municipality

an urban district having corporate status and powers of self-government people living in a town or city having local self-government

A municipality or "general-purpose district" (compare with: "special-purpose district") is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government.Municipalities are not necessarily the same as townships.In most countrycountries, this is the smallest administrative subdivision that has its own democracydemocratically electionelected republicrepresentative leadership. In several European countries, municipalities as second level entities are referred to as ''Commune (subdivision)communes''.

Municipalities as second level entities -

In Australia, a municipality is a city, or shire and is a subdivision of a States of Australiastate

In Austria, a municipality (''Gemeinde'') is part of a district#Austriadistrict (''Bezirk''), which is in turn part of a States of Austriastate (''Bundesland'').

In Belgium, a municipality (''List of Belgian municipalitiesgemeente/commune'') is part of a province (''Communities, regions and provinces of Belgiumprovincie/province'')

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a municipality (''općina'' or ''opština'') is

* part of a canton (''Cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovinakanton'')

* a subdivision (grouped in Regions of Republika Srpskaregions)

In Brazil, a municipality (''município'') is part of a state (''States of Brazilestado'')

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. It is also a specific designation for certain municipalities in Quebec and Ontario.

In Chile, a municipality (''comuna'') is part of a province (''Provinces of Chileprovincia'')

In Croatia, a municipality (''općina'') is part of a county (''Counties of Croatiažupanija'')

In Denmark, a municipality (''Municipalities of Denmarkkommune'') is part of a county (''Counties of Denmarkamt'')

In Finland, a municipality (''Municipalities of Finlandkunta/kommun'') is part of a province (''Provinces of Finlandlääni/län'')

In France, a municipality (''Commune in Francecommune'') is part of a department (''département'')

In Germany, a municipality (''Municipalities in GermanyGemeinde'') is part of a district (''List of German districtsKreis''). Larger entities of the same level are named city (''Stadt'').

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 peripheriesperiphery.

In Italy, a municipality (''comune'') is part of a province (''Provinces_of_Italyprovincia'') which is part of a region (''Regions_of_Italyregione'').

In Japan, any government other than the Japanese national government is called a municipality.

In Mexico, a municipality (''municipio (Mexico)municipio'') is a subdivision of a state (States of Mexicoestado) and a borogh (''delegación'') is a subdivision of the Federal District (Mexico)Federal District (see municipalities of Mexico and Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District).

In the Netherlands, a municipality (''Municipalities in the Netherlandsgemeente'') is part of a province (''Provinces of the Netherlandsprovincie'').

Every part of mainland New Zealand is part of either a "city" (mostly urban) or a "district" (mostly rural). The term "municipality" has become rare in New Zealand since about 1979 and has no legal status.

In Norway, a municipality (''Municipalities of Norwaykommune'') is part of a county (''Counties of Norwayfylke'')

In the Philippines, a municipality (''Philippine municipalitybayan'') is part of a province (''Provinces of the Philippineslalawigan'') and is composed of barangays.

In Poland, a municipality (commune) (''gmina'') is a part of a county (''powiat'').

In Portugal, a municipality (''município'') is subdivision of a district (''Portuguese districtsdistritos'').

In Puerto Rico, a municipality (''municipio'') is a city. Each municipality has an elected mayor.

In Romania, a municipality (''municipiu'') is a town or a city ranked by law at this level. See Municipality in Romania for more information.

In Serbia, a municipality (''Political divisions of Serbia and Montenegroopština'') is part of a county (''okrug'')

In South Africa, municipalities are subdivisions of a province, and are ranked by size. In descending order: metropolitan, district, local.

In Sweden, a municipality (''Municipalities of Swedenkommun'') is part of a county (''Counties of Swedenlän'').

In Switzerland, a municipality (''Municipalities in Switzerlandcommune/Gemeinde/comune'') is part of a canton (''Cantons of Switzerlandcanton/Kanton/cantone'') and defined by cantonal law.

In the United States, the entities that have status as a municipality vary from U.S. statestate to state. Cities, towns, boroughs, or villages are common terms for municipalities. Townships, counties, and parishes are not generally considered to be municipalities, although there are exceptions. In some states, towns have a non-municipal status similar to townships.

First level entities and other forms of municipalities -

In the People's Republic of China, a municipality (直辖市 in pinyin: Municipalities in Chinazhíxiéshì) is a city with equal status to a Province of Chinaprovince: Beijing MunicipalityBeijing, Tianjin MunicipalityTianjin, Shanghai MunicipalityShanghai, and Chongqing MunicipalityChongqing (see Municipality of China)

In the Republic of China on Taiwan, a municipality (直轄市 in Wade-Giles: Municipalities in Taiwanchi-hsia-shih) is a city with equal status to a province: Taipei and Kaohsiung. (see Municipality of China)

In Portugal, a municipality (''Municipalities of Portugalmunicípio''/''Concelhos of Portugalconcelho'') is the primary local administrative unit. Although it is a part of a district (''Districts of Portugaldistrito'') 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 ''freguesias''.

In Puerto Rico, there are no first order administrative divisions, and the municipalities (''Municipalities of Puerto Ricomunicipio'') serves as second-order, but first level, administrative divisions.

In Montenegro, a municipality (''Political divisions of Serbia and Montenegroopština'') is the topmost regional division

Municipalities of Libya, some very large.

In Slovenia, a municipality (''Municipalities of Sloveniaobčina'') 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 (''Municipalities of Spainmunicípio'') is the primary local administrative unit. It is a part of a province (''Provinces of Spainprovincia'') for all national administrative purposes. A municipality contains one or more ''parroquias''. In the Galiza region, the municipalities are called concellos.

See also -

:Category:Lists of municipalities (with lists for countries)

Municipal government

Mayor

Council-manager government

Mayor-council government

Special-purpose district

Subnational entity

Political science

Muni

Washington city government

Political subdivisions of New York State

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The Waldron Village News
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Municipality of Anchorage
a list of all departments and services on-line and links to other vital agencies within the Municipality.
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Halifax Regional Municipality
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http://www.region.halifax.ns.ca/

Municipality of Clarington
Clarington, located in Southern Ontario, is Canada's most unique community; a great place to live, work and play east of the Greater Toronto Area.
http://www.municipality.clarington.on.ca/

Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Official site. Contains departmental directory, services and local attractions and events links.
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/

Municipality of Chania
Official site with historical data, sights, activities, climatic conditions and tourist information.
http://www.chania.gr/

Nicosia Municipality
Provides city tour, cultural agenda and official announcements. Features tourist and business directory.
http://www.nicosia.org.cy/