Borough

A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.

The word borough derives from common Germanic *Burg, meaning fort: compare with bury, burgh and brough (England), burgh (Scotland), Burg (Germany), borg (Scandinavia), burcht (Dutch), boarch (West Frisian), and the Germanic borrowing present in neighbouring Indo-european languages such as borgo (Italian), bourg (French), burgo (Spanish and Portuguese), burg (Romanian), purg (Kajkavian) and durg (दर्ग) (Hindi) and arg (ارگ) (Persian). The incidence of these words as suffixes to place names (for example, Aldeburgh, Bamburgh, Tilbury, Tilburg, Strasbourg (Strossburi in the local dialect), Luxembourg, Edinburgh, Grundisburgh, Hamburg, Gothenburg) usually indicates that they were once fortified settlements.

In the Middle Ages, boroughs were settlements in England that were granted some self-government; burghs were the Scottish equivalent. In medieval England, boroughs were also entitled to elect members of parliament. The use of the word borough probably derives from the burghal system of Alfred the Great. Alfred set up a system of defensive strong points (Burhs); in order to maintain these settlements, he granted them a degree of autonomy. After the Norman Conquest, when certain towns were granted self-governance, the concept of the burh/borough seems to have been reused to mean a self-governing settlement.

Borough (Connecticut)

In the US state of Connecticut, a borough is an incorporated section of a town. Borough governments are not autonomous and are subordinate to the government of the town to which they belong. A borough is a clearly defined municipality and provides some municipal services, such as police and fire services, garbage collection, street lighting and maintenance, management of cemeteries, and building code enforcement. Other municipal services not provided by the borough are provided by the parent town. Connecticut boroughs are administratively similar to villages in New York.

Borough government

Borough elections are held biennially in odd years on the first Monday in May.

Historical background

Bridgeport (now a city) was the state's first borough, formed in 1800 or 1801 as a subdivision of the town of Stratford. Numerous additional boroughs were established thereafter, mostly during the 19th century, to serve a variety of local governmental purposes. There were 18 boroughs in the state as of 1850 and a total of 26 as of 1910. Most Connecticut boroughs have subsequently disincorporated or have become cities.

Administrative divisions of Virginia

The administrative divisions of Virginia are the areas into which the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, is divided for political and administrative purposes. Some are local governments; others are not. However, all local governments (counties, independent cities, and incorporated towns) are political subdivisions of the state.

According to the 2002 Census of Governments, Virginia ranked 43rd among the 50 states in the number of local governments, with 521 as of June 2002.

Counties

Virginia has 95 counties, covering all of the territory not within the independent cities. Under Virginia law, counties are an arm of the state itself, and exist at the will of the state government. Their populations vary widely; 2010 census population counts ranged from 2,321 for Highland County to 1,081,726 for Fairfax County.

Since Virginia has no civil townships, and since incorporated towns cover such a small area of the state, the county is the de facto municipal government for much of the state, from rural areas to densely populated unincorporated communities such as Tysons Corner. In fact, Arlington County, while entirely urbanized, has no towns at all; the county is the only general-purpose local government and is thus similar to a unitary authority.

Podcasts:

PLAYLIST TIME:

Latest News for: borough

Edit

Off-duty cop shot in Queens, two suspects cuffed after pursuit through borough

The Villager 27 Apr 2025
Two suspects in the shooting of an off-duty cop in Queens on Sunday morning are now in custody after leading police on a wild pursuit across the borough ... on April 27 when two men approached him ... ....
Edit

In TikToks and a New Memoir, Sister Monica Clare Puts a Refreshing Spin on Religious Life

New York Times 27 Apr 2025
Though she long felt a calling, Sister Monica Clare tried Hollywood first. Her book, and a visit, confirm the warmth — and fragility — of her new community ... .
Edit

2 candidates seek Republican nomination for open Quarryville Borough mayoral seat

Lancaster Online 26 Apr 2025
Two Republicans are vying to become Quarryville Borough’s next volunteer mayor after incumbent Anthony Cavallaro chose not to seek reelection this year ... .
Edit

Ribble Valley Borough Council announces its VE Day events (Ribble Valley Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
Ribble Valley Borough Council published this content on April 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Edit

Raritan shuts out Freehold Borough - Baseball recap

NJ 25 Apr 2025
Travis Evernham finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI for Raritan in its 8-0 win over Freehold Borough in Freehold ....
Edit

How a Denver Borough designer created a living room that perfectly suits her life [photos]

Lancaster Online 25 Apr 2025
Ever wonder how home design and decor experts craft their own special spaces? In this occasional series, we ask the experts about a favorite room in their home and how it all came together ... .
Edit

Saturday, April 26, 2025 (Borough of Chalfont, PA)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
[...] ... Disclaimer. Borough of Chalfont, PA published this content on April 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein ... (noodl.
Edit

Kaye Russell (South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council published this content on April 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the ...
Edit

Leader update: Victoria Way (A320) to reopen (Woking Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
An update from Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, on the reopening of Victoria Way (A320) ... Leader of Woking Borough Council ... Woking Borough Council published this content on April ...
Edit

Wandsworth Council Planning Committee rejects tower on the Battersea Bridge waterfront (Wandsworth Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
Council officers had recommended the application for refusal due to its height and scale in comparison to the local area, which goes against the guidelines set out the borough's Local Plan and the London Plan.
Edit

Local scheme to reduce flood risk completed in Porth (Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
) ... All traffic management along Turberville Road was lifted upon the contractor's completion ... Disclaimer. Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council published this content on April 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Edit

Woking to mark VE Day (Woking Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
Speaking about the planned commemorations, Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said ... Woking Borough Council published this content on April 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Edit

5 Borough Bagels' West Des Moines location closing at the end of May

Des Moines Register 25 Apr 2025
Homemade pizza bagel recipe ... Problem Solved ... Sarah and Toney Chem, the owners of 5 Borough Bagels, plan to close the mall location on May 31 ... The original location in Clive opened in June 2016.Where to find 5 Borough Bagels. Clive ... Urbandale ... Waukee. 272 W.
Edit

Small scraps, big impact: How your food waste protects the planet (Wandsworth Borough Council)

Public Technologies 25 Apr 2025
With the help of residents and our Cleaner Borough Plan, we have already recycled 5,000 tonnes of extra recycling since June 2024, including general recycling, food waste, bulky waste, and real Christmas trees.
×