1. Counties, towns, Townships, and cities

2. Counties a major unit of local government in most States
vary widely in area and population

3. Examples In Virginia: In California In Georgia: In Massachusetts York
Gloucester
Roanoke
In Georgia:
Fulton
Cobb
Forsyth
In California
Fresno
Los Angeles
Monterey
In Massachusetts
Nantucket
Norfolk
Suffolk

6. Virginia (8,326,289 vs. 318,857,056/US) 95 Counties
39 Independent Cities
No city serves or is part of a county
Some of the cities were formed from an entire county. These cities are no longer county seats, since the counties ceased to exist once the cities were completely formed, but are functionally equivalent to counties.
Largest County in Size: Pittsylvania County at 978 Sq. Mi.
Largest City in Size: Suffolk at 400 Sq. Mi.
Largest County Population: Fairfax at 1,118,683 66,146)
Largest City Population: Virginia Beach 448,479

7. Counties WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A COUNTY? Vary from State to State
Share the functions of local government OR
Major unit of government for rural areas

8. Governmental structure of counties
A typical county has 4 major elements:
a governing body
a number of boards or commissions
appointed bureaucrats
a variety of elected officials
A county board is usually known as a board of commissions or board of supervisors

9. Two types of County boards
Board of commissions:
Smaller and more common
Board of supervisors:
Much larger body (15 + members)

11. Legislative powers of counties
Most important legislative power of counties deal with finance.
appropriate funds
levy taxes
incur limited debts

12. Besides dealing with $, counties also…
Keep the peace
Build/Repair roads, bridges, drains
Maintain jails and correctional facilities
Assess property for taxes
Maintain schools
Enforce Zoning
Provide public utilities (water, sewage, trash, etc.)
Emergency Services (ambulance, fire, police)
Auditoriums and Sports Complex/Arenas

13. City Planning City Zoning
Practice of dividing a city into districts and regulating property uses
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Each zone is then subdivided
Ie. Residential zones may be subdivided into single-family, two family, and multifamily units.
Determine height and area limits for buildings

14. City Planning City Zoning York County Zoning Zoning Codes
York County Land Use
York County Property Information

15. Townships can be found in NY, NJ, ND, PA, SD, NE, OH and KS
different kinds of settlements in different counties, subordinate to county
Townships can be found in NY, NJ, ND, PA, SD, NE, OH and KS
The layout of townships resemble crazy quilts or perfect squares.

16. Cities 3 Basic forms of government:
Mayor Council – oldest and most commonly used form
A Commission
Council-Mayor Form

20. America’s Rural-Urban Shift
OVER 75% live in cities & close suburbs
Today
More than ½ lived in cities
1920’s
2/5 of nation lived in urban areas
1900’s
5.1% Lived in Cities
1790