In United Stateslocal government, a consolidated city-county is a city and county that have a merged government, and is considered both a city and a county under the laws of the State. This is not to be confused with an independent city, which is a city that does not belong to any county in the state. This arrangement in the U.S. is frequently referred to as a metropolitan government or a metropolitan county.
Wyandotte County, Kansas uses the term "unified government" to refer to its consolidation where a few city governments have been merged with the county government while other cities and towns retain a traditional relationship with the county.
Nashville, Tennessee and Davidson County, Tennessee--Not completely consolidated; six communities within Davidson County retain separate governments, although all participate in the metropolitan government in a two-tier system.
New York County, New York (Manhattan) (Note that New York County was for many years coextensive with New York City. When the five-borough "Greater New York" was created in 1898, New York County became coextensive with the two boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx, while the other three boroughs became separate counties within the city. In 1916, Bronx County was separated from New York County, which from that point on coincided with the borough of Manhattan, reverting to its territorial extent before the annexation of portions of what had been Westchester County in the 1890's.)
Many cities around the United States are considering merging their governments with the county that comprises them. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York are among these cities.
Formerly consolidated governments
Boston and Suffolk County, Massachusetts--the city government of Boston held county authority until the Suffolk County government was abolished in 1999. Note that there were (and still are) three communities in Suffolk County outside Boston.
