Urban town
Encyclopedia
An urban town is a proposed classification for towns in the state
of Wisconsin
, similar to the urban township
s of Minnesota
and Ohio
. The concept, originally proposed in 2001, as AB501, limited the classification to towns with over 7,500 people. The proposal has gained support from such organizations as the Wisconsin Towns Association
. The impetus that originally spawned the concept of urban towns was an effort to stem annexation of urban
ized areas in unincorporated area
by cities and villages across county lines. Obtaining "urban town" status effectively freezes the town's boundaries. While urban towns would have substantially greater zoning and regulatory rights than "rural towns", the status would not confer "incorporated" status on the municipality, freeing them from several responsibilities incumbent upon incorporated municipal governments, thus distinguishing them from the incorporated town
s of Illinois
.
In the time since the idea was originally proposed, many of the towns that would have been affected have since incorporated, but 2004 population estimates indicate that a number of towns that would have been ineligible in 2001, now are. As of March 2007, the eligible include:
If current trends continue, over a dozen other towns will fit the population requirements by the 2010 census.
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...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, similar to the urban township
Urban township
An urban township or urban town is a designation of a unit of local government in several midwestern U.S. states. Generally, an urban township is afforded more local authority than that of a township and less than that of a city. Often, urban townships use this authority for greater economic...
s of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The concept, originally proposed in 2001, as AB501, limited the classification to towns with over 7,500 people. The proposal has gained support from such organizations as the Wisconsin Towns Association
Wisconsin Towns Association
The Wisconsin Towns Association is an organization which represents the interests of Wisconsin's 1,259 towns and the 1.7 million people who live in them. They are a non-profit and non-partisan association. It was created in 1947 under s.60.23 of the Wisconsin Statutes. It is separated into six...
. The impetus that originally spawned the concept of urban towns was an effort to stem annexation of urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
ized areas in unincorporated area
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...
by cities and villages across county lines. Obtaining "urban town" status effectively freezes the town's boundaries. While urban towns would have substantially greater zoning and regulatory rights than "rural towns", the status would not confer "incorporated" status on the municipality, freeing them from several responsibilities incumbent upon incorporated municipal governments, thus distinguishing them from the incorporated town
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
s of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
In the time since the idea was originally proposed, many of the towns that would have been affected have since incorporated, but 2004 population estimates indicate that a number of towns that would have been ineligible in 2001, now are. As of March 2007, the eligible include:
- Delafield (town), WisconsinDelafield (town), WisconsinDelafield is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,820 at the 2000 census. The City of Delafield is located within the town...
(Waukesha County) - Genesee, WisconsinGenesee, WisconsinGenesee is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,284 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Genesee Depot and Saylesville are located in Genesee.-Landmarks:...
(Waukesha County) - Grand Chute, WisconsinGrand Chute, WisconsinGrand Chute is a town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The city of Appleton and unincorporated community of Apple Creek are partially located in the town...
(Outagamie County) - Grand Rapids, WisconsinGrand Rapids, WisconsinGrand Rapids is a town in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,801 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Kellner is located partially in the town.-Geography:...
(Wood County) - Greenville, WisconsinGreenville, WisconsinGreenville is a town located in south central Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of 18 communities that form the basis of the Fox Cities, the third largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin. The population was 6,844 at the 2000 census, however 2008 estimates place the population at...
(Outagamie County) - Harrison, Calumet County, WisconsinHarrison, Calumet County, WisconsinHarrison is a town in Calumet County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 10,839 at the 2010 census. Parts of the town of Harrison and town of Buchanan are collectively known locally as Darboy. The unincorporated communities of Harrison and Highland Beach are located in the town...
- Lisbon, Waukesha County, WisconsinLisbon, Waukesha County, WisconsinLisbon is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,359 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Lake Five is located in the town...
- Menasha (town), WisconsinMenasha (town), WisconsinMenasha is a town in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 15,858 at the 2000 census. The City of Menasha is partially within the town...
(Winnebago County) - Merton (town), WisconsinMerton (town), WisconsinMerton is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,988 at the 2000 census. The Village of Merton is located partially within the town. To local residents, the town of Merton is not called Merton, but is rather split up into the smaller unincorporated communities of...
(Waukesha County) - Norway, WisconsinNorway, WisconsinNorway is a town in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,600 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Wind Lake, Wisconsin is in the town of Norway...
(Racine County) - Oconomowoc (town), WisconsinOconomowoc (town), WisconsinOconomowoc is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,451 at the 2000 census. The City of Oconomowoc and the Village of Lac La Belle are located partially in the town...
(Waukesha County) - Rib Mountain, WisconsinRib Mountain, WisconsinRib Mountain is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,556 at the 2000 census. Rib Mountain is part of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is a suburb of Wausau and part of the Wausau Metropolitan Area...
(Marathon County) - Salem, Kenosha County, WisconsinSalem, Kenosha County, WisconsinSalem is a town in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,871 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Benet Lake, Salem, Salem Oaks, Trevor, Voltz Lake, and Wilmot are located in the town...
- Somers, WisconsinSomers, WisconsinSomers is a town in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,059 at the 2000 census.The unincorporated community of Somers is located within the town at Kenosha County Highway E at the former Milwaukee Road .-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town...
(Kenosha County) - Springfield, Dane County, WisconsinSpringfield, Dane County, WisconsinSpringfield is a town in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,762 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Ashton, Ashton Corners, Martinsville, and Springfield Corners are located in Springfield.-Geography:...
- Waukesha (town), WisconsinWaukesha (town), WisconsinWaukesha is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,596 at the 2000 census...
(Waukesha County)
If current trends continue, over a dozen other towns will fit the population requirements by the 2010 census.