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Consolidated city-county

{{short description|U.S. local jurisdiction comprising a merged city and county}}

{{use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Administrative divisions of the United States}}

In United States local government, a consolidated city-county (see below for alternative terms) is formed when one or more cities and their surrounding county (parish in Louisiana, borough in Alaska) merge into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is a type of unitary authority that has the governmental powers of both a municipal corporation and a county.{{cite web|url=https://www.nlc.org/resource/cities-101-consolidations|title=Cities 101 -- Consolidations|date=December 14, 2016|publisher=National League of Cities}}

A consolidated city-county is different from an independent city, although the latter may result from consolidation of a city and a county and may also have the same powers as a consolidated city-county. An independent city is a city not deemed by its state to be located within the boundary of any county and considered a primary administrative division of its state.[https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/reference/GARM/Ch4GARM.pdf States, Counties, and Statistically Equivalent Entities], from the United States Census Bureau 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. Furthermore, a consolidated city-county may still contain independent municipalities maintaining some governmental powers that did not merge with the rest of the county.

Not considering Hawaii, which has no independent municipalities, the Midwest and Upper South have the highest concentration of large consolidated city-county governments in the United States, including Indianapolis, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City, Kansas; and Lexington, Kentucky. The largest consolidated city-county in the United States by population is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while the largest by land area is Sitka, Alaska.

Terminology

The term consolidated city-county refers to a consolidated jurisdiction in a state that is otherwise divided into counties. In Louisiana, which is divided into parishes, the equivalent jurisdiction is known as either a city-parish or a consolidated government, depending on the locality.{{Cite web |title=Parish Government Structure - Police Jury Association of Louisiana |url=https://www.lpgov.org/page/ParishGovStructure |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.lpgov.org}} In Alaska, it is known as a unified municipality, unified home rule borough, or city and borough.[https://www.akml.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AML-Govt-Primer-2023-revise-web.pdf Alaska's Local Government], from Alaska Municipal League[https://www.econport.org/content/handbook/Urbanecon/Anchorage/governance.html Governance in Anchorage] The United States Census Bureau generically refers to any such jurisdiction as a consolidated city, regardless of the jurisdiction into with the city has consolidated.{{cite web|title=Glossary|publisher=United States Census Bureau Geography Program|location=Washington, D.C.|date=April 11, 2022|accessdate=December 6, 2024|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/about/glossary.html#par_textimage_8}} Although California is divided into counties, a consolidated city-county is officially termed a city and county.{{CalConst|XI|6|}}

Overview

Consolidated city-counties are typically formed to address particular government challenges. Among the benefits of having a unified jurisdiction include potential cost savings, more efficiency, increased legal powers and revenue sources, and a more streamlined planning system.

Most consolidated city-counties have a single chief executive who acts as both the city mayor and as the head of the county government, and a multi-district elected body that serves as both the city council and as the county legislative body.

In many states, consolidated city-counties must be approved by voters. According to information compiled by former Albuquerque mayor David Rusk, 105 referendums were held in the United States between 1902 and 2010 to consider proposals to consolidate cities and counties. Only 27 of these proposals were approved by voters.Kate Linebaugh, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304066504576341332888910372 Threats to Town Halls Stir Voter Backlash], The Wall Street Journal, June 8, 2011

Wyandotte County, Kansas, uses the term "unified government" to refer to its consolidation with Kansas City, Kansas, and most of the towns within the county boundaries remain separate jurisdictions within the county. Individual sections of a metropolitan or regional municipality may retain some autonomous jurisdiction apart from the citywide government.

Often, in place of another level of government, local governments form councils of governments—essentially governmental organizations which are not empowered with any law-making or law enforcement powers. This is the case in the Atlanta metropolitan area, where the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) studies and makes recommendations on the impact of all major construction and development projects on the region, but generally cannot stop them. The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) is a true government agency of the state of Georgia, and does control some state transportation funding to the cities and counties, but otherwise has very little authority beyond this small power of the purse.

In California, a city and county's chartered city powers supersede its chartered county powers. However, because the city and county has territorial jurisdiction exclusive of other counties, it also has county officers, and the state counts it as a county for certain purposes.{{cite journal|title=California Counties: Second-Rate Localities or Ready-Made Regional Governments?|first=Jared|last=Eigerman|work=Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly|volume=26|issue=3|date=1999|pages=667–668|issn=0094-5617|url=https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_constitutional_law_quaterly/vol26/iss3/2/}}

Despite being consolidated with New Orleans, Orleans Parish retains a nominal, sui generis status under Louisiana state law that guarantees the city's home rule. It has been effectively abolished as a distinct governmental unit. However, various parish offices remain with a degree of independence from the city government, while in other matters, the city represents the parish.{{sfn|Richardson|1961|pp=12–13, 55}}

The case of New York City is unique, in that the city consists of five boroughs, each of which is co-extensive with a county. Each has its own district attorney; however, county-level government is essentially non-existent as all executive and legislative power is exercised by the city government throughout the five boroughs. The city, as currently constituted, was created in 1898 when the city of New York (then comprising what would become the boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx) annexed Kings County, Queens County, and Richmond County as the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, respectively.

= International equivalents =

{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}

Similar unitary authority arrangements also exist in other countries.

== United Kingdom ==

England has six "metropolitan counties" created in 1974: Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire. From 1986, these metropolitan counties do not have county councils but rather joint boards for certain functions. Modern unitary authorities are similar, and are known as county boroughs in Wales. In Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow are functionally "independent cities", though the term is not used. London is unique however, being a ceremonial county (officially known as Greater London) containing the 32 London boroughs. Enclaved within Greater London, the ancient City of London forms a distinct county, which today forms only a tiny part of what most consider to be London as a capital city, which takes up 607 square miles.

== Europe ==

In Germany, Berlin and Hamburg are both cities and states (the state of Bremen consists of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven). Nearly every larger city in Germany is an independent city, like Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich or Dresden; Austria, where the capital of Vienna is both a city and state; France, where the capital city of Paris has been coterminous with the département of Paris since 1968.

== Russia ==

In Russia, there are urban districts - territories consisting of a city and nearby settlements united by one mayor's office. As a rule, urban districts are the capitals of the constituent entities of the Russia and other major cities in the region. In 2020, there were 635 urban districts.

== Canada ==

The Canadian province of Ontario contains several single-tier municipalities. They can be similar to American consolidated city-counties in that they are often formed by amalgamating an upper-tier municipality. However, they are functionally independent cities as, unlike a consolidated city-county, the county or region ceases to exist after being amalgamated and does not continue on a nominal basis, leaving only the unified single-tier city.{{Cite canlaw | short title = Municipal Act, 2001 | abbr = S.O. | year = 2001 | chapter = 25 | wikilink = Municipal Act, 2001 | link = https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01m25 | linkloc = Ontario e-Laws | language = en-ca }} One example is the City of Toronto, created in 1998 from the amalgamation of the central government and the six constituent municipalities of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (a type of regional municipality), itself originally created in 1954.{{Cite canlaw | short title = City of Toronto Act, 1997 | abbr = S.O. | year = 1997 | chapter = 2 | wikilink = City of Toronto Act | link = https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97c02 | linkloc = Ontario e-Laws | language = en-ca }}{{Cite canlaw | short title = City of Toronto Act, 2006 | abbr = S.O. | year = 2006 | chapter = 11 | schedule = A | wikilink = City of Toronto Act | link = https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06c11 | linkloc = Ontario e-Laws | language = en-ca }}{{Cite web |url= https://imfg.org/research/doc/?doc_id=484 |title=Legacies of the Megacity: Toronto’s Amalgamation 20 Years Later |last=Lesch |first=Matthew |date=2018 |website=Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance |publisher=University of Toronto |access-date=December 21, 2024 |quote=}}

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality in British Columbia is also a single-tier municipality, functioning as both a regional district and a district municipality. It was formed in 2009 by amalgamating the former Northern Rockies Regional District.{{cite web | url=http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/arch_oic/arc_oic/0033_2009/search/%22northern%20rockies%22%20AND%20CIVIX_DOCUMENT_ANCESTORS:arc_oic?0#hit1 | title=Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Order in Council No. 033) | publisher=Province of British Columbia | type=PDF | page=3 | quote=The class of the municipality is a district municipality. | date=January 29, 2009 | access-date=September 20, 2014}}

== Tokyo ==

In 1943, the City of Tokyo was amalgamated with the former Tokyo Prefecture to form the Tokyo Metropolis. The present form of Tokyo functions similarly to a prefecture, having a central government along with several autonomous subdivisions. The original Tokyo City was split into 23 "special wards" which effectively function as cities. In addition, there are also 23 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages within Tokyo. Under this structure, Tokyo does not have a single mayor, but rather a governor and numerous local mayors. Further, some responsibilities that would normally be held by the cities are instead held by the metropolitan government. Currently, Tokyo is the only place designated as a metropolis.{{cite web|url=http://www.jlgc.org/en/pdf/localg2006.PDF|title=Local Government in Japan|access-date=2007-10-16|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations|pages=41-43|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025030339/http://www.jlgc.org/en/pdf/localg2006.PDF|archive-date=2007-10-25}}

== South Korea ==

Seoul is a special city, while six other cities (Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon, and Ulsan) are metropolitan cities.

== Australia ==

Municipalities in Australia, or "Local Government Areas" (LGAs) as they are officially known, are all single-tier entities with no government in-between them and the state or territory. However, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) does not have any LGAs. Instead, the territorial government performs all municipal functions of the city of Canberra, and thus functions as an integrated city-territory.{{Cite web |url=https://lgiu.org/resources/local-government-facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-australia/ |title=Facts and figures: Australia |website=Local Government Information Unit |access-date=December 21, 2024 |quote=}}

Balances

{{see also category|Census balances in the United States}}

In nine consolidated city-county governments in the United States, the formerly independent incorporated places maintain some governmental powers. In these cities, which the United States Census Bureau calls "consolidated cities", statistics are recorded both for the entire consolidated government and for the component municipalities. A part of the consolidated government is called the "balance", which the Census Bureau defines as "the consolidated city minus the semi-independent incorporated places located within the consolidated city".[https://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/ Population Estimates Geography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223035326/http://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/ |date=2010-02-23 }}, United States Census Bureau, 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2007-09-07.

In Georgia, consolidations often required multiple attempts, changes in procedures, and different local laws in the state legislature. They often did not include some smaller jurisdictions. They also retained characteristics of both types of government, e.g, a sheriff as required by the Georgia Constitution.Arnold Fleischmann and Jennifer Custer, "Columbus/Muscogee County, Georgia," in Suzanne M. Leland and Kurt Thurmaier, CASE STUDIES IN CITY-CONSOLIDATION (Armonk, NY, M.E. Sharpe, 2004), 46–59; Arnold Fleischmann, "Regionalism and City-County-County Consolidation in Small Metro Areas," STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW 32:3 (Fall 2000): 213–226.

These consolidated cities are:

List of consolidated city-counties

=Consolidated as a single entity=

The following consolidated city-counties are considered single entities encompassing both a city and a county, such as "City and County of San Francisco".

=Merged=

The following consolidated city-counties merged a previously existing city and county and are still considered two separate entities, both a city and a county, even though the government functions have been consolidated.

==With no independent municipalities==

  • Alaska
  • Haines and Haines Borough
  • Georgia
  • Columbus and Muscogee County
  • Cusseta and Chattahoochee County
  • Georgetown and Quitman County
  • Macon (and Payne) with Bibb County{{cite web |url=http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/sum/hb1171.htm |title=HB 1171 - Macon-Bibb County; create and incorporate new political body corporate |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030001652/http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/sum/hb1171.htm |archive-date=2012-10-30 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ai.org/legislative/interim/committee/2005/committees/prelim/MCCC02.pdf|title=The Effects on City-County Consolidation|website=ai.org|access-date=25 March 2018}}Consolidation pass for Macon and Bibb county in the 2012 vote.[http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-04152005-170723/unrestricted/05_lsj_CHAPTER_4_b.pdf Consolidation of City and County Governments: Attempts in Five Cities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120034927/http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-04152005-170723/unrestricted/05_lsj_CHAPTER_4_b.pdf|date=January 20, 2013}}[https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20130120034927%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fetd.lib.fsu.edu%2Ftheses%2Favailable%2Fetd-04152005-170723%2Funrestricted%2F05_lsj_CHAPTER_4_b.pdf&embedded=true&chrome=false&dov=1] January 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-09-14.{{cite news|url=http://www.macon.com/2013/02/27/2373863/payne-city-misses-round-one-of.html|title=Payne City merger dead for 2013|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|date=February 27, 2013|access-date=August 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016133713/http://www.macon.com/2013/02/27/2373863/payne-city-misses-round-one-of.html|archive-date=October 16, 2013}}
  • Preston and Webster County
  • Statenville and Echols County
  • Louisiana
  • Houma and Terrebonne Parish{{cite web|url=http://www.tpcg.org/|title=Welcome to TPCG|access-date=22 March 2017}} (Despite the consolidated city-parish government, Houma is not coterminous with Terrebonne Parish; Houma remains a geographically distinct municipality within the parish.)
  • New Orleans and Orleans Parish{{sfn|Richardson|1961|pp=7–10}}
  • Montana
  • Anaconda and Deer Lodge County[http://www.anacondamt.org/ Website of the Community of Anaconda]
  • Butte and Silver Bow County
  • Tennessee
  • Hartsville and Trousdale County (Despite the consolidated city-county government, Hartsville is not coterminous with Trousdale County; Hartsville remains a geographically distinct municipality within the county.{{cite web|website=Hartsville-Trousdale County Chamber of Commerce|author=Kent Moreland|title=Map of Trousdale County|url=http://hartsvilletrousdale.com/maps/trousdale_county_map.jpg|access-date=2016-02-25}})
  • Lynchburg and Moore County
  • Kentucky
  • Lexington and Fayette County[http://www.lfucg.com/ Website of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970328225932/http://www.lfucg.com/ |date=March 28, 1997 }}
  • New Mexico
  • Los Alamos and Los Alamos County – The town of Los Alamos consolidated with county of the same name in 1969.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&dq=los+alamos+consolidated+city-county+1969&pg=PA743|isbn=9781135948597|title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States|date=February 14, 2006|publisher=Routledge}}
  • Pennsylvania
  • Philadelphia and Philadelphia County – Their borders have been conterminous since 1854 Act of Consolidation, and the government structures were consolidated in 1952. The county still exists as a separate entity within Pennsylvania, but the functions of the county are generally administered by the city.

==With other independent municipalities==

  • Alaska
  • Petersburg Borough (When the borough was created in 2013, the city of Petersburg was dissolved. However, the city of Kupreanof remains a separate entity within the borough.)
  • Indiana
  • Indianapolis and Marion County{{cite web|url=http://www.indygov.org/|title=City of Indianapolis / Marion County |website=indygov.org |access-date=22 March 2017|archive-date=Jan 26, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030126230751/http://www.indygov.org/|url-status=dead}} (four communities within Marion County retain separate governments: see Unigov)
  • Louisiana
  • Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish (three communities within East Baton Rouge Parish – Baker, Central and Zachary – retain separate governments. In addition, the City of Baton Rouge retains separate city limits, and its official census population only includes this area)
  • Lafayette and Lafayette Parish (In December 2018 voters amended the city-parish charter to split what was a single consolidated city-parish council into two councils — one to represent only the city of Lafayette and the other to represent the parish. The impetus for the change was the desire of city voters to take more control of city-related matters and general unease with the consequences of consolidation).
  • North Carolina
  • Camden and Camden County (a census-designated place within a county with no incorporated municipalities apart from a small portion of Elizabeth City, re-organizing into a single unified government){{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.camdencountync.gov/government/ordinances-06-06-02.htm |website=Camden County Government |author1= Camden County Board of Commissioners |date= February 10, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731053319/http://www.camdencountync.gov/government/ordinances-06-06-02.htm |archive-date=July 31, 2007 |title=Ordinance of Camden County Regarding Exercise of Powers, Duties, Functions, Rights, Privileges and Immunities of a City Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 153a – 471 }}
  • Kansas
  • Kansas City and Wyandotte County (this "Unified Government" contains Kansas City, Edwardsville, most of Bonner Springs, and roughly half of Lake Quivira; a county relationship is maintained with the rest of the communities within the county) as of 1997.
  • Tribune and Greeley County (Horace retaining a separate government){{cite web|url=http://www.greeleycounty.org/?page_id=947|title=Government |website=Greeley County, Kansas |date=February 2012 |access-date=22 March 2017}}
  • Kentucky
  • Louisville and Jefferson County{{cite web|url=http://www.louisvilleky.gov/|title=LouisvilleKy.gov|access-date=22 March 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170326233220/https://louisvilleky.gov/ |archive-date= Mar 26, 2017 }} (all cities in pre-merger Jefferson County, other than Louisville, retain separate identities and some governmental functions, but all participate fully in the county-wide governing body, Louisville Metro Council)
  • Tennessee
  • Nashville and Davidson County (six communities within Davidson County retain separate governments, although all participate in the metropolitan government in a two-tier system)

Note: Five cities in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia were formed by the consolidation of a city with a county: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach (from Norfolk, Elizabeth City, Warwick, Nansemond, and Princess Anne counties, respectively). However, in each case an independent city was created and as such they are not consolidated city-counties. Instead, the Code of Virginia uses the term "consolidated city".{{cite web|url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-3521/|publisher=Virginia Law - Legislative Information System |title=§ 15.2-3521. Proposed consolidated city; notice of motion; service and publication. |work=Code of Virginia |access-date=22 March 2017}} Similarly, Carson City was consolidated with Ormsby County, Nevada in 1969, but the county was simultaneously dissolved. The city is now a municipality independent of any county.

=Other=

Potentially consolidated

  • Aurora, Colorado, split among three counties, explored the creation of a new consolidated city-county in 1996; the effort subsequently failed in a referendum. However, five years later, nearby Broomfield was successful in creating a new city-county from portions of the four counties it had been a part of. Encouraged by Broomfield's experience, an Aurora city councilman again proposed consolidation in 2006.[http://www.aurorasentinel.com/articles/2006/01/30/import/20060130-archive3.txt City and County of Aurora?]{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} by J.C. O'Connell. The Aurora Daily Sun & Sentinel, January 30, 2006. This was not accomplished in 2006 or 2007, and no bills to accomplish consolidation were introduced in the 2008 session of the Colorado legislature.
  • In 2006, a proposal was made to merge Johnson County and Wyandotte County in Kansas and the cities located in those two counties into a single consolidated city-county, with the name to be determined.[http://www.bonnersprings.com/news/2006/feb/02/johnsonwyandotte_merger/ Johnson-Wyandotte merger?] by Jesse Truesdale. The [Bonner Springs] Chieftain, February 2, 2006.
  • In 2005, The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, published a series of articles exploring the possibility of the city's merging with Cuyahoga County.[http://www.cleveland.com/region/ A Region Divided] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210232206/http://www.cleveland.com/region/ |date=2007-02-10 }}. Special series of The [Cleveland] Plain Dealer, published throughout 2005.
  • Miami-Dade County, Florida, operates under a federated two-tier government, in which the county government operates as a superseding entity of county affairs and lower-tier incorporated municipalities operate civil and community services at the city level. However, the county provides city-level{{clarify|date=September 2014}} police, fire-rescue, sanitation, and other services under contract to many of the municipalities within its borders.
  • The independent City of St. Louis, Missouri, and that of St. Louis County. The city of St. Louis seceded from the county in the 1870s and is not part of any county in the state of Missouri. Regional leaders have proposed several plans since 2006 to reunify the city and county, each one rejected by voters.St. Louis Five-Year Consolidated Plan Strategy 2006-2010

=Considered consolidation=

  • Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico, (1959, 2003){{cite web |url=http://www.briem.com/frag/CityCountyReferenda.htm |title=Some Major City-County Consolidation Referenda in the 20th Century |website=Chris Briem's Web Page |access-date=2007-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708093726/http://www.briem.com/frag/CityCountyReferenda.htm|archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2017}}
  • Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland: Baltimore is established in the Constitution of Maryland as an independent city. A proposed constitutional amendment to dissolve the city and merge it into Baltimore County was introduced in 1999 but was withdrawn less than a month after the first reading.{{cite web |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |url=http://mlis.state.md.us/1999rs/billfile/hb0402.htm |series=1999 Regular Session |title=House Bill 402 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224032135/http://mlis.state.md.us/1999rs/billfile/hb0402.htm |archive-date=Feb 24, 2021 }} Consolidation of the city and county was later proposed in 2019.[https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/06/13/opinion-baltimore-city-county-merger-idea-offers-false-hope/ Opinion: Baltimore City-County Merger Idea Offers False Hope], Maryland Matters, June 13, 2019
  • Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama (1948)
  • Brunswick and Glynn County, Georgia (1969, 1987)
  • Buffalo and Erie County, New York{{cite web |url=http://www.onebuffalo.com/time.asp |title=It's Time to Change |website=One Buffalo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416192557/http://www.onebuffalo.com/time.asp |archive-date=April 16, 2007 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Charleston/North Charleston/Mount Pleasant and Charleston County, South Carolina (1974){{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Documents/City%20County%20Consolidations.01.01.2011.pdf |title=City-County Consolidation Proposals, 1921–Present |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719083354/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Documents/City%20County%20Consolidations.01.01.2011.pdf |archive-date=2012-07-19 |publisher=National Association of Counties |access-date=2011-02-11 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (1971)
  • Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa (1994, 2004){{cite web |url=http://wcfcourier.com/news/breaking_news/des-moines-polk-county-reject-merger/article_cf4388d8-5cee-58e6-9a2f-dd3cfdd2f1a4.html |title=Des Moines, Polk County reject merger |date=November 3, 2004 |website=Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier |access-date=22 March 2017 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Durham and Durham County, North Carolina (1961, 1974){{cite web |url=http://www.ncsu.edu/iei/io/2006/08/government_consolidation_gains_attention.html |title=Government Consolidation Gains Attention |date=August 28, 2006 |website=NCSU Innovation Online |access-date=2006-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060919223521/http://www.ncsu.edu/iei/io/2006/08/government_consolidation_gains_attention.html |archive-date=September 19, 2006 |first=Diane |last=Cherry |df=dmy-all}}
  • El Paso and El Paso County, Texas (legislation introduced in 2005 and never considered in committee){{cite web |url=http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/79R/billtext/doc/SJ00009I.doc |title=79(R) SJR 9 |publisher=Texas State Legislature}}
  • Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana
  • Voted four times on consolidation—in 1959, 1974, 2002, and 2012.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.evansvilleliving.com/articles/the-consolidate-debate |title=The Consolidate Debate |magazine=Evansville Living |access-date=22 March 2017 |df=dmy-all}} The most recent vote saw consolidation defeated by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.{{cite news |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/nov/06/voters-resoundingly-reject-proposal-merge-evansvil/ |title=Update: Voters resoundingly reject proposal to merge Evansville, Vanderburgh County governments |first=Thomas B. |last=Langhorne |newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press |date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=February 20, 2013 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Fairbanks and Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska (2001){{cite web |url=http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/lbc/fairbanks.htm |title=Alaska Division of Community Advocacy |access-date=22 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041221000518/http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/lbc/fairbanks.htm |archive-date=21 December 2004 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Fayetteville and Lincoln County, Tennessee (2008){{cite news |title=Voters reject metro government in Lincoln Co. |date=2008-02-08 |url=http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?s=7844932&clienttype=printable |work=WATE |access-date=2010-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213140804/http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?s=7844932&clienttype=printable |archive-date=2011-12-13 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana{{cite news |url=http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/local/14022085.htm |title=Debate stirs on consolidation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200246/http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/local/14022085.htm |archive-date=2007-09-30 |first=Benjamin |last=Lanka |newspaper=The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette |date=March 5, 2006 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Frankfort and Franklin County, Kentucky{{cite news |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7156071_ITM |title=Article: Voters in Franklin and Frankfort counties, Ky., reject government merger |last=Kirby |first=Cassondra |date=November 3, 2004 |via=AccessMyLibrary |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |access-date=8 June 2010 |location=Lexington, KY |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317200400/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7156071_ITM |archive-date=2009-03-17 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}
  • Gainesville and Alachua County, Florida (1990){{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_Counties/Data_and_Demographics/City_CountyConsolidationProposals.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - All CONSLDLS 2006bev _3_.doc |access-date=2008-03-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409161846/http://www.naco.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_Counties/Data_and_Demographics/City_CountyConsolidationProposals.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee (1959, 1978, 1996)
  • Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada{{cite news |last1=Mishak |first1=Michael |title=Why consolidating city and county governments isn't a silver bullet for waste |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/24/why-consolidating-city-and-county-governments-isnt/ |access-date=November 19, 2021 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=May 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225033140/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/24/why-consolidating-city-and-county-governments-isnt/ |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • Little Rock and Pulaski County, Arkansas{{cite web |url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/57108/stephens-floats-city-merger-idea-at-chamber-luncheon |title=Stephens Floats City Merger Idea |website=Arkansas Business |date=December 5, 2002 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee (1962, 1971, 2010){{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2002/03/18/story2.html |title=Business Backs Consolidated Government |first=Kate |last=Miller |newspaper=Memphis Business Journal |date=March 15, 2002 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/nov/02/consolidation-memphis-shelby-voters-weighing-merge/ |title=The Commercial Appeal |website=The Commercial Appeal |access-date=25 March 2018 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana{{cite web |url=http://mundelreorg.org/ |title=Muncie & Delaware County Reorganization Committee |access-date=22 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621020152/http://www.mundelreorg.org/ |archive-date=21 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Oakland and Alameda County, California (1921)
  • Omaha and Douglas County, Nebraska (2006, 2011)
  • Movements to consolidate these two jurisdictions has been popping up since the decade of the 1900s.{{cite court|litigants=Allan v. Kennard |vol=81 |reporter=Neb. |opinion=289 |pinpoint=298 |date=April 10, 1908 |url=https://cite.case.law/neb/81/289/ |access-date=April 18, 2020|quote=...it is, to quote the brief, 'a fact, common to the knowledge of all men that for years there has been a constant growing demand in Omaha and Douglas county {{sic}} for a merger and consolidation of city and county offices in the sense that similar duties pertaining to the city and county affairs should be performed by one and the same officers;' that such consolidation has been liad with reference to the office of city and county treasurer, and that the result has been satisfactory, and there is a demand for further consolidation.}} The 2006 proposal was approved by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, but unanimously rejected by the Omaha City Council.{{cite news|url=https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/city-nixes-omaha-douglas-county-board-merger-plan/article_10939344-1bac-5099-afda-05c92ed4aa09.html|title=City nixes Omaha-Douglas County board merger plan|date=February 14, 2006|access-date=April 18, 2020|work=Lincoln Journal-Star|publisher=Lee Enterprises}} The 2011 proposal was introduced by a state legislator in The Unicameral, as LB344;{{cite news|url=http://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=3595|title=Government services consolidation proposed|work=Unicameral Update|location=Lincoln, NE|date=February 25, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2020|volume=XXXIV|issue=8|publisher=Unicameral Information Office, Nebraska Legislature|format=PDF|page=8}} it was tabled in committee.{{cite web|url=https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=11975|title=LB344 Actions|website=Nebraska Legislature|date=April 18, 2012|access-date=April 18, 2020}}
  • Owensboro, Kentucky, and Daviess County, Kentucky (1990)
  • Orlando and Orange County, Florida{{cite web |url=http://www.orangecountyfl.net/cms/CSSC/default.htm |title=City of Orlando / Orange County Consolidation of Services Study Commission |access-date=2006-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210062231/http://www.orangecountyfl.net/cms/CSSC/default.htm |archive-date=December 10, 2006 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Paducah and McCracken County, Kentucky
  • Rejected a proposed consolidation in 2012 by a more than 2-to-1 margin.{{cite news|url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/nov/07/paducah-mccracken-county-residents-reject-metro/ |title=Paducah, McCracken County residents reject metro merger |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Henderson Gleaner |location=Henderson, Kentucky |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=February 13, 2013 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Pensacola and Escambia County, Florida (1970)
  • Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
  • Referendums passed in 1925, 1929 and 1939{{cite web |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/newslinks/timeline1919.asp |title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |via=News Links |access-date=22 March 2017 |df=dmy-all}} that were blocked on technicalities by the state assembly. A partial consolidation of area school districts in 1956.{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LWscAAAAIBAJ&pg=7501,812795 |title=The Pittsburgh Press |via=Google News Archive Search |access-date=22 March 2017 |df=dmy-all}} Currently has a task-force researching consolidation since 2005.{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04275/388541.stm |department=Town Meeting |title=Louisville mayor offers primer on uniting city-county government |first=Jeffrey |last=Cohan |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post Gazette |date=October 1, 2004 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Portland and Multnomah County, Oregon (1927, 1974)
  • Richmond (independent city) with Henrico County, Virginia (1961), although the result would be an expanded independent city of Richmond rather than a consolidated city-county.
  • Roanoke County, Virginia, and the City of Roanoke, although the result would be an expanded independent city of Roanoke rather than a consolidated city-county
  • held referendums in 1969 and 1990 to consolidate the two governments. Both times, city voters approved consolidation while county voters were opposed. The independent city of Salem, Virginia, which would have been surrounded by the consolidated entity, did not participate in the referendums. Vinton, Virginia would have retained its status as a town in the 1990 referendum. The consolidation issue has been dormant since 1990.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}
  • Sacramento and Sacramento County, California (1974, 1990)
  • Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia{{cite web |url=http://www.wtoc.com/story/37507911/the-investigation-begins-state-lawmakers-looking-at-consolidating-savannah-chatham-county |title=The Investigation Begins: State lawmakers looking at consolidating Savannah, Chatham County |first=Elizabeth |last=Rawlins |website=wtoc.com |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=25 March 2018 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wtoc.com/story/37560566/wtoc-investigates-could-consolidation-save-savannah-chatham-county-taxpayers-millions |title=WTOC Investigates: Could consolidation save Savannah, Chatham County taxpayers millions? |first=Elizabeth |last=Rawlins |website=wtoc.com |date=February 22, 2018 |access-date=25 March 2018 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Prior consolidation referendum held in 1973 failed. The Georgia General Assembly is conducting a feasibility study towards consolidating the city of Savannah with Chatham County.
  • St. Louis (independent city) with St. Louis County, Missouri (1926, 1962, In consideration in 2017{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/krewson-stenger-back-latest-push-for-city-county-coordination/article_22ddc131-a438-54f6-845e-2d7c07688df5.html |title=Krewson, Stenger back latest push for city-county coordination |first=Kevin |last=McDermott |website=stltoday.com |date=June 12, 2017 |access-date=25 March 2018 |df=dmy-all}}) In 2019, a proposal to merge the city and the county was put together by a group called Better Together with support from both the County executive and mayor at the time, but the proposal was withdrawn after the St. Louis County executive Steve Stenger, who would have become mayor of a consolidated St. Louis had the consolidation happened, was indicted and pled guilty to federal corruption charges.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-10 |title=St. Louis Scraps Potential City-County Merger |url=https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-st-louis-city-counter-merger.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Governing |language=en}}
  • Sioux Falls and Minnehaha/Lincoln counties, South Dakota (2005){{cite web |url=http://www.keloland.com/news/article/other/the-possibility-of-lincoln-and-minnehaha-counties-merging|title=The Possibility Of Lincoln And Minnehaha Counties Merging |website=KELOLAND News |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024904/http://www.keloland.com/news/article/other/the-possibility-of-lincoln-and-minnehaha-counties-merging |archive-date=2017-11-07 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}
  • Spokane and Spokane County, Washington (1995)
  • Tallahassee and Leon County, Florida (1971, 1973, 1976, 1992)
  • Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida (1967, 1970, 1972)
  • Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040304/NEWS16/103040166/-1/NEWS |title=Skepticism greets 'Unigov' summit |first=Tom |last=Troy |newspaper=The Toledo Blade |date=March 4, 2004 |df=dmy-all}}
  • Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas (2005){{cite book |url=http://www.co.shawnee.ks.us/counselor/pdf/ConsolidationReport.pdf |title=Shawnee County Government and Consolidation Report |first=Richard V. |last=Eckert |date=2005-05-02 |publisher=Shawnee County, Kansas |df=dmy-all}}
  • Wilmington and New Hanover County, North Carolina (1933)

Formerly consolidated

  • The City of Boston and Suffolk County, Massachusetts operated with a consolidated government for most of the twentieth century with Boston providing office space, auditors, budget, personnel and financial oversight for Suffolk County. This was not a true consolidation because three municipalities – Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop – were never annexed into Boston and remained separate jurisdictions within Suffolk County; however, the City of Boston held complete control of the county by law. The special relationship between Boston and Suffolk County ended in 1999 as part of the gradual abolition of county governments through much of the state with all county employees and powers transferred to Commonwealth of Massachusetts control. The only remaining powers and duties for the City of Boston in regards to the county is ceremonial in which the Suffolk County Register of Deeds is issued the oath of office at the start of a term as well as calls for a meeting to hold a special election to fill the office should there be a failure to elect someone to the office or should a vacancy occur.
  • From the 17th century to 1898, New York City was coterminous with New York County and was often referred to as the "City and County of New York". Both were coterminous with Manhattan until 1874, when the city and county annexed parts of Westchester County that would become the West Bronx, later annexing the remainder of the future Bronx. Upon consolidation in 1898, New York County was coterminous and consolidated with the boroughs of the Bronx and Manhattan, while the other boroughs were consolidated with their own respective counties. The Bronx was separated from New York County in 1914 to form its own Bronx County, and since then, each of the five boroughs of New York City is coterminous and consolidated with a county of New York state.

See also

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References

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Further reading

  • {{cite book|title=Orleans Parish Offices: Notes on a City-Parish Consolidation|first=Richard J.|last=Richardson|publisher=Bureau of Governmental Research|location=New Orleans|date=1961|series=Edgar B. Stern Memorial Honors Fellowship Series|volume=1|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015078609503|via=HathiTrust}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080229163653/http://www.alleghenyconference.org/PEL/PDFs/CityCountyConsolidationsComparativeAnalysis.pdf Comparative of all city/county consolidations and the issues and advantages each model presents (from the Pittsburgh/Allegheny task force on consolidation)]

{{Terms for types of country subdivisions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Consolidated City-County}}

Category:County government in the United States

Category:Local government in the United States