Characteristics of the New England town system New England town

town hall of plymouth, new hampshire



towns laid out land within boundaries of state allocated town or other corporate municipality. land incorporated bounds of municipal corporation s territory, except in sparsely populated areas of 3 northern new england states (primarily in north).
towns municipal corporations, powers defined combination of municipal corporate charter, state statutes, , state constitution. in of new england, laws regarding authority have historically been broadly construed. in practice, new england towns have significant autonomy in managing own affairs, of powers cities typically have in other u.s. states. new hampshire , vermont follow dillon s rule, holds local governments largely creatures of state.
traditionally, town s legislative body open town meeting, form of direct democratic rule, board of selectmen possessing executive authority. several swiss cantons landsgemeinde remain democratic small new england town meetings.
a town contains built-up populated place (the town center ) same name town. additional built-up places different names found within towns, along mixture of additional urban , rural territory. there no territory not part of town between each town; leaving 1 town means entering town or other municipality. in parts of new england, towns irregular in shape , size , not laid out on grid. vermont leading exception this, , of interior of maine laid out surveyed townships. town center contains town common, used today small park.
virtually residents live within boundaries of municipal corporation. residents receive local services @ municipal level, , county government tends provide few or no services. differences among states exist in level of services provided @ municipal , county level, functions handled county-level government in rest of united states handled town-level government in new england. in connecticut, rhode island, , of massachusetts, county government has been abolished, , counties serve merely dividing lines judicial system. in other areas, counties provide judicial , other limited administrative services. in many cases, house numbers on rural roads in new england reset 0 upon crossing town line.
residents identify town purposes of civic identity, thinking of town in entirety single, coherent community. there cases residents identify more villages or sections of town town itself, particularly in rhode island, exception, not rule.
more 90% of municipalities in 6 new england states towns. other forms of municipalities exist based on town concept, well—most notably cities. new england cities towns have grown large town meeting effective legislative body, leading residents adopt city form mayor , council. municipal entities based on concept of compact populated place uncommon, such vermont village or connecticut borough. in areas of new england such forms exist, remain part of parent town , not have of corporate powers , authority of independent municipality.




^ joseph francis zimmerman (1999). new england town meeting: democracy in action. retrieved 2010-11-02. other assembled voters law-making body swiss landsgemeinde in half-cantons of appenzell inner-rhoden , out-rhoden, nidwalden, obwalden, , canton of glarus, traditional annual open-air meeting of voters held decide issues.