5 ms·

I'm under the impression that much of the country uses counties a lot. I know they are quite important in New York (my father owns property upstate). New Englan

• ghaff 9y ago
  In New England, it's probably at least partly that there is such a strong tradition of government at the town level. (Town halls and the like.) I've had friends who moved here from overseas and some of them were really amazed how every sleepy little town has its own town office, police, fire, school etc. Sometimes towns pool some things together but lots of things are town by town. Massachusetts does organize the judiciary (and some other things like deed registration) by county but in at least most cases, everyone is actually a state employee. Don't really know how it works in the country as a whole. My impression is that the South generally has more of a tradition of county government.
  • bzbarsky 9y ago
    For contrast, in Maryland counties are the school districts. At which point you need a county government, significant taxes, etc...
    • ghaff 9y ago
      The organization of schools plays a big role because, at least in many areas, that where most of the property taxes go. I don't know the exact numbers in my town but I think it's 80-90%. (Where schools are a combination of by town and a regional system with a couple of adjoining towns.)