Township
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{{dablink|"Municipal" redirects here. For other uses of the term, see [[Municipal (disambiguation)]]}}
A '''township''' (or '''[[municipality]]''') is a settlement which has the status and powers of a unit of local government. Specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country.
==Uses of the term==
Township (or municipality) is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule, especially in the [[United States|U.S.]] In the [[Scottish Highlands]] the term describes a very small agricultural community, usually describing a local rural or semi-rural government within a county.
In most [[country|countries]], a [[municipality]] is the smallest administrative subdivision to have its own [[democracy|democratically]] [[election|elected]] [[republic|representative]] leadership.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}
The largest municipalities can be found in Canada and Greenland.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} Possibly the largest municipality in the world is [[Baie-James, Quebec|Baie-James]] in northern [[Quebec]], [[Canada]], with a land area of 297,330 km² (114,800 sq. miles), which is larger than either [[Italy]] or the [[United Kingdom]].
*In [[Australia]], municipalities are subdivisions of a [[States and territories of Australia|state or territory]]. (See [[Local Government Areas in Australia]]). In [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] the designation of "township" traditionally refers to a small town: a place that in Britain might qualify as a [[village]] or a [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]].
*In [[Bolivia]], a municipality (''municipio'') is part of a [[province]], which is part of a [[Department (country subdivision)|departamento]].
*In [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], a municipality (''općina'' or ''opština'') is
** part of a canton (''[[Cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina|kanton]]'')
** a subdivision (grouped in [[Regions of Republika Srpska|regions]])
*In [[Brazil]], a municipality (''município'') is part of a state (''[[States of Brazil|estado]]''). However, the [[Federative Republic of Brazil]] is defined as a Tripartide [[Federal Republic]]. In other words, there isn't a federal hierarchy in Brazil.
*In [[Canada]], two kinds of township occur in common use. See: [[Township (Canada)]]
**In eastern Canada a township is one form of the subdivision of a [[county]]. In [[Canadian French]], this is a ''[[canton (subnational entity)|canton]]''. Townships are referred to as "lots" in [[Prince Edward Island]] and merely form [[census subdivisions]] and are not administrative units. In [[Canada]], a municipality is a city, town, township, county, or [[regional municipality]] which has been incorporated by [[statute]] by the legislatures of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces and territories]]. It is also a specific designation for certain municipalities in [[Quebec]] (see [[types of municipalities in Quebec]]), [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Ontario]]. Certain areas of [[Saskatchewan]] and [[Manitoba]] are designated as [[Rural municipality|rural municipalities]], while equivalent areas in [[Alberta]] are designated as [[municipal district]]s and some in [[British Columbia]] are designated as '''district municipalities'''.
**In western Canada townships exist only for the purpose of land division by the [[Dominion Land Survey]] and do not form administrative units. These townships are six miles by six miles (36 square miles, or roughly 93.24 km²).
*In [[Chile]], a municipality (''municipalidad'') is a legal entity which administers one or more [[comuna|commune]]s (''comuna'') which are the third-level division of the country. The first division are [[Regions of Chile|regions]] which a next divided into [[Provinces of Chile|provinces]] (''provincia''). These provinces are next divided into ''comunas'' which are assigned to a municipality for administration. In most cases the municipality and the comuna have the same name, but the constitution permits a single municipality to be responsible for more than one commune.
*In [[Colombia]], a municipality (''municipio'') is a decentralized entity that group to form a [[Departments of Colombia|department]] (''departamento''). Municipalities are formed by [[Corregimiento]]s and [[Vereda]]s. {{see|Municipalities of Colombia}}
*In [[Croatia]], a municipality (''[[općina]]'') is part of a county (''[[Counties of Croatia|županija]]'')
*In the [[Czech Republic]], a municipality (''obec'') is part of a [[okres|district]] (''okres'')
*In [[Denmark]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Denmark|kommune]]'') is part of a [[Regions of Denmark|region]]. Counties (''[[Counties of Denmark|amter]]'') were abandoned in Denmark on January 1, 2007.
*In the [[Dominican Republic]] a municipality (''[[municipio]]'') is a subdivision of a [[Provinces of the Dominican Republic|province]] (see [[municipalities of the Dominican Republic]]).
*In [[England]] the term township referred to a subdivision used to administer a large [[parish]].<ref> Winchester, A. (2000). ''Discovering parish boundaries.'' Shire Publications:Princes Riseborough, UK. ISBN 0747804702. pages 21-29.</ref> This use became obsolete a long time ago. Recently, some councils, normally in the north of England, have revived the term (see [[Township (England)]]).
*In [[Estonia]], a municipality (''[[municipalities of Estonia|omavalitsus]]'') is the smallest division.
*In [[Finland]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Finland|kunta]]'') co-operates with municipalities nearby in a sub-region (''seutukunta'') and region (''maakunta''); a region belongs to a province (''[[Provinces of Finland|lääni]]'') of the state. A municipality can freely call itself a "city" (''kaupunki'').
*In [[France]], a municipality (''[[communes of France|commune]]'') is the lowest level of administrative division. A ''commune'' can be either a village, a small town, or a large city. The word ''municipalité'' is usually used to designate the administration running a large commune.
*In [[Germany]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in Germany|Gemeinde]]'') is part of a district (''[[List of German districts|Kreis]]''). Larger entities of the same level are called towns (''Stadt''). In less populated regions, municipalities are often put together into collective municipalities (''[[Municipalities in Germany|Verbandsgemeinde]]'')
*In [[Greece]], a municipality is either an urban ''demoi'' or rural ''koinotetes'' which is then part of a [[prefecture]] (''[[nomos]]'') and then a larger region known as a [[peripheries|periphery]].
*In [[Hungary]], a municipality (''települési önkormányzat'') is part of a county (''megye'').
*In [[Italy]], a ''[[comune]]'' is part of a province (''[[Provinces of Italy|provincia]]'') which is part of a region (''[[Regions of Italy|regione]]''). The term "municipality" is reserved for subdivisions of larger ''comuni'' (in particular, the comune of [[Rome]]).
*In [[Japan]], a municipality is the sphere of government within the prefectures, the sub-division of the state.
*In [[Jersey]], a municipality refers to the honorary officials elected to run each of the 12 [[Parishes of Jersey|Parishes]] into which it is subdivided.
*In [[Kenya]], a municipality is one of four types of local authorities. Nearly 50 major towns are given the municipality status.
* In [[Lebanon]], a municipality is part of a [[Districts of Lebanon|district]] ([[Arabic]]: ''Qadaa'') which is part of a [[Governorate]] (Region or Province, [[Arabic]]: ''Mouhafazah'').
*In [[Lithuania]], a municipality (''savivaldybė'') is a part of a district (''[[apskritis]]'') and is subdivided into elderates (''[[seniūnija]]'').
*In [[Mexico]], a municipality (''[[municipio (Mexico)|municipio]]'') is a subdivision of a state ([[States of Mexico|estado]]) and a borough (''[[delegación]]'') is a subdivision of a city; the most known boroughs are those in Mexico City (see [[municipalities of Mexico]] and [[Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District]]).
*In the [[Netherlands]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in the Netherlands|gemeente]]'') is part of a province (''[[Provinces of the Netherlands|provincie]]'').
*Every part of mainland [[New Zealand]] is part of either a "city" (mostly urban) or a "district" (mostly rural). <!-- each having an elected council, and many having smaller "community board" divisions. Populations range from 5,000 to 400,000. On top of that structure are "regions", whose elected councils are concerned with broad subjects such as air and water purity and regional public transport. Most regions encompass 3-10 districts and/or cities.--> The term "municipality" has become rare in New Zealand since about 1979 and has no legal status.
*In [[Nicaragua]], a municipality (''municipio'') is subdivision of a department (''departamento'') or of one of the two [[Autonomous Region]]s, [[Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte]] and [[Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur]].
*In [[Norway]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Norway|kommune]]'') is part of a county (''[[Counties of Norway|fylke]]'')
*In the [[Philippines]], a municipality (''[[municipalities of the Philippines|bayan]]'') is part of a province (''[[Provinces of the Philippines|lalawigan]]'') — except for the independent municipalities of [[Navotas]], [[Pateros]] and [[San Juan, Metro Manila|San Juan]] in the [[Metro Manila|National Capital Region]] — and is composed of [[barangay]]s.
*In [[Poland]], a municipality (''[[gmina]]'') is a part of a county (''[[powiat]]'').
*In [[Portugal]], a municipality (''[[município]]'') is a directly elected local area authority generally consisting of a main city and surrounding villages, with wide-ranging local administration powers. It is also a subdivision of a district for central government purposes(''[[Portuguese districts|distritos]]'').
*In [[Puerto Rico]], a [[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|municipality]] (''municipio'') is a town or city with a popularly elected administration, including a mayor.
*In [[Romania]], a municipality (''[[Municipality in Romania|municipiu]]'') is a town or a city ranked by law at this level. A [[communes of Romania|commune]] is the lowest subdivision of a [[judeţ]] .
* In parts of north west [[Scotland]] ([[Highlands and Islands area|Highlands and Islands]]), a "[[township (Scotland)]]" is a crofting settlement.
*In [[Serbia]], a municipality (''[[opština]]'') is part of a county (''[[okrug]]'')
*In [[Slovakia]], a municipality (''[[obec]]'') is part of a [[okres|district]] (''okres''). There are [[List of villages and municipalities in Slovakia|2 891]] municipalities in the state.
*In [[South Africa]], [[District municipality (South Africa)|district municipalities]] and [[Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)|metropolitan municipalities]] are subdivisions of the [[Provinces of South Africa|provinces]], and [[Local municipality (South Africa)|local municipalities]] are subdivisions of district municipalities.
*In [[South Africa]] under [[Apartheid]] the term ''township'' came to mean a residential development which confined non-whites (Africans, "coloureds" and Indians) who lived near or worked in white-only communities. [[Soweto]] ("SOuth-WEst Townships") furnishes a well-known example. However, the term township also has a precise legal meaning, and is used on land titles (in all areas, not only traditionally non-white areas). See [[Township (South Africa)]]
*In [[Sweden]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Sweden|kommun]]'') is part of a county (''[[Counties of Sweden|län]]'').
*In [[Switzerland]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in Switzerland|commune/Gemeinde/comune]]'') is part of a canton (''[[Cantons of Switzerland|canton/Kanton/cantone]]'') and defined by cantonal law.
*In [[Ukraine]], a (village,town,city)municipality (mistseva rada) is part of district ([[raion]]) which is part of province ([[oblast]])
*In the [[United States]], townships are often distinct from other types of municipalities. Two kinds of township occur. A [[U.S. state|state]] may have only one or both of these. In states that have both, the boundaries usually coincide. See [[Township (United States)]]
**A [[survey township]] is a unit of land measure defined by the [[Public Land Survey System]]. These are generally referenced by a numbering system.
**A [[civil township]] is a widely-used yet loose term applied to varying entities of [[local government]], with and without municipal status. Though all townships are generally given names and abbreviated "Twp.," their function differs greatly from state to state. While cities, towns, [[borough]]s, or villages are common terms for municipalities; townships, counties, and [[parish]]es are sometimes not considered to be municipalities. In many states, counties and townships are organized and operate under the authority of state statutes. In contrast, municipal corporations are often chartered entities with a degree of home rule. However, there are some exceptions. Most notably, in [[New Jersey]] and [[Pennsylvania]], [[Township (New Jersey)|townships]] are a class of incorporation with fixed boundaries and equal standing to a village, town, borough or city, analogous to a [[New England town]].
*In [[Venezuela]], a municipality (''[[municipio]]'') is part of a state, as well as a subdivision of the [[Venezuelan Capital District|Capital District]] (''[[Subdivisions of Venezuela|estado]]'').
*In [[Zimbabwe]] during colonial years of [[Rhodesia]], the term township referred to a residential area reserved for non-white (black) citizens and no town was necessary. In modern Zimbabwe it refers to a residential area within close proximity of a rural growth point. See also [[Township (South Africa)]].
== First-level entities==
*In the [[People's Republic of China]], townships are found at the fourth level of the [[Political divisions of China|administrative hierarchy]], together with [[ethnic township]]s, [[town of China|town]]s and [[subdistrict]]s. See [[Township (China)]]. A [[direct-controlled municipality]] (直辖市 in [[pinyin]]: zhíxiáshì) is a [[city]] with equal status to a [[Province of China|province]]: [[Beijing Municipality|Beijing]], [[Tianjin Municipality|Tianjin]], [[Shanghai Municipality|Shanghai]], and [[Chongqing Municipality|Chongqing]] (see [[Municipality of China]])
*In the [[Republic of China]] on [[Taiwan]], a municipality (直轄市 in [[Wade-Giles]]: [[Political divisions of Taiwan|chi-hsia-shih]]) is a city with equal status to a province: [[Taipei]] and [[Kaohsiung]]. (see [[Municipality of China]])
* In [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], 84 municipalities ([[Municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia|''opštini'']]; singular: ''opština'') were established in 2004, reduced from 123 created in 1996.
*In [[Portugal]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Portugal|município]]''/''[[Concelhos of Portugal|concelho]]'') is the primary [[local administrative unit]]. Although it is a part of a district (''[[Districts of Portugal|distrito]]'') for certain national administrative purposes, the municipality is not subordinate to the district and decentralization is doing away with the districts. A municipality contains one or more ''[[freguesia]]s''.
*In [[Puerto Rico]], there are no first order administrative divisions, and the municipalities (''[[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|municipio]]'') serves as second-order, but first level, administrative divisions.
*In [[Montenegro]], a municipality (''[[opština]]'') is the topmost regional division
*[[Municipalities of Libya]], some very large.
*In [[Slovenia]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Slovenia|občina]]'') is the primary [[local administrative unit]]. There are 193 of them, 11 of which have a special "Urban" status with additional autonomy.
*In [[Spain]], a municipality (''[[municipio]]'') is the primary [[local administrative unit]]. It is a part of a province (''[[Provinces of Spain|provincia]]'') for all national administrative purposes. A municipality contains one or more ''[[parroquia]]s''. In the Galicia region, the municipalities are called [[concello]]s.
== See also ==
{{wiktionary}}
*[[Administrative division]]
*[[Council of European Municipalities and Regions]]
*[[Council-manager government]]
*[[Croft (Scotland)]]
*[http://www.europeanpublicfinance.com Large list of European Municipalities]
*[[Mayor]]
*[[Mayor-council government]]
*[[Muni]]
*[[Municipal government]]
*[[Municipal services]]
*[[:Category:Lists of municipalities]] (with lists for countries)
*[[Political science]]
*[[Special-purpose district]]
*[[Town]]
*[[Urban-type settlement]]
==References==
<references />
{{Types of administrative country subdivision}}
[[Category:Townships]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions]]
[[ar:بلدية]]
[[cs:Obec]]
[[de:Gemeinde]]
[[el:Δήμος]]
[[es:Municipio]]
[[fi:Kunta]]
[[fr:Municipalité]]
[[ja:タウンシップ制]]
[[no:Township]]
[[pl:Township]]
[[zh:乡 (中国行政区划)]]