John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints

Local Government in the USA and Canada - Counties, Parishes, etc.

USA

Each American state is divided into counties for administrative purposes, except as follows:

Louisiana is divided into parishes.
According to one source, Connecticut and Rhode Island is divided into towns for administrative purpose. Another source says Connecticut has counties but they serve virtually no administrative purpose.
According to one source Alaska is divided into boroughs; according to another source Alaska has no county-like government.
In a few states, notably Maryland, Missouri and Virginia, some cities are independent and lie outside any county.

In 1987 the USA had a total of 3042 counties (presumably this figure included county-like regions in the appropriate states). An article in USA Today in April 2004 stated the number of counties in the USA as being 3141.

Below county level local government in the USA becomes a rather complex subject with municipalities, special districts and school boards.

Canada

In Canada each province and territory has its own mixture of local government administrative areas. Names for these areas include boroughs, census divisions, cities, communities, counties, hamlets, municipalities (district, regional and rural), parishes, settlements, towns, townships and villages (and in the Province of Québec, the French language translations of some of these).

Alberta 30 counties, 16 cities, 109 towns.

British Columbia 48 district municipalities, 39 cities, 15 towns, 46 villages.

Manitoba 5 cities, 35 towns, 105 rural municipalities, 39 villages.

New Brunswick 6 cities, 27 towns, 84 villages.

Newfoundland and Labrador 3 cities, 171 towns, 139 communities; the main unit of local government is the municipality.

Northwest Territories (prior to the separation of Nunavut) 5 census divisions (Fort Smith, Inuvik, Baffin, Keewatin, and Kitikmeot/Central Arctic). Incorporated municipalities: 1 city, 5 towns, 2 villages, 35 hamlets.

Nova Scotia 18 counties, 3 incorporated cities, 39 incorporated towns.

Nunavut No information.

Ontario 51 cities, 145 towns, and 116 villages. Southern Ontario (more densely populated): 27 counties, 10 regional municipalities, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (includes 5 cities and 1 borough). Northern Ontario (much less densely populated): 10 districts, 1 district municipality.

Prince Edward Island 3 counties (mainly geographical divisions with no government structure); one city (Charlottetown), 8 towns.

Province of Québec 96 regional county municipalities, 2 cities, 255 towns (villes), 197 villages, 406 parishes (paroisses), 103 townships (cantons), 10 unified townships (cantons unis), 485 municipalities without designation.

Saskatchewan 13 cities, 146 towns, 325 villages, and 298 rural municipalities.

Yukon Territory 1 city, 3 towns, 13 settlements, 4 villages, 3 hamlets.

State and Region Names

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Most recently modified 18-Apr-04

Alberta	30 counties, 16 cities, 109 towns.
British Columbia	48 district municipalities, 39 cities, 15 towns, 46 villages.
Manitoba	5 cities, 35 towns, 105 rural municipalities, 39 villages.
New Brunswick	6 cities, 27 towns, 84 villages.
Newfoundland and Labrador	3 cities, 171 towns, 139 communities; the main unit of local government is the municipality.
Northwest Territories (prior to the separation of Nunavut)	5 census divisions (Fort Smith, Inuvik, Baffin, Keewatin, and Kitikmeot/Central Arctic). Incorporated municipalities: 1 city, 5 towns, 2 villages, 35 hamlets.
Nova Scotia	18 counties, 3 incorporated cities, 39 incorporated towns.
Nunavut	No information.
Ontario	51 cities, 145 towns, and 116 villages. Southern Ontario (more densely populated): 27 counties, 10 regional municipalities, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (includes 5 cities and 1 borough). Northern Ontario (much less densely populated): 10 districts, 1 district municipality.
Prince Edward Island	3 counties (mainly geographical divisions with no government structure); one city (Charlottetown), 8 towns.
Province of Québec	96 regional county municipalities, 2 cities, 255 towns (villes), 197 villages, 406 parishes (paroisses), 103 townships (cantons), 10 unified townships (cantons unis), 485 municipalities without designation.
Saskatchewan	13 cities, 146 towns, 325 villages, and 298 rural municipalities.
Yukon Territory	1 city, 3 towns, 13 settlements, 4 villages, 3 hamlets.