4 ms·

Aren’t most cities also part of a county in the US, and therefore include the suburbs? I was under the impression that where I live, Richmond, Virginia, is some

Aren’t most cities also part of a county in the US, and therefore include the suburbs? I was under the impression that where I live, Richmond, Virginia, is somewhat unique how the city is totally independent.

analog31 4y ago
Indeed, but in most if not all states, counties are severely constrained in terms of how much money they can raise and distribute (or re-distribute, if you will). The powers of governmental entities within the state are controlled by the state.
jahewson 4y ago
Yes but US counties are part of the state government. Roughly speaking city governments are independent and the county is not “above” it (technically it’s not quite that simple). A classic edge-case where I live is that San Francisco is both a city and a county. Many US suburbs choose to incorporate into their own “cities”, in order to avoid being administered by the county, or annexed by a nearby city, so that they may tax commerce (think local strip mall or big box) instead of just property.
- jcranmer 4y ago
  The US has 50 states, and there is wide variety in how each of those states handle counties. In one extreme, you have Virginia, where counties are the most local form of government (and cities are independent of counties, not to be confused with consolidated city-counties); on the other extreme, you have Massachusetts, where counties are basically just administrative boundaries for the state. And in between, you have different levels of county power versus state or more local (city/town/township) control.
- jandrewrogers 4y ago
  This is not accurate. The relationship between counties, municipalities, and the States that contain them is very diverse in the US. None of this generalizes well.
  - jahewson 4y ago
    Ok, yes, yes it varies based on state. America!
devilbunny 4y ago
Some of the suburbs, some states. Jackson is somewhat unusual in that only three towns that would be considered suburbs are in the same county as the bulk of the city itself. Northern suburbs are a second county, and eastern ones yet a third. Even then, though, cities cannot usually tax outside their boundaries, and county tax rates will be lower (often much, although you're also going to get rural levels of government services in return for your rural-level taxes - the suburbs generally have their own police, schools, fire, etc., rather than relying on the county).

analog31 4y ago

Indeed, but in most if not all states, counties are severely constrained in terms of how much money they can raise and distribute (or re-distribute, if you will). The powers of governmental entities within the state are controlled by the state.

jahewson 4y ago

Yes but US counties are part of the state government. Roughly speaking city governments are independent and the county is not “above” it (technically it’s not quite that simple). A classic edge-case where I live is that San Francisco is both a city and a county. Many US suburbs choose to incorporate into their own “cities”, in order to avoid being administered by the county, or annexed by a nearby city, so that they may tax commerce (think local strip mall or big box) instead of just property.

jcranmer 4y ago
The US has 50 states, and there is wide variety in how each of those states handle counties. In one extreme, you have Virginia, where counties are the most local form of government (and cities are independent of counties, not to be confused with consolidated city-counties); on the other extreme, you have Massachusetts, where counties are basically just administrative boundaries for the state. And in between, you have different levels of county power versus state or more local (city/town/township) control.
jandrewrogers 4y ago
This is not accurate. The relationship between counties, municipalities, and the States that contain them is very diverse in the US. None of this generalizes well.
- jahewson 4y ago
  Ok, yes, yes it varies based on state. America!

devilbunny 4y ago

Some of the suburbs, some states. Jackson is somewhat unusual in that only three towns that would be considered suburbs are in the same county as the bulk of the city itself. Northern suburbs are a second county, and eastern ones yet a third. Even then, though, cities cannot usually tax outside their boundaries, and county tax rates will be lower (often much, although you're also going to get rural levels of government services in return for your rural-level taxes - the suburbs generally have their own police, schools, fire, etc., rather than relying on the county).