Administrative divisions of Wisconsin

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Overview of the administrative divisions of Wisconsin

The state of Wisconsin in the United States is divided into several administrative divisions that facilitate local governance. These divisions include counties, cities, villages, and towns. Each type of division has its own structure and responsibilities as defined by state law.

Counties

Wisconsin is divided into 72 counties. Counties serve as the primary administrative units of the state, providing various services such as law enforcement, judicial administration, public health, and infrastructure maintenance. Each county is governed by a county board of supervisors and an elected county executive or county administrator.

Cities

Cities in Wisconsin are incorporated municipalities that provide a wide range of services to their residents, including public safety, zoning, and public works. Cities are classified into four classes based on their population:

• First-class cities (population over 150,000)
• Second-class cities (population between 39,000 and 150,000)
• Third-class cities (population between 10,000 and 39,000)
• Fourth-class cities (population under 10,000)

The largest city in Wisconsin is Milwaukee, which is the only first-class city in the state.

Villages

Villages are smaller incorporated municipalities that provide services similar to cities but on a smaller scale. Villages are governed by a village board consisting of elected trustees and a village president. Villages can transition to city status if they meet certain population and organizational criteria.

Towns

Towns in Wisconsin are unincorporated areas that provide basic local services such as road maintenance, land use planning, and fire protection. Towns are governed by a town board consisting of elected supervisors. Unlike cities and villages, towns do not have home rule authority and are subject to more state oversight.

Related Pages

• List of counties in Wisconsin
• List of cities in Wisconsin
• List of villages in Wisconsin
• List of towns in Wisconsin
• Government of Wisconsin
• Geography of Wisconsin

See Also

• Municipalities of Wisconsin
• Local government in the United States
• Administrative divisions of the United States

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