County vs. Province — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 11, 2023
A County is a smaller administrative division within a state, while a Province is a primary administrative division of a country.
Difference Between County and Province
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A County, typically found in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, is an administrative region within a state or territory. These divisions have their own local governments and serve various administrative purposes. On the other hand, a Province is a primary territorial and administrative division within certain countries, often having its own government, much like a state in the US.
In terms of governance, a County's powers and responsibilities can vary, but they often handle local concerns such as law enforcement, property records, and road maintenance. Provinces, conversely, often have a broader set of powers, similar to those of states, including jurisdiction over education, healthcare, and transportation.
Size is another differentiating factor. Counties are generally smaller than Provinces. In the context of the US, Counties are subdivisions within states, whereas in Canada, Provinces are subdivisions of the country itself, showing a difference in scale and governance.
Cultural significance can also vary between a County and a Province. Counties might have their own local histories, traditions, and identities, but Provinces, being larger, can encapsulate a wider variety of cultures, histories, and identities.
Lastly, when considering international terminology, it's essential to remember that the definition and roles of Counties and Provinces can differ. For example, while a Province in Canada has a significant degree of autonomy, a Province in some other countries might not hold the same level of self-governance.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A smaller administrative division within a state.
A primary administrative division of a country.
Governance
Handles local concerns such as law enforcement.
Often has broader powers like those of states.
Size
Generally smaller divisions within states.
Larger territorial divisions of countries.
Cultural Significance
Local histories and traditions.
Can encapsulate a wider variety of cultures.
Global Usage
Found in countries like the US and UK.
Definition varies across countries; e.g., Canada vs. China.
Compare with Definitions
County
A County is a territorial division within a state.
She lives in the Orange County of California.
Province
A Province is a territorial division in some countries.
Quebec is a Province in Canada.
County
A County often manages local public services.
The County hospital serves the local community.
Province
Provinces often have their own government and powers.
The Province can set its own taxes.
County
It represents a region with its own local government.
The County council meets every month.
Province
It can refer to an area outside the capital of a country.
He moved from the capital city to a quieter Province.
County
In historical terms, a County could represent regions ruled by counts.
The County was named after its first count.
Province
Historically, a Province was a region of the Roman Empire.
Judea was a Province of ancient Rome.
County
A county is a geographical region of a country used for administrative or other purposes in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French conté or cunté denoting a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count (earl) or a viscount.
Province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman provincia, which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outside Italy.
County
The largest administrative division of most states in the United States.
Province
A principal administrative division of a country or empire
Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province
County
A territorial division exercising administrative, judicial, and political functions in Great Britain and Ireland.
Province
The whole of a country outside the capital, especially when regarded as lacking in sophistication or culture
I made my way home to the dreary provinces by train
County
The territory under the jurisdiction of a count or earl.
Province
An area of special knowledge, interest, or responsibility
She knew little about wine—that had been her father's province
County
The people living in a county.
Province
A territory governed as an administrative or political unit of a country or empire.
County
An administrative region of various countries, including Bhutan, Canada, China, Croatia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and 48 of the 50 United States (excluding Alaska and Louisiana).
Province
(Ecclesiastical) A division of territory under the jurisdiction of a metropolitan.
County
A definitive geographic region, without direct administrative functions.
Traditional county
Province
Provinces Areas of a country situated away from the capital or population center.
County
A jail operated by a county government.
He can't come; he's up in the county for agg assault.
Province
An area of knowledge, activity, or interest
A topic falling within the province of ancient history.
County
(historical) The land ruled by a count or a countess.
Province
The range of one's proper duties and functions; scope.
County
Characteristic of a ‘county family’; representative of the gentry or aristocracy of a county.
Province
(Ecology) An area of land, less extensive than a region, having a characteristic plant and animal population.
County
An earldom; the domain of a count or earl.
Province
Any of various lands outside Italy conquered by the Romans and administered by them as self-contained units.
County
A circuit or particular portion of a state or kingdom, separated from the rest of the territory, for certain purposes in the administration of justice and public affairs; - called also a shire. See Shire.
Every county, every town, every family, was in agitation.
Province
A region of the earth or of a continent; a district or country.
County
A count; an earl or lord.
Province
An administrative subdivision of certain countries, including Canada and China.
County
A region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government;
The county has a population of 12,345 people
Province
(Roman history) An area outside Italy which is administered by a Roman governor.
County
The largest administrative district within a state;
The county plans to build a new road
Province
(Christianity) An area under the jurisdiction of an archbishop, typically comprising a number of adjacent dioceses.
County
A County can be a political or administrative division.
The County government will make that decision.
Province
(Roman Catholicism) An area under the jurisdiction of a provincial within a monastic order.
Province
The parts of a country outside its capital city.
Province
An area of activity, responsibility or knowledge; the proper concern of a particular person or concept.
Province
A country or region, more or less remote from the city of Rome, brought under the Roman government; a conquered country beyond the limits of Italy.
Province
A country or region dependent on a distant authority; a portion of an empire or state, esp. one remote from the capital.
Province
A region of country; a tract; a district.
Over many a tractof heaven they marched, and many a province wide.
Other provinces of the intellectual world.
Province
A region under the supervision or direction of any special person; the district or division of a country, especially an ecclesiastical division, over which one has jurisdiction; as, the province of Canterbury, or that in which the archbishop of Canterbury exercises ecclesiastical authority.
Province
The proper or appropriate business or duty of a person or body; office; charge; jurisdiction; sphere.
The woman'sprovince is to be careful in her economy, and chaste in her affection.
Province
Specif.: Any political division of the Dominion of Canada, having a governor, a local legislature, and representation in the Dominion parliament. Hence, colloquially, The Provinces, the Dominion of Canada.
Province
The territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation;
His state is in the deep south
Province
The proper sphere or extent of your activities;
It was his province to take care of himself
Province
Represents a primary division of a country.
The Province has its own educational system.
Common Curiosities
Is a Province larger than a County?
Generally, yes. A Province is a primary administrative division of a country, often larger than a County.
Which countries primarily use the term "Province"?
Countries like Canada, China, and the Philippines use the term "Province."
What is a County in terms of administration?
A County is a smaller administrative division within a state.
Are all Counties and Provinces the same size globally?
No, their size and significance can vary based on the country's administrative setup.
Can a County have cities within it?
Yes, Counties can encompass multiple cities or towns.
Can both terms be used interchangeably?
No, their usage is determined by the administrative structure of each country.
Which countries use the term "County" prominently?
Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland use the term "County."
Do both Counties and Provinces have their own governments?
Yes, both can have their own local governments, though the powers and responsibilities may differ.
Which is older in terms of historical usage, County or Province?
Both terms have ancient origins, but "Province" dates back to Roman times.
Do Provinces have greater autonomy than Counties?
Generally, yes. Provinces often have a wider set of powers than Counties.
How do the responsibilities of a Province differ from a County?
Provinces often have broader powers, similar to states, while Counties handle more local concerns.
Can a Province be equivalent to a state in some countries?
Yes, in countries like Canada, a Province functions similarly to a state in the US.
Is a County always a political entity?
While often political, a County can also be a geographical or historical region.
Are there historical contexts where the meaning of Province and County differ?
Yes, historically, a Province was a region of the Roman Empire, while a County could represent regions ruled by counts.
How many Counties are there in a typical US state?
The number varies, with states like Delaware having only 3, while Texas has 254.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
