Atlanta, that was impressive.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=X_JxpTuG85M&si=whlqK5zZ3cbVpaiE
Longtime readers know I have an odd aversion to gasoline pump handles, thinking they are covered in more germs than other things we touch. It’s a small reason why I continue to buy electric cars. Well, while reading one of my daily comics, Ripley’s Believe It or Not backs up my claim.
Another of my daily comics made me laugh.
I’ll give RFK some credit; more food manufacturers are removing artificial food dyes. I don’t think this would be happening if he weren’t serving as the current Secretary of Health and Human Services. But I still think he’s a dangerous nut we have in leadership.
It was surprising to read yesterday that The Daily Show has recorded its highest quarterly ratings in a decade. Considering the current quarter doesn’t include the drama of the 2024 election season, and it’s after Donald Trump’s second inauguration, people are still tuning in. I’ve been a loyal viewer since Stewart’s return and am glad I’ve given the other show hosts a chance. His most recent guest was Kyla Scanlon, a young (28) up-and-coming economist promoting her first book, In This Economy? How Money & Markets Really Work. You don’t see many economists sporting large, visible tattoos. But I’m sure a lot of people will automatically not take her seriously, being so young, pretty, and being a triple major (financial management, economics, and business data analytics) out of Western Kentucky University. However, she has a gift for making complex things easier to understand.
LiberallyLean linked to a tweet from a Wise County judge sharing he was elected to be President of the National Association of Counties, representing 3,069 counties across America.
You know the way my mind works. Now I need to know how many total counties there are in the 50 states. So, I turned to Google’s Gemini, and here’s what it said.
You’re right to ask for a breakdown! While “county” is the most common term, several states have unique variations for their primary administrative divisions.
Here’s a breakdown of the 3,144 counties and county equivalents within the 50 states of the United States :
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- Counties: This is the overwhelming majority, used in 48 of the 50 states. There are approximately 3,007 entities officially called “counties.”
- Parishes: Louisiana is unique, dividing its territory into 64 parishes instead of counties. These function similarly to counties.
- Boroughs/Census Areas: Alaska has a distinct system:
- 19 Organized Boroughs: These are similar to counties with their own local government.
- 11 Census Areas: These areas collectively make up the “Unorganized Borough” and lack local government, with services provided by the state. They are delineated for statistical purposes by the state and the Census Bureau.
- Independent Cities: In a few states, certain cities are independent of any county and are considered primary administrative divisions themselves. The most notable examples are:
- Virginia: Virginia has 38 independent cities that are not part of any county.
- Maryland: Baltimore City is an independent city.
- Missouri: St. Louis City is an independent city.
- Nevada: Carson City is an independent city.
In summary, the 3,144 figure for the 50 states is comprised of:
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- Counties (the vast majority)
- Parishes (in Louisiana)
- Organized Boroughs and Census Areas (in Alaska)
- Independent Cities (primarily in Virginia, with a few others)
It’s important to note that the U.S. Census Bureau is the primary source for these classifications, as they define “county equivalents” for statistical purposes. This total does not include county equivalents in U.S. territories (like Puerto Rico or Guam), which would add another 100 or so to the overall U.S. total.
I remember BBC News journalist Gary O’Donoghue from his reporting at Butler, Pennsylvania, during the attempted Trump assassination. In particular, his interview with an eyewitness who did his best to warn the police about the shooter. The report stood out for many reasons, but I remember being impressed by how the BBC was doing a better job with a blind reporter than American broadcasts. Well, he had a bad Monday.
He was scheduled to interview President Trump by phone. It was the first time a sitting U.S. president had granted an exclusive interview to BBC News since Barack Obama spoke in 2015. O’Donoghue said he was asleep when he received a call from the White House. He fumbled his phone when answering and accidentally hung up on the president. Thankfully, the White House called back.