Local government entities in Illinois, including both general-purpose agencies and special districts, number nearly 9,000, a figure that towers above that of any other state, according to new data from the independent Civic Federation.
The analysis found that among the 8,923 local government units in Illinois, 2,826 are general-purpose entities such as counties, municipalities and townships. Of those, townships make up 1,426, or 50.5 percent, of all general-purpose units.
The Chicago-based Civic Federation examined tallies of Illinois local government units from three sources: the Illinois state controller, U.S. Census Bureau and Illinois Department of Revenue. The sources differ in the total number of local government units, since they define government entities differently, the analysis found.
The goal of the study was to provide a central clearinghouse of data to help interested government officials, private citizens and civic groups to reform and streamline the organization of local governments. Property taxes are the primary source of funding for these government units, according to the Civic Federation.
Estimates on the number of local government units in Illinois ranged from a low of 6,042 by the Department of Revenue to the Civic Federation’s estimate of 8,923. The federation only excluded local agencies when they were found to have been phased out or not properly classified, according to the study.
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Number and Types of Illinois Local Government Units
| Type of Government | Illinois State Comptroller | U.S. Census Bureau | Illinois Department of Revenue | Civil Foundation |
| Counties | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 |
| Townships | 1,427 | 1,429 | 1,429 | 1,426 |
| Municipalities | 1,299 | 1,297 | 1,295 | 1,298 |
| Subtotal General Purpose Governments | 2,828 | 2,828 | 2,826 | 2,826 |
| Airport Authorities | 27 | 30 | 28 | 28 |
| Cemetery Districts | 23 | 60 | 34 | 74 |
| Community College Districts | 43 | 39 | 39 | 39 |
| Conservation Districts | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Drainage Districts | 862 | 891 | 1 | 970 |
| Electric Agencies | 1 | 2 | - | 2 |
| Exposition and Civic Center Auditorium Authorities | 4 | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Fire Protection Districts | 838 | 841 | 844 | 849 |
| Flood Prevention Districts | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Forest Preserve Districts | 11 | 3 | 14 | 14 |
| Home Equity Programs | 3 | 3 | - | 3 |
| Hospital Districts | 19 | 18 | 16 | 19 |
| Housing Authorities | 111 | 110 | - | 111 |
| Joint Action Water Agencies | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Mass Transit Districts | 15 | 23 | 6 | 21 |
| Mosquito Abatement Districts | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
| Multi-Township Tax Assessment Districts | 321 | - | 325 | 334 |
| Museum Districts | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Natural Gas Agencies | 2 | 2 | - | 2 |
| Park Districts | 348 | 358 | 365 | 369 |
| Planning Agencies | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Port Districts | 11 | 14 | - | 14 |
| Public Building Commissions | 9 | 24 | - | 24 |
| Public Health Districts | 5 | - | 6 | 8 |
| Public LIbrary Districts | 370 | 352 | 363 | 389 |
| Public Water Districts | 13 | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Rescue Squad Districts | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| River Conservancy Districts | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 |
| Road and Bridge Districts | 1,391 | - | - | 1,391 |
| Road Districts | 60 | - | 78 | 79 |
| Sanitary Districts | 93 | 106 | 105 | 119 |
| School Districts | 851 | 847 | 852 | 852 |
| Soil and Water Conservation Districts | 97 | 97 | 8 | 97 |
| Solid Waste Agencies | 2 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| Special Recreation Districts | 2 | 17 | - | 18 |
| Street Lighting Districts | 19 | 24 | 24 | 26 |
| Surface Water Districts | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Tuberculosis Sanitarium Districts | - | 4 | - | 4 |
| Water Reclamation Districts | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Water Authorities | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 |
| Water Commissions | 10 | 13 | 1 | 14 |
| Water Service Districts | 59 | 69 | 6 | 68 |
| Subtotal Special Purpose Districts | 5,701 | 4,090 | 3,216 | 6,097 |
| Total Units of Local Government | 8,529 | 6,918 | 6,042 | 8,923 |
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