List of counties in New York

There are 62 counties in the U.S. state of New York.

The first 12 counties were created in 1683 soon after the British took over the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam; two of these counties were later abolished, their land going to Massachusetts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These counties were carried over after independence in 1783, but most of the counties were created by the state in the 19th century. The newest county is the Bronx, created in 1914 from the portions of New York County that had been annexed from Westchester County in the late 19th century.<ref name="form">Template:Cite web</ref> New York's counties are named for various Native American words; British provinces, counties, cities, and royalty; early American statesmen and military personnel; and New York State politicians.<ref name="etym">Template:Cite book</ref>

Authority

Excepting the five boroughs of New York City, New York counties are governed by New York County Law and have governments run by either a Board of Supervisors or a County Legislature, and either an elected County Executive or appointed county manager. Counties without charters are run by a Board of Supervisors, in which Town Supervisors from towns within the county also sit on the county Board of Supervisors. For counties with a charter, the executives generally have powers to veto acts of the county legislature. The legislatures have powers of setting policies, levying taxes and distributing funds.

Throughout the state, including NYC, the court system and public prosecution is primarily a matter of state law but is generally organized along county lines, chosen by county voters.

Five boroughs of New York City

Five of New York's counties are each coextensive with New York City's five boroughs. They are New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Bronx County (The Bronx), Richmond County (Staten Island), and Queens County (Queens). They are the smallest counties in New York by area.

In contrast to other counties of New York, the powers of the five boroughs of New York City are very limited and in nearly all respects are governed by the city government.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Some officials are elected on a borough-wide basis, the five borough presidents deal with Borough matters, while the district attorneys, and all county and state supreme court judges are generally concerned with the administration of state criminal and civil law and local ordinances in the county. There are no official county seats, but the locations of borough halls and courthouses bestow certain neighborhoods an informal designation as county seats within their boroughs:

• The Bronx County Courthouse and the borough's main post office are located in the Concourse section of the Bronx. The separate Bronx Borough Hall burned down in 1969.
• Brooklyn Borough Hall, the Federal Building and Post Office, and county Supreme Court are in Downtown Brooklyn.
• The Municipal Building, where the Manhattan Borough President's office is located, and most courthouses are in the downtown Civic Center. The General Post Office is in Midtown Manhattan.
• Queens Borough Hall and a courthouse are in Kew Gardens. Another major courthouse, post office, and the Long Island Railroad hub are in Jamaica. Queens also has general post offices in Flushing, Long Island City and Far Rockaway.
• Staten Island Borough Hall, three courthouses, and the St. George Terminal transportation hub are in the St. George neighborhood.

List of counties

County	FIPS Code <ref name="epa">Template:Cite web</ref>	County seat <ref name="NACO">Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Abbr <ref name=NACO/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Formed from<ref name=form/>	Named for<ref name=etym/>	Density (Pop./mi2)	Template:Abbr (2024) <ref name="VITAL">Template:Cite web</ref>	Area <ref name=NACO/>	Map

Defunct counties

County	Created <ref name=form/>	Abolished <ref name=form/>	Fate<ref name=form/>
Charlotte County	1772	1784	Partitioned. Western part renamed as Washington County and eastern part transferred to Vermont.
Cornwall County	1665	1686	Transferred to the part of Massachusetts that later became the state of Maine and partitioned; one of the 12 original counties created in the New York colony
Cumberland County	1766	1777	Transferred to Vermont and partitioned
Dukes County	November 1, 1683	1692	Transferred to Massachusetts; one of 12 original counties created in the New York colony
Gloucester County	1770	1777	Transferred to Vermont and partitioned
Mexico County	1792	1796	Never settled or incorporated, reallocated to Oneida, Oswego and Jefferson Counties.
Tryon County	1772	1784	Renamed as Montgomery County

Proposed new counties

County	Note
Adirondack County	Would hypothetically consist of portions of northern Essex County and southern Franklin County<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Peconic County	Would hypothetically consist of the five easternmost towns in Suffolk County on Long Island.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• List of United States counties and county equivalents
• List of former United States counties
• New York State City/County Management Association

Further reading

• Template:Cite web

External links

• "Counties" at NY.gov