America's County Governments: A Short Primer on Our History, Definitions, Structures and Authorities
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Counties are one of America’s oldest forms of government, dating back to 1634 when the first county governments (shires) were established along the eastern shores of Virginia. Today, though the governance and organizational structures vary nationally and even within a state, all 3,069 county, parish and borough governments are on the front lines of delivering vital services to residents.
About the Primer
Counties are one of America’s oldest forms of government, dating back to 1634 when the first county governments (shires) were established along the eastern shores of Virginia. Though today, the governance and organizational structures vary nationally and even within a state, all 3,069 county, parish and borough governments are on the front lines of delivering vital services to residents.
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