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The term "county" is also used to describe the rural administrative division below a [[city]] in [[China]] and [[Taiwan]], known in Chinese as 县(Pinyin: xian). Chinese counties have more powers than urban divisions at the same level, known as districts (区,qu). The head of a Chinese county is known as a "[[magistrate]]" in English, although this office now has no judicial function. The Chinese term is "xianzhang" {县长}.

The term "county" is also used to describe the rural administrative division below a [[city]] in [[China]] and [[Taiwan]], known in Chinese as 县(Pinyin: xian). Chinese counties have more powers than urban divisions at the same level, known as districts (区,qu). The head of a Chinese county is known as a "[[magistrate]]" in English, although this office now has no judicial function. The Chinese term is "xianzhang" {县长}.

In the [[United States]], a county is an administrative level between the [[city]] and the [[state]].  The [[town]] in which the county government is located is called the [[county seat]].  Most states are completely divided into counties.  However, four states have at least one [[independent city]] that is outside of any county.  Counties are called parishes in [[Louisiana]] and boroughs in [[Alaska]], although much of Alaska lies in an area called the Unorganized Borough, which is governed directly by the state.  In some [[New England]] states, county governments have been abolished, and the counties exist as geographical areas only.

In the [[United States]], a county is an administrative level between the [[city]] and the [[state]].  The [[town]] in which the county government is located is called the [[county seat]].  Most states are completely divided into counties.  However, four states have at least one [[independent city]] that is outside of any county.  Counties are called parishes in [[Louisiana]] and [[borough]]s in [[Alaska]], although much of Alaska lies in an area called the Unorganized Borough, which is governed directly by the state.  In some [[New England]] states, county governments have been abolished, and the counties exist as geographical areas only.

[[Category:sociology]]

[[Category:sociology]]