|
|
Why is a 'county' in Alaska called a 'borough'?
Question
#111050. Asked by author. (Nov 25 09 7:25 PM)
|
serpa
|
The U.S. state of Alaska is not divided into counties, as are 48 other states (Louisiana having parishes instead), but it is divided into boroughs. Many of the more densely populated parts of the state are part of Alaska's eighteen boroughs, which function somewhat similarly to counties in other states. However, unlike county-equivalents in the other 49 states, the boroughs do not cover the entire land area of the state. The area not part of any borough is referred to as the unorganized borough.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_boroughs_and_census_areas_in_Alaska
|
serpa
|
A borough is an administrative division of various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
The word 'borough' derives from a common Indo-European language cognate, meaning fort: compare borough, bury (England), burgh (Scotland), burg (Germany), bourg (France), burgo (Spain), borg (Scandinavia), borgo (Italy), burcht (Dutch). The incidence of these words as suffixes to place names (e.g. Canterbury, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Gothenburg), usually indicates that they were once fortified settlements.
In other places, such as Alaska, a borough does not designate a single township, but a whole region; Alaska's largest borough, the North Slope Borough, is comparable in area to the entire United Kingdom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boroughs
I guess they call it 'borough' because they can.
|
queproblema
|
Cherry-picked from a state educational site:
During the debate at the constitutional convention over what to call regional governments delegate Frank Barr, a Fairbanks bush pilot, said he couldn't stomach the proposal to call them "boroughs." He said he didn't want people to think he was a rabbit because he came from a "burrow."
:D
Barr wanted the municipal governments to be known as counties, like in other parts of the U.S. . He lost that battle, as other delegates said they wanted Alaska to break with the past and avoid the problems identified with county government.
The constitution provides that the entire state be split up into organized and "unorganized" boroughs. The legislature treats the portion of the state not within a borough, about 57% of the state, as a single "unorganized borough." The unorganized borough does not have a local government, but under the constitution the legislature provides necessary services. About 13% of Alaskans live in the unorganized borough.
http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=407
End of quotes.
I live in the unorganized borough. We pay no property taxes, have no mayor or sheriff, but do have a trooper post. No public utilities. Electricity comes from a co-op; no gas, water, or sewer. Fire departments are all volunteer.
|
author
|
A quote from this reference:
"The unorganized status of this vast area is not without controversy. Many Alaskans residing in organized boroughs feel that they unfairly subsidize residents of the unorganized borough, especially for education."
Does this mean that the rest of the population of Alaska envy you?
|
queproblema
|
We're definitely under the purview of the law! We have state troopers and a courtroom.
How civilized we may be is open to debate. ;)
Alaska's urban population may well resent the fact we pay no taxes yet receive state services, but I wouldn't say they envy our lack of, um, civilization.
Yes, education is a source of contention. A high school gym costs the same whether used by 25 students or 3000. But you see how different the cost per student is.
Yesterday the New York Times looked at one school very distant from me that is part of the same unorganized borough.
"A court settlement in the 1970s required the state to build high schools in most villages, prompting an expensive construction boom. But by 1998, with oil revenues no longer soaring, the State Legislature decided that schools with fewer than 10 students would face severe cuts in financing."
Much more here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/us/26alaska.html
|
Find something useful here? Please help us spread the word about FunTrivia. Recommend this page below!
|
Sign up to see all responses!
