Administrative divisions of Michigan
Encyclopedia
The state of Michigan
is largely divided in the same way as many other U.S. state
s, but is distinct in its usage of charter township
s. Michigan ranks 13th among the fifty states in terms of the number of local government
al entities.
The state is divided into 83 counties
, and further divided into 1,240 townships, 276 cities, and 257 villages. Additionally, the state consists of 553 school districts, 57 intermediate school districts, 14 planning and development regions, and over 300 special districts and authorities.
Michigan is divided into 83 counties
, the primary administrative division of Michigan. This local government division has its greatest effect on unincorporated
lands within the county, and can provide service which can include law enforcement
, road
maintenance and construction, justice administration, health care, among other basic services. Where places within the county are incorporated
, and thus granted home rule
, the power of the county government is greatly diminished.
The government of the state's counties is largely structured as county commissions, which function as both the executive
and legislative body of the county. However, four Michigan counties (Bay County
, Oakland County
, Wayne County
, and Macomb County
) function under a county executive
form of government, where the executive and legislative powers are split between a county executive and county commission, respectively.
Wayne and Macomb Counties are the only counties in the state to have adopted a Home Rule Charter
. All other counties are structured according to state law.
In Michigan, a city is one of two types of incorporated municipalities, the other being villages. Cities and villages, along with townships
, which are generally not considered as an incorporated municipality in Michigan, are the three main forms of local government in Michigan.
Of the three types of municipal organization, cities are the most autonomous, with the responsibility of providing most all services to its residents. As of 2007, there are 274 incorporated, home rule cities in Michigan.
Most cities in Michigan are incorporated under home rule
charters, although there are a few that were incorporated before the Home Rule Cities Act
was enacted in 1909, and continue to operate under an older city charter having been granted by the legislature. Under current Michigan law, however, they are automatically considered home rule cities, and can amend or revise their charters at any time.
Cities have a choice to be governed under the mayor-council
form of government, which also includes the city commission
form of government as a variant, or a council manager
form of government. Cities are administratively independent of whichever township or townships they incorporated from. Unlike other local governments, cities can levy a limited income tax on residents, non-residents, and corporations as set forth in the state constitution.
In Michigan, villages function much like cities, but differ in that villages are not completely administratively autonomous of the township(s) in which they are located, reducing their home rule
powers. Because of this, statistically, their population is also included in the population of the township in which they reside. Village governments are required to share some of the responsibilities to their residents with the township. As of 2007, there are 259 villages in Michigan, of which 48 are designated home rule villages, and 211 designated as general law villages. However, under the Michigan Constitution
of 1963, any village has the authority to modify its charter, whether granted as a home rule charter or enacted as a general law charter.
In Michigan, a township is a statutory unit of local government, meaning that they have only those powers expressly provided or fairly implied by state law. They are the most basic form of local government in Michigan. There are two types of townships in Michigan: general law and charter, and they total 1,242 in number.
and the Upper Peninsula
, a township may consist of several survey townships and cover hundreds of square miles. In other areas of the state, townships are typically the 36 square miles (93.2 km²) of land of a single survey township, or sometimes less due to irregular geographical boundaries or when one survey township has been subdivided into two or more civil townships.
status was created by act of the state legislature in 1947, and grants additional powers and streamlined administration of townships. Charter townships that meet certain criteria are also provided greater protection against annexation by a city or village. Townships must meet have at least 2,000 residents before they can seek charter status. If the charter status is approved by the township voters, the township may levy up to 5 mills
without voter approval. If the charter status is approved by the township board alone, the township board may not levy any additional millage without voter approval. As of April 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
is largely divided in the same way as many other U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s, but is distinct in its usage of charter township
Charter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
s. Michigan ranks 13th among the fifty states in terms of the number of local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
al entities.
The state is divided into 83 counties
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
, and further divided into 1,240 townships, 276 cities, and 257 villages. Additionally, the state consists of 553 school districts, 57 intermediate school districts, 14 planning and development regions, and over 300 special districts and authorities.
County
See also: List of counties in MichiganMichigan is divided into 83 counties
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
, the primary administrative division of Michigan. This local government division has its greatest effect on unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
lands within the county, and can provide service which can include law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
, road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
maintenance and construction, justice administration, health care, among other basic services. Where places within the county are incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
, and thus granted home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
, the power of the county government is greatly diminished.
The government of the state's counties is largely structured as county commissions, which function as both the executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
and legislative body of the county. However, four Michigan counties (Bay County
Bay County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 110,157 people, 43,930 households, and 30,048 families residing in the county. The population density was 248 people per square mile . There were 46,423 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
, Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
, Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
, and Macomb County
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
) function under a county executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
form of government, where the executive and legislative powers are split between a county executive and county commission, respectively.
Wayne and Macomb Counties are the only counties in the state to have adopted a Home Rule Charter
Municipal charter
A city charter or town charter is a legal document establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the middle ages....
. All other counties are structured according to state law.
City
See also: List of cities in MichiganIn Michigan, a city is one of two types of incorporated municipalities, the other being villages. Cities and villages, along with townships
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
, which are generally not considered as an incorporated municipality in Michigan, are the three main forms of local government in Michigan.
Of the three types of municipal organization, cities are the most autonomous, with the responsibility of providing most all services to its residents. As of 2007, there are 274 incorporated, home rule cities in Michigan.
Most cities in Michigan are incorporated under home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
charters, although there are a few that were incorporated before the Home Rule Cities Act
Home Rule Cities Act (Michigan)
The Home Rule City Act was enacted by the Michigan Legislature as Public Act 279 of 1909. This statute provides the framework by which a new city may become incorporated and provide for its own government by adopting a city charter...
was enacted in 1909, and continue to operate under an older city charter having been granted by the legislature. Under current Michigan law, however, they are automatically considered home rule cities, and can amend or revise their charters at any time.
Cities have a choice to be governed under the mayor-council
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
form of government, which also includes the city commission
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
form of government as a variant, or a council manager
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. Cities are administratively independent of whichever township or townships they incorporated from. Unlike other local governments, cities can levy a limited income tax on residents, non-residents, and corporations as set forth in the state constitution.
Villages
See also: List of villages in MichiganIn Michigan, villages function much like cities, but differ in that villages are not completely administratively autonomous of the township(s) in which they are located, reducing their home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
powers. Because of this, statistically, their population is also included in the population of the township in which they reside. Village governments are required to share some of the responsibilities to their residents with the township. As of 2007, there are 259 villages in Michigan, of which 48 are designated home rule villages, and 211 designated as general law villages. However, under the Michigan Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
of 1963, any village has the authority to modify its charter, whether granted as a home rule charter or enacted as a general law charter.
Township
See also: Lists of townships in MichiganIn Michigan, a township is a statutory unit of local government, meaning that they have only those powers expressly provided or fairly implied by state law. They are the most basic form of local government in Michigan. There are two types of townships in Michigan: general law and charter, and they total 1,242 in number.
General law township
General law townships, called civil townships in most other states, form the largest portion of townships in Michigan. These local government units offer the most basic of services, and generally follow the boundary lines of survey townships. In sparsely populated areas of Northern MichiganNorthern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
and the Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
, a township may consist of several survey townships and cover hundreds of square miles. In other areas of the state, townships are typically the 36 square miles (93.2 km²) of land of a single survey township, or sometimes less due to irregular geographical boundaries or when one survey township has been subdivided into two or more civil townships.
Charter township
Charter townshipCharter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
status was created by act of the state legislature in 1947, and grants additional powers and streamlined administration of townships. Charter townships that meet certain criteria are also provided greater protection against annexation by a city or village. Townships must meet have at least 2,000 residents before they can seek charter status. If the charter status is approved by the township voters, the township may levy up to 5 mills
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
without voter approval. If the charter status is approved by the township board alone, the township board may not levy any additional millage without voter approval. As of April 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan.