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Independent city (United States)

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154: 582: 598: 475: 1100: 1072:. However, unlike county-equivalents in the other 49 states, the boroughs do not cover the entire land area of the state. The area not territory of any borough is referred to as the Unorganized Borough, although it does not have its own local government. The Census Bureau divides the Unorganized Borough into several census areas which it treats as county equivalents for statistical purposes. 27: 921:), in which the city and county (or, as in Louisiana, a parish; or as in Alaska, a borough) governments have been merged. A consolidated city-county differs from an independent city in that the city and county both nominally exist, although they have a consolidated government, whereas in an independent city, the county does not even nominally exist. 540:. However, in the case of a consolidated city-county, a city and a county were merged into a unified jurisdiction in which the county at least nominally exists to this day, whereas an independent city was legally separated from any county or merged with a county that simultaneously ceased to exist even in name. 681:
in their names; politically, however, they are counties. The independent cities were formed to centralize trading and legal matters as the older system of merchant ships cruising from plantation to plantation was inefficient. The colonial capital of
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in 1969, and the county was simultaneously dissolved. Debates about consolidating Carson City and Ormsby County began in the 1940s, and it required Nevada voters to approve a state constitutional amendment in 1968 to allow the
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of an adjacent county, even though the city by definition is not part of that county. Some other Virginia municipalities, even though they may be more populous than some existing independent cities, are
268: 622:. Virginia's thirty-eight independent cities are not politically part of a county, even though geographically they may be completely surrounded by one. An independent city in Virginia may serve as the 1041:). Counties in southern New England still have a nominal existence, and so no city or town in those three states is truly separate from a county, although the town and the county of 731: 496: 1538: 614:, all municipalities incorporated as "cities" have been "independent cities", also called "free cities", since 1871, when a revised state constitution took effect following the 161: 631:. These towns always form part of a county. Incorporated towns have limited powers, varying by each charter. They typically share many aspects such as courts and public 489: 44: 1435: 207: 638:
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are two classes of city. The primary difference relates to the court system. A first-class city (e.g., Richmond) has its own
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government for the city, although city laws can be overridden by Congress. In practice, the city operates much like other independent cities in the United States.
322: 1528: 409: 1333: 961: 356: 1543: 1069: 400: 260: 153: 298: 272: 1033:) have almost no governmental institutions or roles associated with them (aside from serving as a basis for court districts, along with demarcating 1004: 572: 215: 91: 1490: 576: 446: 388: 63: 714:, became extinct in 1952 when it was consolidated politically by mutual consent with the small City of Hampton, its county seat, and the 1560: 70: 1589: 1512: 992: 711: 396: 110: 646:. A second-class city (e.g. Norton or Emporia) has its own District Courts, but not its own Circuit Court. As a second-class city, 1017:
traditionally have very strong governments, while counties have correspondingly less importance. Today, most counties in southern
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or counties and is considered a primary administrative division of its state. Independent cities are classified by the
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Washington, D.C., which has a special status as the U.S. capital. It is not part of any state; instead, the
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shares a Circuit Court with adjacent Arlington County. In Virginia, a District Court is not a
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A "federated" city-county multi-tiered type of government such as applies between Miami and
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was created for this reason, being a port on the James River. Two of these counties are
1377: 1080: 1076: 314: 1293: 979:. The District was originally divided into three independent cities and two counties. 1684: 1425: 1053:
used to provide both the complete governance and the complete revenue of its county,
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Former independent cities, now extinct, that were long extant in Virginia include:
1392: 1022: 1018: 952: 663: 623: 26: 593:. All cities in Virginia are independent from the counties that surround them. 1362: 1311: 1175: 1095: 836:
in 1952, was in 1958 consolidated by mutual agreement with the newly expanded
694:, whose names originated with earlier "incorporations" created in 1619 by the 464: 172: 761:, which gave up its city charter in 2001, and is now an incorporated town in 551:
makes them a special case. The three independent cities outside Virginia are
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to Virginia in 1846. The three remaining entities (the City of Washington,
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Three older Virginia counties, whose origins go back to the original eight
1245: 544: 563:. Baltimore is the most populous independent city in the United States. 1068:. Alaska is not divided into counties, but has near-equivalents called 1065: 1050: 918: 869: 219: 818:
in 1972, was merged in 1974 with the then-City of Suffolk and three
1057:, although Suffolk County also includes three much smaller cities. 580: 1382: 1315: 718:. These merged entities became the current independent city of 20: 1290:"2010 FIPS Codes for Counties and County Equivalent Entities" 807:
Two other independent cities existed only for a short time:
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States, Counties, and Statistically Equivalent Entities
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in 1876 after voters approved secession from the county.
781:, which gave up its city charter in 1994, and is now an 1224:
Maryland Manual On-Line: A Guide to Maryland Government
1083:. The Census Bureau classifies these municipalities as 1049:(on the island of that name), are coterminous, and the 822:
within the county's former boundaries, to form today's
771:, which was consolidated by mutual agreement with the 732:
List of former counties, cities, and towns of Virginia
532:" and may also have similar governmental powers to a 1075:
A city or village in Ohio may be independent of any
960:, each of which is territorially coterminous with a 928:, that is completely metropolitan but only contains 1634: 1603: 1521: 1461: 1413: 1350: 51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 1003:) were merged into a consolidated government by 601:Top 10 most populated cities in Virginia (2010). 975:in accordance with Article 1, Section 8 of the 1079:because it is more or less coextensive with a 520:is a city that is not in the territory of any 1327: 543:Of the 41 independent U.S. cities, 38 are in 497: 16:Cities not belonging to any particular county 8: 897:Other entities similar to independent cities 1334: 1320: 1312: 956:jurisdiction: the city is made up of five 504: 490: 122: 1198:"Cities and Towns: Geography of Virginia" 722:, one of the largest cities of Virginia. 710:, which was originally part of the older 662:, so all cases are heard by a judge; all 111:Learn how and when to remove this message 901:An independent city is not the same as: 596: 1130: 573:List of cities and counties in Virginia 380: 364: 306: 235: 160: 140: 1691:Local government in the United States 1151: 1149: 934:incorporated cities or municipalities 60:"Independent city" United States 7: 577:Administrative divisions of Virginia 49:adding citations to reliable sources 924:A highly urbanized county, such as 832:, which was formed from the former 14: 971:is under the jurisdiction of the 635:with the county they are within. 1453:Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Area 1098: 881:to perform such a consolidation. 473: 152: 25: 1670:Office of Management and Budget 1015:Cities and towns in New England 36:needs additional citations for 1508:New England city and town area 1268:"A Brief History of St. Louis" 1114:Home rule in the United States 987:) and the independent city of 666:are heard in a Circuit Court. 1: 1503:Micropolitan statistical area 1498:Metropolitan statistical area 1007:. Congress has established a 973:Congress of the United States 860:Maryland Constitution of 1851 1398:United States Virgin Islands 1156:Cities 101 -- Consolidations 650:shares a Circuit Court with 1486:Core-based statistical area 1142:United States Census Bureau 591:James City County, Virginia 585:Sign marking the limits of 526:United States Census Bureau 323:Cities, towns, and villages 216:Alaska Native tribal entity 1707: 1590:State legislative district 1448:Off-reservation trust land 1220:"Baltimore City, Maryland" 1005:an act of Congress in 1871 941:Miami-Dade County, Florida 930:unincorporated communities 926:Arlington County, Virginia 890:St. Louis County, Missouri 858:since the adoption of the 856:Baltimore County, Maryland 814:, created from the former 729: 570: 228:Tribal Jurisdictional Area 224:Off-reservation trust land 1660: 1573:Public use microdata area 1481:Combined statistical area 1421:Alaska Native corporation 1226:. Maryland State Archives 1160:National League of Cities 516:In the United States, an 1469:Primary statistical area 1405:ZIP Code Tabulation Area 1388:Northern Mariana Islands 1060:Cities and towns in the 1035:National Weather Service 962:county of New York State 907:consolidated city-county 612:Commonwealth of Virginia 534:consolidated city-county 328:Coterminous municipality 281:Consolidated city-county 128:This article is part of 1270:. The City of St. Louis 854:has been separate from 747:in 2013, and is now an 677:, have or had the word 357:State-recognized tribes 336:Census-designated place 1611:Census county division 1529:Congressional district 1174:. 2001. Archived from 673:formed in 1634 in the 602: 594: 587:Williamsburg, Virginia 410:Congressional district 143:Political divisions of 1621:Traffic analysis zone 1178:on September 29, 2013 708:Elizabeth City County 600: 584: 431:Homeowner association 393:Conservation district 1616:Minor civil division 1343:United States census 1200:. Virginiaplaces.org 969:District of Columbia 872:, consolidated with 838:City of Newport News 820:unincorporated towns 799:in 1963 to form the 795:, which merged with 743:, which gave up its 618:and the creation of 480:United States portal 45:improve this article 1246:"About Carson City" 1062:Unorganized Borough 888:was separated from 688:Charles City County 561:Carson City, Nevada 557:St. Louis, Missouri 553:Baltimore, Maryland 460:Unincorporated area 257:Unorganized Borough 1544:Alaska census area 1443:Hawaiian home land 1431:Indian reservation 1085:independent places 879:Nevada Legislature 801:City of Chesapeake 675:Colony of Virginia 671:shires of Virginia 629:incorporated towns 616:American Civil War 603: 595: 549:state constitution 530:county equivalents 212:Hawaiian home land 204:Indian reservation 1678: 1677: 1595:Urban growth area 1566:Census-designated 1296:on March 12, 2016 1001:Washington County 983:(which now forms 981:Alexandria County 977:U.S. Constitution 886:City of St. Louis 868:, the capital of 852:City of Baltimore 783:incorporated town 749:incorporated town 720:Hampton, Virginia 692:James City County 642:and also its own 538:unitary authority 514: 513: 397:National monument 299:Unorganized atoll 291:Municipality (PR) 145:the United States 121: 120: 113: 95: 1698: 1549:Independent city 1368:Federal District 1336: 1329: 1322: 1313: 1306: 1305: 1303: 1301: 1292:. Archived from 1286: 1280: 1279: 1277: 1275: 1264: 1258: 1257: 1255: 1253: 1242: 1236: 1235: 1233: 1231: 1216: 1210: 1209: 1207: 1205: 1194: 1188: 1187: 1185: 1183: 1168: 1162: 1153: 1144: 1135: 1108: 1103: 1102: 1101: 985:Arlington County 948:City of New York 816:Nansemond County 773:City of Richmond 763:Alleghany County 712:Elizabeth Cittie 706:. Additionally, 696:Virginia Company 633:school divisions 518:independent city 506: 499: 492: 477: 439:Associated state 418:Special district 286:Independent city 186:Federal district 164: 156: 146: 135: 132: 123: 116: 109: 105: 102: 96: 94: 53: 29: 21: 1706: 1705: 1701: 1700: 1699: 1697: 1696: 1695: 1681: 1680: 1679: 1674: 1656: 1630: 1626:Voting district 1599: 1578:School district 1517: 1457: 1409: 1346: 1340: 1310: 1309: 1299: 1297: 1288: 1287: 1283: 1273: 1271: 1266: 1265: 1261: 1251: 1249: 1244: 1243: 1239: 1229: 1227: 1218: 1217: 1213: 1203: 1201: 1196: 1195: 1191: 1181: 1179: 1170: 1169: 1165: 1154: 1147: 1136: 1132: 1127: 1119:Urban secession 1106:Maryland portal 1104: 1099: 1097: 1094: 899: 847: 824:City of Suffolk 734: 728: 716:Town of Phoebus 660:court of record 648:City of Fairfax 608: 579: 571:Main articles: 569: 510: 478: 456: 452:Federal enclave 443: 435: 427: 422:school district 414: 406: 389:Protected areas 353: 340: 332: 319: 295: 277: 269:District (USVI) 200: 182: 162: 144: 142: 130: 127: 117: 106: 100: 97: 54: 52: 42: 30: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1704: 1702: 1694: 1693: 1683: 1682: 1676: 1675: 1673: 1672: 1667: 1661: 1658: 1657: 1655: 1654: 1649: 1644: 1638: 1636: 1632: 1631: 1629: 1628: 1623: 1618: 1613: 1607: 1605: 1601: 1600: 1598: 1597: 1592: 1587: 1586: 1585: 1575: 1570: 1569: 1568: 1558: 1557: 1556: 1551: 1546: 1541: 1531: 1525: 1523: 1519: 1518: 1516: 1515: 1510: 1505: 1500: 1495: 1494: 1493: 1483: 1478: 1477: 1476: 1465: 1463: 1459: 1458: 1456: 1455: 1450: 1445: 1440: 1439: 1438: 1428: 1423: 1417: 1415: 1411: 1410: 1408: 1407: 1402: 1401: 1400: 1395: 1390: 1385: 1380: 1378:American Samoa 1370: 1365: 1360: 1354: 1352: 1348: 1347: 1341: 1339: 1338: 1331: 1324: 1316: 1308: 1307: 1281: 1259: 1237: 1211: 1189: 1163: 1145: 1129: 1128: 1126: 1123: 1122: 1121: 1116: 1110: 1109: 1093: 1090: 1089: 1088: 1081:paper township 1073: 1058: 1055:Suffolk County 1051:City of Boston 1012: 965: 944: 937: 922: 898: 895: 894: 893: 882: 863: 846: 843: 842: 841: 834:Warwick County 827: 805: 804: 797:Norfolk County 790: 787:Halifax County 776: 766: 756: 753:Bedford County 727: 724: 700:Charles Cittie 652:Fairfax County 640:District Court 607: 604: 568: 565: 512: 511: 509: 508: 501: 494: 486: 483: 482: 470: 469: 468: 467: 462: 455: 454: 449: 442: 441: 434: 433: 426: 425: 413: 412: 405: 404: 383: 382: 378: 377: 376: 375: 367: 366: 362: 361: 360: 359: 352: 351: 346: 339: 338: 331: 330: 325: 318: 317: 309: 308: 304: 303: 302: 301: 294: 293: 288: 283: 276: 275: 254: 238: 237: 233: 232: 231: 230: 199: 198: 188: 181: 180: 167: 166: 158: 157: 149: 148: 138: 137: 119: 118: 33: 31: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1703: 1692: 1689: 1688: 1686: 1671: 1668: 1666: 1665:Census Bureau 1663: 1662: 1659: 1653: 1650: 1648: 1645: 1643: 1640: 1639: 1637: 1633: 1627: 1624: 1622: 1619: 1617: 1614: 1612: 1609: 1608: 1606: 1602: 1596: 1593: 1591: 1588: 1584: 1581: 1580: 1579: 1576: 1574: 1571: 1567: 1564: 1563: 1562: 1559: 1555: 1552: 1550: 1547: 1545: 1542: 1540: 1537: 1536: 1535: 1532: 1530: 1527: 1526: 1524: 1520: 1514: 1511: 1509: 1506: 1504: 1501: 1499: 1496: 1492: 1489: 1488: 1487: 1484: 1482: 1479: 1475: 1472: 1471: 1470: 1467: 1466: 1464: 1460: 1454: 1451: 1449: 1446: 1444: 1441: 1437: 1434: 1433: 1432: 1429: 1427: 1426:Indian colony 1424: 1422: 1419: 1418: 1416: 1412: 1406: 1403: 1399: 1396: 1394: 1391: 1389: 1386: 1384: 1381: 1379: 1376: 1375: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1366: 1364: 1361: 1359: 1356: 1355: 1353: 1349: 1344: 1337: 1332: 1330: 1325: 1323: 1318: 1317: 1314: 1295: 1291: 1285: 1282: 1269: 1263: 1260: 1248:. Carson City 1247: 1241: 1238: 1225: 1221: 1215: 1212: 1199: 1193: 1190: 1177: 1173: 1167: 1164: 1161: 1157: 1152: 1150: 1146: 1143: 1139: 1134: 1131: 1124: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1111: 1107: 1096: 1091: 1086: 1082: 1078: 1074: 1071: 1067: 1063: 1059: 1056: 1052: 1048: 1047:Massachusetts 1044: 1040: 1039:media markets 1037:warnings and 1036: 1032: 1031:Massachusetts 1028: 1024: 1020: 1016: 1013: 1010: 1006: 1002: 998: 994: 990: 986: 982: 978: 974: 970: 966: 963: 959: 955: 954: 950:, which is a 949: 945: 942: 938: 935: 931: 927: 923: 920: 916: 912: 911:San Francisco 908: 904: 903: 902: 896: 891: 887: 883: 880: 875: 874:Ormsby County 871: 867: 864: 861: 857: 853: 849: 848: 844: 839: 835: 831: 828: 825: 821: 817: 813: 810: 809: 808: 802: 798: 794: 793:South Norfolk 791: 788: 784: 780: 777: 774: 770: 767: 764: 760: 759:Clifton Forge 757: 754: 750: 746: 742: 739: 738: 737: 733: 726:Former cities 725: 723: 721: 717: 713: 709: 705: 701: 697: 693: 689: 685: 680: 676: 672: 667: 665: 661: 657: 653: 649: 645: 644:Circuit Court 641: 636: 634: 630: 625: 621: 620:West Virginia 617: 613: 605: 599: 592: 588: 583: 578: 574: 566: 564: 562: 558: 554: 550: 546: 541: 539: 535: 531: 527: 523: 519: 507: 502: 500: 495: 493: 488: 487: 485: 484: 481: 476: 472: 471: 466: 463: 461: 458: 457: 453: 450: 448: 447:Military base 445: 444: 440: 437: 436: 432: 429: 428: 423: 419: 416: 415: 411: 408: 407: 402: 401:National park 398: 394: 390: 387: 386: 385: 384: 379: 374: 371: 370: 369: 368: 363: 358: 355: 354: 350: 347: 345: 342: 341: 337: 334: 333: 329: 326: 324: 321: 320: 316: 313: 312: 311: 310: 305: 300: 297: 296: 292: 289: 287: 284: 282: 279: 278: 274: 273:District (AS) 270: 266: 262: 258: 255: 253: 249: 245: 242: 241: 240: 239: 234: 229: 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 205: 202: 201: 196: 192: 189: 187: 184: 183: 178: 174: 171: 170: 169: 168: 165: 159: 155: 151: 150: 147: 139: 136: 133: 125: 124: 115: 112: 104: 93: 90: 86: 83: 79: 76: 72: 69: 65: 62: –  61: 57: 56:Find sources: 50: 46: 40: 39: 34:This article 32: 28: 23: 22: 19: 1604:County-level 1548: 1462:Metropolitan 1414:Native areas 1373:Insular area 1298:. Retrieved 1294:the original 1284: 1274:November 11, 1272:. Retrieved 1262: 1252:November 11, 1250:. Retrieved 1240: 1230:November 11, 1228:. Retrieved 1223: 1214: 1204:December 18, 1202:. Retrieved 1192: 1180:. Retrieved 1176:the original 1166: 1133: 1084: 1027:Rhode Island 951: 915:Philadelphia 900: 845:Other states 806: 779:South Boston 745:city charter 735: 704:James Cittie 684:Williamsburg 678: 668: 656:Falls Church 637: 609: 542: 517: 515: 365:Fourth level 285: 236:Second level 195:Commonwealth 177:Commonwealth 126: 107: 98: 88: 81: 74: 67: 55: 43:Please help 38:verification 35: 18: 1647:Block group 1522:State-level 1393:Puerto Rico 1140:, from the 1023:Connecticut 1019:New England 953:sui generis 866:Carson City 664:jury trials 624:county seat 381:Other areas 307:Third level 261:Census area 163:First level 1513:Urban area 1125:References 997:Georgetown 989:Alexandria 769:Manchester 730:See also: 465:Ghost town 101:April 2013 71:newspapers 1554:Municipio 1043:Nantucket 1009:home rule 909:(such as 812:Nansemond 191:Territory 1685:Category 1358:Division 1300:July 29, 1092:See also 1077:township 1070:boroughs 993:returned 958:boroughs 775:in 1910. 654:, while 567:Virginia 547:, whose 545:Virginia 315:Township 265:Villages 131:a series 1351:Regions 1182:May 27, 1158:, from 830:Warwick 741:Bedford 610:In the 606:History 349:Chapter 252:Borough 85:scholar 1534:County 1345:topics 1066:Alaska 1029:, and 999:, and 919:Denver 870:Nevada 559:; and 522:county 344:Barrio 248:Parish 244:County 220:Pueblo 87:  80:  73:  66:  58:  1652:Tract 1642:Block 1635:Local 1583:lists 1561:Place 1363:State 991:were 932:, no 917:, or 536:or a 173:State 92:JSTOR 78:books 1539:list 1491:list 1474:list 1436:list 1383:Guam 1302:2016 1276:2020 1254:2020 1232:2020 1206:2014 1184:2006 946:The 884:The 850:The 702:and 690:and 679:city 589:and 575:and 528:as " 373:Ward 210:) / 208:list 64:news 1064:of 785:in 751:in 698:as 47:by 1687:: 1222:. 1148:^ 1045:, 1025:, 913:, 905:A 555:; 399:, 395:, 271:/ 267:/ 263:/ 259:/ 250:/ 246:/ 226:/ 222:/ 218:/ 214:/ 134:on 1335:e 1328:t 1321:v 1304:. 1278:. 1256:. 1234:. 1208:. 1186:. 1087:. 1021:( 964:. 943:. 936:. 862:. 840:. 826:. 803:. 789:. 765:. 755:. 505:e 498:t 491:v 424:) 420:( 403:) 391:( 206:( 197:) 193:( 179:) 175:( 114:) 108:( 103:) 99:( 89:· 82:· 75:· 68:· 41:.

Index


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"Independent city" United States
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a series
Political divisions of
the United States

Coat of arms of the United States
First level
State
Commonwealth
Federal district
Territory
Commonwealth
Indian reservation
list
Hawaiian home land
Alaska Native tribal entity
Pueblo
Off-reservation trust land
Tribal Jurisdictional Area
County
Parish
Borough

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