Ward (United States)

Administrative divisions of the United States
First level
State (Commonwealth) Federal district Territory (Commonwealth) Indian reservation (list) / Hawaiian home land / Alaska Native tribal entity / Pueblo / Off-reservation trust land
Second level
County / Parish / Borough Unorganized Borough / Census area / Villages / District (USVI) / District (AS) Consolidated city-county Independent city Municipality Unorganized atoll State-recognized tribes
Third level
Township Cities, towns, and villages Coterminous municipality census-designated place Barrio Chapter
Fourth level
Ward
Other areas
Protected areas (Conservation district, National monument, National park) Congressional district Homeowner association Associated state Military base Federal enclave Unincorporated area Ghost town

In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town for administrative and representative purposes, especially for purposes of an election. Depending upon the state and local laws, the term ward can mean any of:

• an electoral district of a city council or town board, created for the purpose of providing more direct representation, from which a single councilman is elected; or
• a division used in political party leadership elections; or
• an administrative division, as in the wards of Newark, New Jersey or the six wards of Houston.

See also

• Ward (electoral subdivision)