The U.S. Census Bureau is known for counting people. But on Thursday, it also released a census of all the local governments in America.
It found that in 2017, Utah had 619 local governments — from counties to cities, school districts, water districts, cemetery districts and more. Of course, all of them collect taxes and/or fees.
Back in 1942 — more than 75 years earlier — Utah had a mere 303 such local governments.
For the record, here is what the latest census of local governments found for Utah:
• 29 counties. Salt Lake County is the largest with 1.15 million people; Daggett is the smallest with 980.
• 250 cities and towns, ranging in population from 194,000 in Salt Lake City to 15 in Scofield, Carbon County.
• 41 school districts.
• 98 water and/or sewer districts.
• 45 cemetery districts.
• 41 soil and water conservation districts.
• 21 drainage and flood control districts.
• 19 housing and community development districts.
• 18 health districts.
• 12 fire protection districts.
• 10 parks and recreation districts.
• Four highway districts.
• 31 other districts.
