Difference Between City and County
City vs. County
A city and a county can sometimes be confusing to define. Differences are noticed when there are city services which are available only within city limits, and county services that are available throughout a few cities in their geographic region. For those who are unaware, there are many differences between a city and a county and are more than just geographic and population based.
A city is comprised of a relatively large population that is described as having some sort of historical establishment and legal system. Cities have their own court systems, law enforcement, fire departments, and some form of medical care centers. There are some cities which don’t have a full hospital, however they do have medical emergency services. Some cities have utility services, housing divisions, and even public transportation systems that can help move the community from one side of the city to another. The largest city in the world is Tokyo, Japan, and the largest city in the United States is Los Angeles, California. There are city limits which surround all cities which signifies to travelers that they are leaving what is the city and are either traveling through another city or the county till they reach another city.
A county is a geographically defined area that is typically divided for political purposes. Counties can vary in size and separate a state into different areas, similar to a province. There are a many cities and towns that fall within a given county, and they are all tied together by political leadership. There can be many different political viewpoints among the citizens of any given county, however they are tied together in voting for the same people.
A county is larger in population than any one city that is within the county. In Alaska and Louisiana the word county is not used, Louisiana refers to these areas as parishes and Alaska refers to them as boroughs. On average, there are 62 counties within any given state in the United States. Texas has more counties than any other state, and Delaware has the least amount of counties with only 3. The largest and most populated county is Los Angeles county, California, and the smallest is Loving county, Texas, with only 64 residents.
Cities and counties vary across the United States both in area and in population.
Summary:
1. A city is created by any population that has their own system of governing and a semblance of a legal system. Cities lie within a county, within a state. A county is geographically created for political purposes within a state.
2. Cities will often have medical centers, fire department, sanitation services and law enforcement officers. A county will have the same services available, especially if there are many smaller cities that don’t have these necessities.
3. The largest city is Tokyo, Japan. The largest county is Los Angeles county, California.
4. There are cities all across the world. Counties are all over the world, but only known as counties within most of the United States.
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Thank you for the information presented. I wish to point out as a side note that you are incorrect to list Los Angeles as the largest city in the United States. The largest city is New York City with a total population of over 8 million people.
The New York City is one city, but is has 5 different counties (Bronx, Queens, Kings, New York and Richmond) that are coextensive with the 5 borough of the city (Bronx, Queens, Manhattam, Brooklyn e Staten Sland). Therefore, one city can have more than one county and one caounty can have no entire city on it.
Very Educative
I am still confused in the differences between city, state, borough, county.
Could anyone help.
Do city ordinance apply to county living in California…
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No city ordinance does not apply outside city limits nor do county over city. In the eyes of the state they are both chartered governments granted by the state. The way they differ or in some cases combine is in the services they provide. Counties each provide courts, law enforcement, public health etc. They are the default for the whole county. When a city decides to incorporate they may provide all or some of the public services themselves or contract with the county to provide these services. One example is Los Angeles and Long Beach. Both are within Los Angeles county however when it comes to public health LA doesn’t provide that service so the county administers public health in the city of LA while Long Beach provides its own service within its city limits.