County

/ˈkaʊnti/ noun

Definition

A county is a region within a country that has its own local government and boundaries, usually larger than a city or town.

Etymology

From Old French “conté” (land under a count), from Latin “comitatus” (jurisdiction of a count). Originally it meant the territory controlled by a noble called a count.

Kelly Says

Counties started as the personal territories of powerful nobles—literally the land of a count. Today they feel like neutral map units, but their shapes often trace centuries-old power lines and land deals.

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