Counties as Local Governments: Research Issues and Questions

:Counties are assuming more important responsibilities as urban governments and they are increasingly becoming objects of study for urban researchers. This article argues that some recent studies have not recognized that counties are different from cities as research units. Theories and research methods applied to cities often need modification before they can be transferred to the study of counties. This article offers several observations on researching counties, taking into account their relationship to state government and their unique roles as localities.