Local government in Minnesota

The U.S. state of Minnesota currently has 3,672 local government entities operating in its borders. These are either counties, towns, cities, school districts, or other special-purpose districts. In addition to the current levels of local government, villages and one borough historically also existed in the state, but they have all been abolished.

History

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In 1952, Minnesota had the most local government entities of any state, numbering 9,025.[1] However, by 2012, it had declined to eighth place, with 3,672 active entities.[2]

Current entities

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Counties

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There are 87 counties in the state of Minnesota. Ramsey County obtained home rule by an act of the Minnesota State Legislature in 1992.[2]

Towns

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Eighty-four of the state's 87 counties are divided into towns, which number 1,784 in the state as of 2012 and are equivalent to the civil townships in several other states; the terms "town" and "township" are used interchangeably in Minnesota.[3] 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.[4] The towns' boundaries have been fixed since March 1, 1906, unless duly changed by their county.[5]

Towns are corporate entities, having among other things the right to sue and own property.[6] 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.[7]

Cities

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All municipalities in the state are cities, of which there are 853 in the state as of 2012. A city may or may not exist within the boundaries of a town. Cities are currently divided into four classes based on population:[2]

  • 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.[2]

School districts

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There are 343 public school systems in the state as of 2012. 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.[2]

Special districts

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There are 610 local governments in the state that have special uses as of 2012.[8] They include ambulance districts, the East Lake Clinical District, housing and redevelopment agencies, mental health collaboratives, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, and sanitary districts.[9]

Former entities

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Villages

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Villages existed in the state prior to the enactment of the Uniform Code of Municipal Government in 1973.[10] 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.[1] Villages incorporated prior to April 1949 were unseparated absent a referendum for separation, while villages incorporated afterwards were all separated.[1] Former villages may continue to refer to themselves as "villages" in internal affairs and communications but are referred to as cities in legal proceedings.[11]

Boroughs

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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.[1][12] During that time it was the only borough in the state,[12] and had the same roles and responsibilities as a village.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Census Bureau 1954, p. 46
  2. ^ a b c d e Census Bureau 2013, p. 154
  3. ^ Census Bureau 2013, pp. viii, ix, 154
  4. ^ Township Local Government Aid, Minnesota House Research, August 2022.
  5. ^ Minnesota Statutes, §365.01
  6. ^ Minnesota Statutes, §365.02
  7. ^ Minnesota Statutes, §365.10
  8. ^ Census Bureau 2013, p. 155
  9. ^ Census Bureau 2013, pp. 155–158
  10. ^ "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". Minnesota Legislature Revisor's Office. April 19, 1973. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Minnesota Statutes, §413.02
  12. ^ a b "Belle Plaine Trivia". The City of Belle Plaine. Belle Plaine, Minnesota: City of Belle Plaine. Retrieved July 23, 2021.

Works cited

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