Difference between Town and Village?

Question

I live in a "village", but why isn't it a town? I mean...what are the classifications of a town vs. those of a village?

Answer 1

Once not so long ago, a village was a temporary settlement with little permanence. The American Indians were villagers...the gypsies were villagers..the term 'village' implied inhabited by / for convenience.

that's no longer the case ,...of coarse. Modern amity's have completely altered the meaning, and purpose, of a village...

Its still 'romantic' tho,...to 'live in a village', don't ya think?

Answer 2

It probably has more to do with the usage in the language in your area. In the USA, village most often refers to a small area within a well-developed area that consists of the first buildings at the time of establishment, i.e. "old town." Or it could refer to a neighborhood that is known for a certain common character, such as a group of artists or craftpersons, etc.. an architectural style or something environmental such as being next to a river. Sometimes it is just a quaint, artsy-fartsy term used as an attempt to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse, real-estate wise. Often the term is stretched and is used in the name of an apartment complex or some other development for the purpose of making the name more grandiose.

Town is a relative term people use to designate a more-highly-developed area when compared to the surrounding area. For example it could mean a few buildings in a country area or a concentration of commercial buildings in a built-up city. So, to "go to town" means to go where there are more building than where you are now.

Typically neither of these terms imply the status of a city, which, being a legal governmental entity, finances and furnishes services such as water, sewer, police, fire protection and so forth. If an area is not a city, these default to the county (or similar legal entity of another name, such as parrish) or special districts formed under law for specific purposes, which may overlap city and county lines. Volunteer or non-profit organizations may operate in towns or villages, but they are not government.

All of this is not to say that you cannot incorporate a city with the words town or village in the name, but there's no legal meaning to it.

Answer 3

A village is historically smaller than a town.
The definitions that designate each have changed over time, although villages are generally considered areas with little if any industry whereas a town may have some industry.
Here in Ohio, a village was considered as a population area of 2,500 people or less. A town would go from 2,500 to 50,000, at which time it was deemed to be a city.
Thje exact numbwers used would vary from state to state.

Answer 4

I've been to places in the US that had fewer than 1000 people living there and it still wasn't called a village.

I think village is more often a term used for foreign places. Americans generally don't use the term village for some reason.

They're all towns in America.

Answer 5

a town is above 5000 and a village is below 5000 in population

Answer 6

counties are usually broken up into townships in my county there are 16 townships i am pretty sure a "town" is more like an area and a village is the actual group of buildings/houses
example there is a New Glarus township and within that area is a village named new glarus and also a village of monticello in new glarus township

Answer 7

i don't know. but i thing the village people are from a town.

Answer 8

A town will have set rules (laws) and council men (mayor,superintendent, etc.) for its population. A village will not have this, usually anything goes.

Answer 9

towns don't have idiots there