Administrative divisions of Illinois facts for kids
The administrative divisions of Illinois are the different ways the state is organized to help manage things. Think of them as different levels of government that help run your local area. These include counties, townships, cities, towns, villages, and special districts.
Illinois has 102 counties, which are the main building blocks of the state's local government. In fact, Illinois has more local government groups than any other state, with over 8,000 in total! Since 1970, Illinois has had "home rule." This means local areas can make many of their own decisions. Illinois also has different kinds of school districts and other groups that manage various services.
One important way local governments get money is through property taxes. This is a local tax on real property (like land and buildings). Counties, townships, cities, villages, school districts, and special districts all use property taxes to pay for services. These local groups can also create their own local rules, called ordinances.
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Counties: Illinois's Main Building Blocks
Illinois is divided into 102 counties. These are the main parts of the state's local government. Most counties follow rules set by the state. However, Cook County is special because it has "home rule. This means it can make more of its own decisions about how it's run.
Townships and Precincts: Smaller Local Areas
Out of the 102 counties, 85 are split into smaller areas called townships. These townships often provide local services. The other 17 counties are divided into 261 "precincts" instead of townships. In the city of Chicago, townships no longer handle government jobs.
Sometimes, a township and a city or town share the same government. For example, in cities like Springfield and Cicero, the same group of people runs both the township and the city.
Cities, Towns, and Villages: Municipalities
Cities, villages, and incorporated towns are all called "municipalities." To become a city, an area usually needs at least 2,500 people. The number of people needed to become a village can change depending on the county's population.
If a municipality has more than 25,000 people, it automatically gets "home rule" status. This means it has more power to govern itself. Smaller municipalities can also choose to get home rule status by having a special vote, called a referendum.
School Districts: Learning and Education
Illinois has many different kinds of school districts. These districts are in charge of public education. Here are some of the types:
- Chicago Public Schools
- Common school districts
- Community college districts (for higher education after high school)
- Community high school districts
- Community unit school districts
- Non-high school districts
- Special charter school districts
- Township high school districts
Most school districts are managed by elected groups called boards of education. Community college districts are run by elected boards of trustees. However, for Chicago Public Schools and the City Colleges of Chicago, the Mayor of Chicago chooses the board members. The Illinois Board of Higher Education helps oversee all higher education in Illinois. The Illinois Community College Board helps coordinate community colleges.
Some school districts work together to create special programs. They can form groups for vocational training (learning job skills) or special education (for students with unique learning needs). These groups are run by representatives from each school district involved.
Special Districts: Focused Services
Special purpose districts are local government groups that focus on just one or a few specific tasks. For example, a special district might manage a park, a library, or a fire department. Illinois has more of these special districts than any other U.S. state.
The exact number of special districts can vary depending on how they are counted. Some counts show over 3,200 special purpose governments in Illinois. Other counts, which include more types of groups, show over 4,700. These districts are important because they provide many specific services to communities across the state.
See Also
- Government of Cook County, Illinois
- List of counties in Illinois
- List of Illinois townships
- List of precincts in Illinois
- Government of Chicago
- List of municipalities in Illinois
- List of school districts in Illinois
- Special districts in Illinois
