The one consistent thing about the United States is the lack of consistency that is fostered by the freedoms we enjoy. In the "Know Your Surveyors" thread below I learned that Maryland has little need for cities to be formed. Apparently, the counties handle the vital municipal-type items such that the "communities" don't need to. Meanwhile, Baltimore City is not in a county, if I understood corretly.
The State of Kansas has 105 counties, of which all but one are standard. Each county is divided into townships, which largely serve only minor functions. There are roughly 600 incorporated cities in the State resulting in an average of six cities per county. There are many other towns, communities and place names that are not incorporated that appear on maps.
The State is responsible for the big, general functions. The counties focus on local roads and bridges, public health and protection, records retention, property appraisal and tax collection. The local courts are part of a district court consisting of several counties. The township boards now have a minor role, normally, addressing some funds for recreation, fire protection and a few other concerns. The cities are responsible for the streets and fire protection and police protection within their boundaries. Some are also owners of various utilities such as water, sewer, electric and natural gas. The small towns and other communities fall into the general county responsibility.
How do all the various responsibilities break out in your State? Or, in some cases, your Commonwealth, whatever that is?
uhh... as with surveying... it depends.
VA has separate Cities that function just as a county. Separate schools, courts, police and Sheriff, taxes, etc. All deeds and plats stored at the City Courthouse. EXCEPT the City of Galax (that I know of). It depends on which side of the river you are on as to which county that you look stuff up in (either Carroll or Grayson).
In VA Counties, the deeds and plats are recorded in the clerk of Circuit Court. Towns have their own subdivision and zoning laws (if they have any) from the county.
Roads maintained by VDOT in the county, and the towns/cities within their limits... EXCEPT unless they have some sort of contract that states different, and the road will have a "T" number. This happens more in rural counties...
I'd say we're pretty un-uniform here... it's very localized.... and you just have to know who and how to deal.
Maine vests a lot of power in the municipalities, which can be Cities (city council generally running the show), Towns (selectmen/ town meeting form of government, intensely democratic, the downside being 45-minute debates on $100 expenditures), or "unorganized" places essentially run by the State (usually with a minimal year-round populace). The Cities are generally, but not always, larger municipalities than the Towns. County government is weak here but surveyors deal with it a lot because the counties do run the registries of deeds and probate.
Texas has 254 counties. Most of the counties in the East are irregular and follow natural boundaries for the most part. In the panhandle is a different story as well as West Texas and South Texas. Where there was Mexican settlements (prior to 1836) those areas look different than North Texas which was cut up much later.
The only thing standard in Texas is the vara, so you better know your area and understand how it developed in it's own little microcosm. Nothing is standard fare.
Carl has it right ...
the only rule is that there is an exception to everything. And all 100 (+) counties, all incorporated cities (first & second class - don't get me started), and all towns are different.
Masschusetts is similar to Maine in that local government has always been stronger than county. In the late 1990's the governments of 8 of the 14 counties were abolished and there functions, i.e registries of deeds, sheriff's department and county jails and county courts were transferred to the state.
Here is more on Massachusetts Counties.
>In the "Know Your Surveyors" thread below I learned that Maryland has little need for cities to be formed. Apparently, the counties handle the vital municipal-type items such that the "communities" don't need to. Meanwhile, Baltimore City is not in a county, if I understood correctly.
>
We have independent municipalities as well.
So, for example, here in Washington County Maryland there are nine independent cities or towns. Technically, in the one county (geographically) there can be up to ten individual subdivision and zoning ordinances, planning commissions, etc.
In CT, which has eight counties, there is no county government and no “county seat”, there are either towns, boroughs or cities (just under 190 in all).
Deed and other document recording is managed by the Town Clerk Land Records office in each town. There are “regional councils” that take part in land use planning, but except for some judicial functions, most county functions were taken away or discontinued back in 1960 or so.
Carl has it right ...
> the only rule is that there is an exception to everything. And all 100 (+) counties, all incorporated cities (first & second class - don't get me started), and all towns are different.
Thanks for the reassurance Dave!
I wasn't really sure beyond where I've worked (NRV area basically). But, I had a feeling that there was wide variations across the Commonwealth. I mean, we go from the coalfield and mountains that are west of Detroit to the metropolis and mess of DC to the metropolis and mess of VA Beach and Tidewater... gonna be some difference.
Carl
Excellent post HC. Very enlightening, even if it is not fully answering your original question... or is it?
SC
What about the county COURTS & SHERIFF? Last I knew they still existed.
SJ
Generally speaking, Towns in the east are political subdivisions and Townships in the west are land subdivisions. In NY we have State, Regional, County, Town, City, Hamlet. The lower ones must comply with the upper but can put in place more stringent codes (except hamlets which are unincorporated and must use Town rules). Many exceptions to the general. Some cities may not be within and subject to a Town, and then there are the foreign soils of the boroughs and NY City where who knows what's going on.
However, most unincorporated Hamlets do have an honorary mayor that pontificates from a local bar-stool. Most Towns also have a Judge that metes out justice in varying capacities of knowledge and justice. Land boundary disputes do not usually go before these fellows, but it is interesting as there is no requirement for any knowledge of law (or anything else). Although the State recently made it a requirement to attend some hours of training for the position. It's a popularity contest, er, elected position.
The differences are interesting, but they all follow the general pattern across the U.S., as far as I can tell.
"........but except for some judicial functions.....".
According to law, "County government was abolished effective October 1, 1960; counties continue only as geographical subdivisions."
Connecticut has no County Sheriff Departments and the State Police are organized into eleven Troop areas that don't follow county lines. I understand that there are state marshals that are organized by county.
Hey...give commentary on your own state please....lol..
What cowboy said
Joe,
I worked there for 1-1/2 years.
My "State" is actually several. 😉
SJ
This is all very interesting to me. It is normal to assume that whatever you are exposed to locally is standard for the rest of the country. Based on the above posts, this is a very bad assumption.
When I say 'town' I'm referring to an identifable community that has not become incorporated into a 'city' government. We have both townships based on PLSS work and political townships of all shapes that still have some governmental function, though limited. Until about 1890 the political townships were fully responsible for all the roads and bridges within their borders as well as many other functions. As transportation technology improved, these functions largely moved to the county level. The vast majority of our land is occupied by 'country' outside of towns and cities, yet within the various political townships within the county. 'Country' matters are handled by the county government in addition to the county's control over cities.
When Kansas was formed in 1861 one key item specifically addressed in the constitution was that the State WAS NOT to get into the road business. Roads were to be a local function completely. It was not until 1929 when the constitution was amended to create a State Highway Commission. Part of the reason for this was the foolishness brought on by excessive local control. Apparently, in many places county roads would not be extended to the county line, thus, greatly impairing commerce with the adjacent counties. Also, one county's best road to a specific county line might miss connection with the adjacent county's best road to the same county line by a mile or more with only a very poor dirt road connecting the best roads. Travel across the State was tremendously difficult due to the frequency of 'gaps' in road quality created by allowing each county to control all of the roads.
California Counties are political subdivisions of the State. We have 52 and most are fairly large. San Bernardino is the largest county in the US and is almost as big as New England.
Only San Francisco is a City and County combined; the rest have incorporated cities except for maybe Alpine.
California counties are not set up to be municipal entities so when they wind up with the role, like Sacramento which has a lot of urban unincorporated area, they tend to have budget problems. Cities have more power to tax and collect fees.
lol...move back...then you can pay killer taxes like me!!...
Dave
What happened to the other six counties? Don't we have 58?
And the County of Los Angeles has 88 separate cities within it.
Dave
Didn't you hear, the Legislature is proposing to abolish 6 counties in the 2011/12 budget act? The main justification is to make my post accurate.
I was right, Alpine County, the smallest by population, has no incorporated cities.
