The 15 counties in Arizona are basic subdivisions of the state, with elected officials providing local accountability of state mandated functions. The basic principles of these municipal governments are found in Article 12 of the Arizona Constitution.
Current laws regarding Arizona counties are available from Title 11 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. More and more, counties are providing needed municipal-type services and addressing problems common to their geographic area.
For an excellent introduction to understanding local government in Arizona, Arizona Local Government located in Government Documents, is highly recommended.
For frequently requested data items from various Census Bureau programs for Arizona Counties, view Census Quick Facts.
For a detailed overall look at local governments in the United States, please refer to the Census of Governments.