Local government in Minnesota

In 1952, Minnesota had the most local government entities of any state, numbering 9,025.{{sfn|Census Bureau|1954|p=46|ps=none}} However, by 2012, it had declined to eighth place, with 3,672 active entities.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|p=154|ps=none}}

{{Main|List of counties in Minnesota}}

There are 87 counties in the state of Minnesota. Ramsey County obtained home rule by an act of the Minnesota State Legislature in 1992.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|p=154|ps=none}}

{{Main|List of townships in Minnesota}}

Eighty-four of the state's 87 counties are divided into towns, which number 1,784 in the state {{as of|2012|lc=y}} and are equivalent to the civil townships in several other states; the terms "town" and "township" are used interchangeably in Minnesota.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|pp=viii, ix, 154|ps=none}} The three counties lacking town government are Koochiching and Lake of the Woods, where the survey townships no longer serve administrative functions, and Hennepin County, where all municipalities are cities.[https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/pubs/ss/sstownlga.pdf Township Local Government Aid], Minnesota House Research, August 2022. The towns' boundaries have been fixed since March 1, 1906, unless duly changed by their county.{{sfn|Minnesota Statutes|loc=§365.01|ps=none}}

Towns are corporate entities, having among other things the right to sue and own property.{{sfn|Minnesota Statutes|loc=§365.02|ps=none}} The governing body of the town is the town board; in addition, the electors of the town may vote on one of several issues in an annual town meeting.{{sfn|Minnesota Statutes|loc=§365.10|ps=none}}

{{Main|List of cities in Minnesota}}

All municipalities in the state are cities, of which there are 853 in the state {{as of|2012|lc=y}}. A city may or may not exist within the boundaries of a town. Cities are {{as of|2012|alt=currently}} divided into four classes based on population:{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|p= 154|ps=none}}

• First class: More than 100,000 inhabitants
• Second class: Between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants
• Third class: Between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants
• Fourth class: Not more than 10,000 inhabitants

Some cities, known as charter cities, have adopted home rule charters; all others are known as statutory cities.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|p=154|ps=none}}

There are 343 public school systems in the state {{as of|2012|lc=y}}. Each district is either a common school district, an independent school district, or a special school district. All three are headed by an elected school board and can levy taxes and issue bonds.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|p=154|ps=none}}

There are 610 local governments in the state that have special uses {{as of|2012|lc=y}}.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|p=155|ps=none}} They include ambulance districts, the East Lake Clinical District, housing and redevelopment agencies, mental health collaboratives, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, and sanitary districts.{{sfn|Census Bureau|2013|pp=155–158|ps=none}}

Villages existed in the state prior to the enactment of the Uniform Code of Municipal Government in 1973.{{cite web |title=An act relating to the government of villages, boroughs and cities without home rule charters; providing for the conversion of villages and boroughs into cities; providing for a code of statutes relating to cities without home rule charters |url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/1973/0/Session+Law/Chapter/123/pdf/ |publisher=Minnesota Legislature Revisor's Office |access-date=23 July 2021 |date=April 19, 1973}} Villages were differentiated between "separated" and "unseparated" depending on whether they were considered a part of their town and therefore whether its residents had to pay town taxes and could vote in town elections.{{sfn|Census Bureau|1954|p=46|ps=none}} Villages incorporated prior to April 1949 were unseparated absent a referendum for separation, while villages incorporated afterwards were all separated.{{sfn|Census Bureau|1954|p=46|ps=none}} Former villages may continue to refer to themselves as "villages" in internal affairs and communications but are referred to as cities in legal proceedings.{{sfn|Minnesota Statutes|loc=§413.02|ps=none}}

Belle Plaine in Scott County was incorporated as a borough by a special act of the State Legislature in 1868 and remained so until it became a city in 1974.{{sfn|Census Bureau|1954|p=46|ps=none}}{{cite web |title=Belle Plaine Trivia |url=https://www.belleplainemn.com/belle-plaine-trivia |website=The City of Belle Plaine |publisher=City of Belle Plaine |access-date=23 July 2021 |location=Belle Plaine, Minnesota}} During that time it was the only borough in the state, and had the same roles and responsibilities as a village.{{sfn|Census Bureau|1954|p=46|ps=none}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite report|title=Local Government structure in the United States|author=United States Census Bureau|date=1954|access-date=July 23, 2021|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-agWFTaVWrIC&pg=RA3-PA9|ref={{harvid|Census Bureau|1954}}}}
• {{cite report|title=Individual State Descriptions: 2013|author=United States Census Bureau|date=September 2013|access-date=July 23, 2021|url=https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/2012isd.pdf|ref={{harvid|Census Bureau|2013}}}}
• {{cite web|title=2020 Minnesota Statutes|author=Minnesota Legislature|publisher=Minnesota Legislature Revisor's Office|url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/|access-date=July 23, 2021|ref={{harvid|Minnesota Statutes}}}}

{{United States topic

|title = Local government in the United States by political division

|prefix = Local government in

}}

Category:Local government in Minnesota