County

In England the county was the primary subdivision of the kingdom. In the sparsely settled Southern colonies it was natural that the county institutions of England should be kept in existence rather than those of the smaller areas. Here, therefore, county government prevailed. In 1634 eight shires were erected in Virginia; called counties in 1639; in 1680 there were twenty. In Maryland the term county first appears in 1638. In South Carolina the original subdivision of the colony was the parish, to which afterward was added the district, Except for the years 1786-1790, the county did not come into existence until 1868. These Southern counties had institutions and officers resembling those of English counties—lieutenants, sheriffs, justices and quarter se ions. In Ma achusetts counties were first incorporated in 1643; but the life of local government was mainly in the towns. In Rhode Island no counties were erected until 1703. In the Middle colonies the county came into existence with the beginnings of English rule or soon after. 191