AMALGAMATION (POLITICS)

Joining two political units, such as municipalities, counties, or cities into one entity is referred to as 'Amalgamation' when the process occurs within a sovereign entity. In United States politics, such an entity may be called a consolidated city-county. A common cause is unbalanced growth or outward expansion of either one has necessitated an administrative decision to merge the two; in some cases, common perception of continuity may be a factor in prompting such a process. Some cities (see below) that have gone though amalgamation or a similar process feature several administrative sub-divisions or jurisdictions, each with a separate person in charge.
Annexation is similar to amalgamation, but differs mainly in that the units joined are sovereign entities before the process, as opposed to being units of a single political entity.
The term amalgamation is extended to describe the combination of distinct administrative regions into one within works of fiction, often evidenced by the sight of several landmarks not found within the city the work is nominally set in. This is usually seen in films shot in several cities, generally with the purpose of not locating the fictional city in which the action takes place as an existing location.

Contents

Notable Amalgamations

See also

Notable Amalgamations

Over the years political parties have taken aim at cities as part of a larger political agenda. Often the abolishment of a level of government results in the growth of another level - negating the original purpose of the merger. Some of the more polically charged transformations of city governments has been led by conservative parties, as to target the usually more liberal voting urban regions.
Some of the more notable amalgamations are noted below:
Within Canada:

★ Metro Toronto - Eliminated by the Mike Harris part of the entitled 'Common Sense Revolution', to create the new city of Toronto.

★ City of Ottawa - In 2001, the municipalities of Cumberland, Osgoode, Rideau, Goulbourn, West Carleton, Nepean, Kanata, Gloucester, Vanier and Rockcliffe Park became part of Ottawa.

See also

★ City of Greater New York

★ Combined Statistical Area

★ Conurbation

★ Ecumenopolis

★ Ekistics

★ Double placenames

★ Independent city, the opposite of a consolidated city-county

★ City-State

★ Megalopolis (term)

★ Megacity

★ Metropolitan area

★ Metroplex

★ Metropolis