The growth of local government in the United States from 1820 to 1870

As the United States became more urbanized in the nineteenth century, local -government expenditures increased as local governments expanded their serv ices in response to their growing populations. Expenditures at all levels o f government increased substantially in the nineteenth century but local go vernments grew more than either the states or the federal government. Total local-government expenditures increased along with the growing urban popul ation, but expenditures per urban resident also increased substantially The major expansion in local-government expenditures began in the 1830s. This study examines the period of transition to local-government growth from 182 0 to 1870.(1)