. Several cities and counties around the country have consolidated city-county governments and are considered both a city and a county under state law. Denver, Colorado and San Francisco, California have been coextensive with their respective counties since the counties were created. On the other hand, Indianapolis, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Nashville, Tennessee unified with their respective counties after the two entities existed separately. There is also the "City and County of Honolulu", but this is unlike the others in that Hawaii has no incorporated cities and thus the "city" part of "city and county" is in this case a misnomer. Honolulu County contains the entire island of Oahu, which includes many dozens of communities and rural areas in addition to the urban area designated as the Honolulu CDP. Prior to its abolition, the government of Suffolk County, Massachusetts was largely administered by the Boston city council. In Nantucket County, Massachusetts, the Town of Nantucket board of selectmen act as county commissioners. [1]
3. The area now forming the five boroughs of New York City consisted, into the late 19th century, of three typical counties and parts of two others, each containing at least one city or town. These are still counties in name and in state law; nevertheless, since 1898 they have been entirely contained within the boundaries of the city, and following the creation of Bronx County in 1914, each borough now corresponds exactly to one county.
4. In several states (including Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin), a city may annex land within an adjacent county. That land is then subject to city government, but the respective counties continue to provide county-specific services and residents vote for county officials in the respective counties. Major cities that lie in multiple counties include: Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Amarillo, Texas. The city of Appleton, Wisconsin lies within three counties (Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago), and is the county seat of Outagamie County. The city of Aurora, Illinois, a populous outlying suburb of Chicago, lies within four counties (Kane; DuPage; Will; and Kendall).
5. There are many cities that span county boundaries in Michigan. For a few years during the early 1970s, split cities briefly had authority to petition to change the county boundaries to accord with the city boundaries. The only city to take advantage of this brief opportunity was New Baltimore (previously split between Macomb County and St. Clair County; now completely in Macomb). This transfer of territory from St. Clair to Macomb was the first and only county boundary change in Michigan since the early 20th century.

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The phrase mergers and acquisitions or M&A refers to the aspect of corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as assets. ... The Jacksonville skyline and the Acosta Bridge. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,794 sq. ... Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ... In American local government, a consolidated city-county, metropolitan municipality or regional municipality is a city and county that have been merged into one jurisdiction. ... Nickname: The Mile-High City Official website: http://www. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The City by the Bay; The City That Knows How; Golden Mountain (historic Chinese name) Location Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Government City-County San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Geographical characteristics Area    - City 600. ... Location Location in the state of Indiana Government County Marion Mayor Bart Peterson (D) Geographical characteristics Area  - City    - Land    - Water 953. ... Louisville redirects here; for other uses, see Louisville (disambiguation). ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates , Government Country  State   County United States  Pennsylvania   Philadelphia Founded Incorporated October 27, 1682 October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 369. ... Nickname: Music City Official website: http://www. ... Honolulu redirects here. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq. ... Location in the state of Hawaii Formed Seat Honolulu Area  - Total  - Water 5,509 km² (2,127 mi²) 3,955 km² (1,527 mi²) 71. ... A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... Suffolk County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, 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. ... Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq. ... Settled: 1641 â€“ Incorporated: 1671 ZIP Code: 02554 â€“ Area Code: 508 / 774 Official website: http://www. ... The Board of Selectmen is commonly the executive arm of town government in New England. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Big Apple, The Capital of the World[1], Gotham Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 1,214. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York City in the United States. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  Ranked 30th  - Total 52,423 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 104,185 sq mi  269 837 km² 280 miles  451 km 380 miles  612 km 0. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 102,384 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Area  Ranked 32nd  - Total 48,434 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Columbus Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 36th 109,247 km² 195 km 710 km 2. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,876 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Horizon City, Hotlanta, The Big Peach, A-Town, The ATL Location Location in Fulton and DeKalb counties in the state of Georgia Government Country State Counties United States Georgia Fulton County, Georgia DeKalb County, Georgia Mayor Shirley Franklin (D) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 132. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World, ATX Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates , Government County Travis County Mayor Will Wynn Geographical characteristics Area     City 669. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Magic City, Pittsburgh of the South, BHam Location Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Government Country State County United States Alabama Jefferson County Mayor Bernard Kincaid (D) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 151. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Space City Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates , Government Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,558 km²  (601. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Fountains or Heart of America Location Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ... Nickname Capital of the New Century, OKC Location Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma. ... Nickname: The Yellow Rose of Texas, Helium Capital of the World, Rotor City USA Official website: http://www. ... Appleton is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, on the Fox River, 100 miles (161 km) northwest of Milwaukee. ... A county seat is an administrative center for a county. ... Nickname City of Lights Location Location in Chicagoland Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will Mayor Tom Weisner (D) Geographical characteristics Area  - City    - Land    - Water 102. ... Location in the state of Illinois Formed January 16, 1836 Seat Geneva Area  - Total  - Water 1,357 km² (524 mi²) 9 km² (4 mi²) 0. ... DuPage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Will County is a county located in the northern part of the state of Illinois. ... Kendall County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... New Baltimore is a city located in Macomb County, Michigan. ... Macomb County is a county located in the state of Michigan. ... St. ...

Statistics

Main article: County statistics of the United States The term county is used in 48 of the 50 states of the United States for the level of local government below the state itself. ...

At the 2000 U.S. Census, the median land area of the 3,066 U.S. counties was 1,611 km² (622 sq. miles), which is only two-thirds of the median land area of a ceremonial county of England, and only a little more than a quarter of the median land area of a French département. This article is about the year 2000. ... In probability theory and statistics, a median is a number dividing the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution from the lower half. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties. ...

This figure, however, hides large differences between the eastern and western United States. The land area of counties in the western United States is much larger than the land area of counties in the eastern United States. For example, in the eastern United States the median land area of counties in Ohio is 1,138 km² (439.5 sq. miles) and in Georgia it is 888 km² (343 sq. miles), whereas in the western United States the median land area of counties in California is 3,977 km² (1535.5 sq. miles) and in Utah it is 6,286 km² (2,427 sq. miles) Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Columbus Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,876 sq. ...

By area, the largest county in the United States is North Slope Borough, Alaska at 94,763 square miles (245,435 km²) and the smallest county in the United States is Kalawao County, Hawaii at 13 square miles (34 km²). (The largest county in the 48 contiguous states is San Bernardino County, California, at 20,105 mi²/52,073 km², and the smallest is Arlington County, Virginia at 26 mi²/67.6 km².) North Slope Borough is a borough located largely in the North Slope region of the state of Alaska. ... Kalawao County is a county located in the state of Hawaii. ... Official website: http://www. ... Arlington County is an urban county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the U.S., directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Originally part of the District of Columbia, by an act of Congress July 9, 1846, this area south of the Potomac was retroceded to Virginia effective...

However, when county equivalents are included, both lose their status. The largest county equivalent by area is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska at 147,843 square miles (382,912 km²) and the smallest is the independent city of Falls Church, Virginia at 2.0 square miles (5 km²). Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ... An independent city is a city that does not form part of another local government entity. ... Falls Church is an independent city located in Virginia. ...

At the 2000 U.S. Census, the median population of the 3,066 U.S. counties was 24,544 inhabitants, which is 33 times less inhabitants than the median population of a ceremonial county of England, and 21 times less inhabitants than the median population of a French département. This article is about the year 2000. ... In probability theory and statistics, a median is a number dividing the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution from the lower half. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties. ...

At the 2000 U.S. Census, only 16.1% of U.S. counties had more than 100,000 inhabitants, while 83.9% of U.S. counties had less than 100,000 inhabitants. This reflects the essentially rural nature of U.S. counties, whose grid was designed in the 19th century, in a country still largely rural and only marginally affected by urbanization. Today, the vast majority of people in the United States are concentrated in a relatively small number of counties.

The most populous county (or county equivalent) is Los Angeles County, California with 10,226,506 people as of 2005, and the least populous county is Loving County, Texas with 67 people as of 2000. Los Angeles County is a county in California, and the most populous county in the United States, with 10,179,716 residents (as of July 2004)[1]. The county seat is the city of Los Angeles. ... Loving County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ...

The most densely populated county (or county equivalent) is New York County, New York with 66,940 people per square mile (ppsm) as of 2000, and the least densely populated county is Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska with 0.08 ppsm as of 2000. The least densely populated county equivalent is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska with 0.04 ppsm as of 2000. For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... Lake and Peninsula Borough is a borough located in the state of Alaska. ... Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska. ...

Scope of power

The power of county governments varies widely from state to state, as does the relationship between counties and incorporated cities.

• In New York:
  • In contrast to other counties of New York state, the powers of the five boroughs of New York City are very limited, and in nearly all respects subordinate to the city's.
• In New England:
  • Counties function at most as judicial court districts (in Connecticut and Rhode Island, they have lost even those functions) and most government power below the state level is in the hands of towns and cities. However, in several of Maine's sparsely populated counties, small towns rely on the county for law enforcement, and in New Hampshire several social programs are administered at the state level.
  • County government was abolished in Connecticut in 1960, although the names remain for geographical purposes.
  • Massachusetts has abolished eight of its fourteen counties as well, leaving only those in the Southeastern part of the state with real governments.
• In Hawaii:
  • The county is the municipal level of government, similar to some single tier municipalities in Ontario, Canada (EX: Norfolk County, Prince Edward County, Brant County); there are no incorporated cities other than the consolidated City & County of Honolulu. All counties, except for Honolulu, has no formal level of government below that of the county.
• In California:
  • The county is the default unit of local government (all parts of the state's land are allocated to one of the state's 58 counties). Each county has a Board of Supervisors and is subject to mandatory duties under state law to provide its residents with services like law enforcement, healthcare, road maintenance, and so on. Balancing a county's mandatory and discretionary duties is a very difficult task; any sufficiently injured county taxpayer has standing to sue the county to enforce certain duties where financial distress is no excuse, such as healthcare.
  • If residents of a sufficiently large piece of unincorporated county land do not like their county's resource allocation decisions, they can incorporate a city. The city government then takes some of the tax revenue that would have gone to the county, and can impose additional taxes on its residents. It can then choose to provide almost all the services usually provided by the county (and more), or provide only a few and pay the county do the rest. A city in this last arrangement is called a contract city; this type of contract is generally known among lawyers as the "Lakewood Plan," because it was pioneered by the city of Lakewood in 1954.^[2]
  • The idea of "opting out" of county control in California has been taken to its logical extremes. Almost all of the city of Vernon is one large industrial zone, while almost all of the town of Los Altos Hills is zoned as residential.
  • Due to geographical variations in property tax and sales tax revenue (the primary revenue source for cities and counties) and differing attitudes towards priorities, there are interesting variations in the levels of various services from one city to the next. For example, the city of Santa Monica is far more generous when it comes to helping the homeless than other cities in Los Angeles County or the county government.
  • Also, county ordinances do not apply to cities unless they are ratified by each individual city. Thus, for instance, in Los Angeles County, a few cities have not ratified the ordinance requiring the posting of restaurant food safety ratings — even though it was passed many years ago — and in those cities, ratings need not be posted.
• In Maryland:
  • Outside of Baltimore, which is an independent city, the county is the default unit of local government. Under Maryland law, counties exercise powers reserved in most other states at the municipal or state levels; hence, there is little incentive for a community to incorporate, especially in the urbanized home-rule counties. Many of the state's most populous and economically important communities, such as Bethesda and Silver Spring, are unincorporated and receive their municipal services from the county. In fact, there are no incorporated municipalities at all in either Baltimore County or Howard County.
  • The county (or Baltimore City) is also the provider of public schools. School districts as a separate level of government do not exist in Maryland.

This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,549 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214 sq. ... 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. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area  Ranked 46th  - Total 9,359 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,549 sq. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq. ... In the Canadian province of Ontario, there are three different types of census divisions: single-tier municipalities, upper-tier municipalities (which can be regional municipalities or counties) and districts. ... Nickname: Sheltered Bay Official website: http://www. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq. ... In some counties, the legislature is the board of supervisors. ... In United States law, a region of land is unincorporated if it is not a part of any municipality. ... Night view of Taipei City. ... A contract city is a city in which a city has a contract with a county or parish to provide police services. ... Lakewood is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Vernon is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Los Altos Hills is a town located in Santa Clara County, California. ... // Property tax is an ad valorem tax that an owner of real estate or other property pays on the value of the thing taxed. ... A sales tax is a tax on consumption. ... Santa Monica beach and pier Santa Monica Pier entrance Santa Monica is a coastal city in western Los Angeles County, California, USA. It borders Santa Monica Bay (part of the Pacific Ocean) on the west, Pacific Palisades and Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles and Mar Vista on the... Map of California showing Los Angeles County. ... Restaurant ratings identify restaurants according to quality, using various notations such as stars or other symbols, or numbers. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Monument City (by John Quincy Adams on a visit in 1827), Charm City, Mob Town, B-more Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Location Location of Baltimore in Maryland Government Country... An independent city is a city that does not form part of another local government entity. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: Location Location of Bethesda within Montgomery County, Maryland. ... Silver Spring is an urbanized, but unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, in the United States. ... In United States law, a region of land is unincorporated if it is not a part of any municipality. ... Baltimore County is a suburban county located in the northern portion of U.S. state of Maryland. ... Howard County is a county located in the central part of the state of Maryland, between Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The county was named for John Eager Howard, an officer in the American Revolutionary War and Governor of Maryland. ... School districts are a form of special-purpose district in the United States (amongst some other places) which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools. ...

Scope of power

In New England, counties function primarily as judicial districts, as most local government is exercised by towns. In Connecticut and Rhode Island, they have even lost all governmental function and are solely geographic designations. As of 2005, Massachusetts has abolished 7 of its former 14 county governments, though vestigal judicial and law enforcement districts still follow the old county boundaries. This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... A court is an official, public forum which a sovereign establishes by lawful authority to adjudicate disputes, and to dispense civil, labour, administrative and criminal justice under the law. ... 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. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,549 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq. ...

In most western states, the county controls all unincorporated land within its boundaries. In states with a township tier, unincorporated land is controlled by the township. Residents of unincorporated land who are dissatisfied with county-level or township-level resource allocation decisions can incorporate as a city or village. In turn, depending on the state, the city or village government can then choose to provide all its own services, or provide only some and allow the county to provide the rest. Usually, the key difference between "city" and "village" is that a city must provide all of its own services and equivalent county authorities have no jurisdiction without the city's permision; while villages (which remain subject to township governments in those states that have them), being usually rural or semi-rural jurisdictions, are typically required to provide only those services that they can, with the rest being provided by the county or township. In United States law, a region of land is unincorporated if it is not a part of any municipality. ... Night view of Taipei City. ... A village is a human residential settlement commonly found in rural areas. ...

Outside New England, counties typically maintain law enforcement agencies, public utilities, library systems, collect vital statistics and prepare, and/or process the state, certificates of births, deaths, marriages, and dissolutions (divorce decrees). In some states, the county sheriff is the principal law enforcement officer in the county, usually limited to areas outside the jurisdiction of cities and towns. In parts of the U.S., counties are "policed" by sheriffs, and cities are policed by police. In other areas, county law enforcement is called "County Police" with county sheriffs providing court services. For the band, see The Police. ... A public utility is a company that maintains the infrastructure for a public service. ... A modern-style library in Chambéry In the traditional sense of the word, a library is a collection of books and periodicals. ... Vital statistics are the information maintained by a government, recording the birth and death of individuals within that governments jurisdiction. ... Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or U.S. common law, or the person who holds such office. ...

Lists of counties by state

Number of counties per state

Southern and Midwestern states generally tend to have more counties than Western or Northern states. The list below also includes county-equivalents. The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... Midwest States (United States of America, ND to OH) The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ... This article deals with the western United States. ... The U.S. Northeast is a region of the United States of America defined by the US Census Bureau. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ...

Index: Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Anderson County formed in 1846 from part of Houston County. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St. ... Official language(s) English Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 26th 145,743 km² 320 km 500 km 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 36th 109,247 km² 195 km 710 km 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Columbus Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 102,384 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Area  Ranked 32nd  - Total 48,434 sq. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq. ... Following is a list of counties in Florida. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  Ranked 30th  - Total 52,423 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,163 sq. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 104,185 sq mi  269 837 km² 280 miles  451 km 380 miles  612 km 0. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Largest city Bismarck Fargo Area  Ranked 19th  - Total 70,762 sq mi  (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Boise Largest city Boise Area  Ranked 14th  - Total 83,642 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Salem Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,876 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,872 sq. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Carson City Las Vegas Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 7th 110,567 sq mi  286,367 km² 322 miles  519 km 490 miles  788 km 0. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ... Official language(s) None Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 9,620 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area  Ranked 46th  - Total 9,359 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,549 sq. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214 sq. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq. ...

County name etymologies

Main article: Lists of U.S. county name etymologies These are lists of U.S. county name etymologies. ...

Many states have counties named after U.S. presidents such as Washington, Madison, Polk, Jefferson, etc. Counties are also commonly named after famous individuals, local Native American tribes once in the area, cities located within the county, and land or water features (Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, meaning "Fat Hill" in Spanish, and Lake County, Illinois, on Lake Michigan). For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... Washington County is the name of 31 counties and one parish in the United States of America, all named for George Washington. ... Madison County is the name of twenty counties in the United States, named after President James Madison: Madison County, Alabama Madison County, Arkansas Madison County, Florida Madison County, Georgia Madison County, Iowa Madison County, Idaho Madison County, Illinois Madison County, Indiana Madison County, Iowa Madison County, Kentucky Madison County, Mississippi... Polk County is the name of twelve counties in the United States, all except one named after president of the United States James Knox Polk: Polk County, Arkansas Polk County, Florida Polk County, Georgia Polk County, Iowa Polk County, Minnesota Polk County, Missouri Polk County, Nebraska Polk County, North Carolina... Jefferson County is the name of 26 counties in the United States. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... Cerro Gordo County is a county located in the state of Iowa. ... Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Sunset on Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ...

Special cases

The power of the county government varies widely from state to state, as does the relationship between counties and incorporated municipal governments. A state of the United States (a U.S. state) is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, along with the District of Columbia, form the United States of America. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Local government of the United States. ...

The Alaska info below is incorrect - there is also the City & Borough of Haines - but I do not have time to correct it at this very moment.

• In Alaska, the borough is what would be a county in other states (apart from Louisiana). Four consolidated city-county governments exist—Juneau City and Borough, Sitka City and Borough, Yakutat City and Borough as well as the state's largest city, Anchorage. Though its legal name is the Municipality of Anchorage, it is considered a consolidated city-borough under state law. Unique to Alaska, not all of the land area of the state is divided into boroughs. The remainder, comprising over half of Alaska's land area, is called the Unorganized Borough and, outside municipalities, services are provided by the state. The United States Census Bureau has divided the Unorganized Borough into census areas for statistical purposes.
• The state of California has one consolidated city-county, San Francisco. The city's board of supervisors govern both aspects, and there is both a city police department and a county sheriff, the latter mostly responsible for operating the county jail (which is located in adjacent San Mateo County).
• Colorado has two consolidated city-counties—Denver and Broomfield.
• In Georgia, three consolidated city-counties exist—Athens (Clarke County), Augusta (Richmond County) and Columbus (Muscogee County). Atlanta (Fulton County) is still thinking that the city may merge with Fulton County to become either independent or consolidated.
• In Kansas, Wyandotte County and the city of Kansas City, Kansas operate as a unified government.
• The two largest cities in Kentucky, Louisville and