City and town halls facts for kids
A city hall or town hall is the main building where a city or town's local government does its work. It's like the headquarters for your community's leaders and their teams. Inside, you'll usually find the city or town council. These are groups of people elected to make decisions for the area. The mayor, who is the main leader of the city or town, also usually has their office here.
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What is a City Hall?
A city hall is where important decisions about your town or city are made. It's where the people you elect to represent you, like council members and the mayor, meet and work. They handle things like local laws, public services, and how the community's money is spent.
This building is often a symbol of the community. It shows where the local government is based. Many city halls are beautiful and historic buildings. They are often used for public events and meetings too.
Different Names Around the World
The name for this important building can change depending on where you are in the world.
City Hall or Town Hall?
In North America, the name often depends on the size of the community. Larger cities usually have a "city hall." Smaller towns or urban areas might call their building a "town hall."
Town Hall in Commonwealth Countries
In countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, "town hall" is a very common term. Many older town halls were not just offices. They also had spaces for art galleries or cultural events.
Civic Centres
During the 1960s, some older town halls were replaced by "Civic centres." These new buildings were mainly for council offices. They didn't always have the art galleries or cultural spaces that older town halls did. They were built to be more functional.
County Hall
Sometimes, you might hear the term "county hall." This is used for the main office building of a county council. A county council manages a larger area that includes several towns or cities.
Images for kids
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New York City Hall, the oldest continuous seat of local government in the United States, completed in 1812
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Town hall, police, and fire station in South Palm Beach, Florida, United States
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16th-century Fordwich Town Hall in Kent, England, closely resembling a market hall in its design
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George Town City Hall, Penang, houses the office of Municipal Council of Penang Island in Malaysia
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Town hall of Recife, Brazil
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Stockholm City Hall, where the Nobel Banquet takes place on 10 December each year.
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See also
In Spanish: Casa consistorial para niños
