Let’s Talk About Counties l About County Government County governments serve the people of America. Today’s county government is one of the most flex- ible, locally responsive and creative governments in the United States. Counties vary in size, population, geography, and even governmental structure. Coun- ties range in geographical size from 26 square miles (Arlington County, Virginia) to 87,860 square miles (North Slope Borough, Alaska). The populations of counties also have a wide range. Loving County, Texas, with its 45 residents, is the smallest, while Los Angeles County, California, is home to about 10 mil- lion people. County governments meet the challenges they face with innovation and well-planned strategies. Being close to the people they serve, counties are always ac- countable for the decisions they make. The responsi- bilities and services of county governments vary from state to state. Responsibilities include education, so- cial services, criminal justice, transportation and road maintenance, public safety, homeland security, hous- ing, land planning, environmental quality, water and sewer service, and solid waste disposal. County officials are dedicated public-minded indi- viduals who care deeply about their communities and the important issues affecting them. County govern- ments often partner with other levels of government to ensure a better quality of life for their citizens. There are 3,068 county governments in the United States of America. There are 40 consolidated city county governments. What is in a name? • 30 states have a Washington county • 26 states have a Jefferson county • 25 states have a Franklin county • 24 states have a Jackson county • 24 states have a Lincoln county 47 of 50 states have functioning county governments. Counties are also called parishes and boroughs. Delaware has only 3 county governments and Hawaii only 5. Texas has 254 counties and Georgia has 159. 60 counties have no incorporated cities. Interesting Facts About Counties