How Many Local Governments Are There in the United States?

Meta description: The United States had 90,837 local governments in the 2022 Census of Governments. Learn what counts as a local government and how the totals break down.

The United States has far more local governments than most people expect. The latest comprehensive federal count found 90,837 local governments in 2022. That total includes counties, cities, towns, school districts, and special-purpose agencies—not just the familiar city hall or county government. Understanding how the Census Bureau classifies them explains why the number is so large and why local government structures vary across states.

The Short Answer: 90,837 Local Governments

The U.S. Census Bureau counted 90,837 local governments in 2022, the most recent year for which its comprehensive Census of Governments provides a nationwide government count. The bureau conducts this census every five years. Its figures describe governments, not the number of offices, buildings, elected officials, or local employees.

The count is separate from the federal and state levels. The United States has one federal government and 50 state governments. The District of Columbia is a federal district with local governmental responsibilities, but it is not counted as a state. The Census Bureau’s headline figure of 90,837 refers specifically to local governments.

For context, the 2017 Census of Governments counted 90,075 local governments. The increase to 90,837 in 2022 is modest compared with the overall total. Changes can reflect newly formed or dissolved governments, reorganizations, and updates to the bureau’s records and classifications; the difference should not be read as a simple measure of how many new communities appeared.

What Counts as a Local Government?

A local government is an organized entity with governmental authority over a defined area or public function. It must have an independent organization, governmental character, and substantial fiscal or administrative autonomy under the Census Bureau’s classification. A local office or department that is controlled by another government is generally not counted as a separate government.

This distinction matters. A city department, such as a police department, is usually part of the city government, not an additional government. By contrast, an independently organized school district or water authority may count separately if it meets the bureau’s criteria. In short, the count is based on governmental structure and authority—not simply on the number of public services available.

The Census Bureau groups local governments into five main types. The totals below are from the 2022 Census of Governments:

The categories add up to the total. They are classifications used for national statistics; names and powers differ by state. A “borough,” for example, may be classified as a municipality in one place, while in Alaska the term can refer to a county-equivalent government.

Why Are There So Many Local Governments?

The largest part of the total is special district governments. These are established to provide particular services within a defined area, rather than to govern a general-purpose community. Examples include a fire protection district, a regional transit authority, a water and sewer district, or a parks district. A special district may serve one town, several communities, or an area that crosses county boundaries.

Special districts can be created when residents or existing governments need a focused way to fund and manage a service. They may have their own governing board, budget, boundaries, and authority to collect revenue or charge fees. Because they operate independently enough to qualify as governments, each qualifying district counts separately—even when its service area overlaps with a city, county, or school district.

School districts also contribute substantially to the total. In many parts of the country, public schools are operated by independent school district governments rather than directly by a city or county. Their boundaries may not match municipal boundaries, and one district can include territory in multiple communities. The Census Bureau counts independent school districts as local governments, but not school systems that are simply departments of another government.

Geography and state law also shape the number. Some states rely heavily on county governments for local services; others have many incorporated cities, towns, or townships. In some areas, a person may live under several overlapping jurisdictions at once: a county, a municipality, a school district, and one or more special districts. In other areas, a county government may provide a broader share of local services.

How the Five Types Differ

County Governments

Counties generally administer services across a broader area than cities and towns, but their responsibilities differ by state. They may maintain roads, operate courts or jails, keep property records, provide public health services, or deliver emergency services. Some states have independent cities that are not part of a county government, and some areas use county-equivalent structures rather than conventional counties.

Municipal Governments

Municipal governments are incorporated places such as cities, towns, villages, and boroughs. They typically provide services within their boundaries, including local streets, public safety, building regulation, and parks. Not every populated place is an incorporated municipality. A community may be unincorporated and receive services from its county or other governments instead.

Township Governments

Townships are local governments found in many, but not all, states. Their powers range from limited functions to a broad package of local services. The Census Bureau distinguishes township governments from municipal governments for its statistics, though everyday terminology varies. In some states, “town” is the formal name for a type of township government; in others, it can refer to a municipality.

Independent School District Governments

Independent school districts have responsibility for public education within their boundaries. They may be governed by elected or appointed boards, depending on state and local arrangements. Their budgets, tax authority, and administrative structures vary. The count does not include every public school system as a separate government: the key issue is whether the school system qualifies as an independent governmental entity.

Special District Governments

Special districts are organized around particular functions rather than broad community governance. They can operate utilities, libraries, fire services, hospitals, public transportation, flood control, or other services. The category is broad, and a district may provide more than one function. Not every public authority or agency automatically counts as a separate local government; the Census Bureau applies its organizational and autonomy criteria.

What the Number Does—and Does Not—Tell You

The 90,837 figure is a count of government entities, not a count of service providers or elected officials. One local government may operate several services, while a single service—such as fire protection—may be delivered by a city department, an independent district, a county agency, or a contracted provider. The national total alone cannot show how many services a resident receives or how much each costs.

The figure also does not mean that every resident deals with 90,837 governments. Each government has its own jurisdiction, and most residents are subject to only a subset of the national total. However, overlapping boundaries can make local government complex. Property taxes, school enrollment, emergency response, and utility service may be handled by different entities in the same neighborhood.

Nor does the count measure the size or importance of a government. A small fire district and a large city each count as one government, despite major differences in population, budget, employees, and responsibilities. To understand resources and services, researchers consult other data, such as Census Bureau government finance and employment statistics.

How to Find the Governments Serving an Address

Residents can identify their local jurisdictions by checking official state, county, and municipal resources. A county assessor or tax collector’s property lookup may list taxing districts, while a local election office can confirm which districts appear on a ballot. School district boundary tools and state agency directories can help identify education and special-purpose jurisdictions.

For a reliable result, an address search should distinguish between the place name used by the postal service and the actual incorporated municipality. A mailing address may use a nearby city’s name even when the property is outside that city’s legal boundaries. County maps, municipal boundary maps, and official district lookup tools are more useful for confirming jurisdiction.

The Census Bureau’s Census of Governments is the primary source for the national total and its government-type breakdown. Its classifications make it possible to compare local government structures across the country, even though state laws and local naming conventions differ. The central takeaway is straightforward: the United States had 90,837 local governments in 2022, and most were special districts, municipalities, townships, school districts, or counties.