Name For
Class of City
1st Class
2nd Class
2nd Class A
3rd Class
Population
1million or more
250,000-999,999
80,000-249,999
Under 79,999
Example
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Scranton
State College
Number in
Pennsylvania
1
1
1
56
W
HAT
C
LASS IS THE
C
ITY IN
?
114
Understanding Pennsylvania
Local Governments – Cities,
Boroughs, and Townships
In Pennsylvania, communities are politically
organized into cities, boroughs, or townships. The
political designation of your community is dependent
upon its population. In every case except the city of
Philadelphia, townships, boroughs, and cities are
located in a county. Philadelphia is different because it
is a county and a city.
All areas of our state are in townships unless
they are in cities or boroughs. Small towns are called
boroughs. Small villages are part of townships. Any
borough can become a city when its population
reaches 10,000 people.
There are four classes of cities, depending upon
the population. Notice in the chart above that
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton are the only
cities in their respective class. However, our state
has approximately 56 3rd class cities. Based upon
their larger population, Allentown, Erie, and Reading
could change their status. In order tomove to a
different class of city, votersmust choose to do so.
However, the voters of these cities have decided to
keep their 3rd class status.
Most places with a population under 10,000
people are called boroughs, with the one
exception of the Town of Bloomsburg.
There are 961 boroughs in Pennsylvania.
Twomain differences between boroughs and cities
are that boroughs have smaller populations than
cities and they cover smaller geographic areas.
Most cities and boroughs in Pennsylvania have
one of two kinds of local government. In one of
these kinds of government, the people of a borough
or city normally elect sevenmembers to the town
council
for four years. The council becomes a group
of people whomake the laws for the city or borough.
Generally, the town council is led by the
mayor
.
Inmost cases, themayor is elected by the voters of
the community for a four-year termof office.
Sometimes, however, themayor can be chosen by
themembers of the town council. Themayor makes
sure that the laws passed by the council are carried
out. The chart to the left summarizes the functions
of amayor.
Duties of Mayors
• administer day to day government activities
• preside over town council meetings
(can vote to break tie vote)
• prepare budget for council
• appoint fire and police chiefs
• sign or veto
ordinances
and regulations
• supervise orders of town council
The city of Philadelphia spans
the entire county of Philadelphia,
and is the county seat.
