Consolidated city-county

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. As such, it is simulataneously a city, which is a municipal corporation; and a county, which, in the U.S., is an administrative division of a state. This is different from the independent city, which is a city that is not located within the boundaries of any county, but is separate from the neighbouring county. All cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia are independent cities.

Related Topics:
American - Local government - Metropolitan municipality - Regional municipality - Independent city - City

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The terms "metropolitan municipality" and "regional municipality" simply distinguish whether the city-county is an urban area (e.g., San Francisco or New York City) or a mixed urban/suburban/rural area (e.g., Indianapolis). These terms can also refer to semi-consolidations, where individual sections of a metropolitan municipality retain some autonomous jurisdiction apart from the city-wide government. New York City is a classic example of this type of metropolitan municipality, in which the five counties/boroughs which are coextensive with the City of Greater New York retain certain local powers through their own borough councils and presidents.

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Consolidated city-counties are also called metropolitan governments and metropolitan county, as well as consolidated city-counties - however, "metropolitan county" also refers to jurisdictions like Arlington, Virginia, and Prince George's County, Maryland, both of which are counties that contain no municipalities within their boundaries.

Related Topics:
Metropolitan government - Metropolitan county

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England used to have two "Metropolian Counties" -- Greater London and Greater Manchester -- but these were recently reorganised. Modern unitary authorities are similar, and are known as county boroughs in Wales. In Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh are functionally "independent cities," though the term is not used.

Related Topics:
England - Unitary authorities - Borough - Wales

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Similar arrangements exist in other countries such as Seoul, South Korea which is a Special City.

Related Topics:
Seoul - South Korea - Special City

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Wyandotte County, Kansas uses the term "unified government" to refer to its consolidation where one city government has been merged with the county government, while other cities and towns remain separate jurisdictions within the county.

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