Urban town

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An urban town is a proposed classification for towns in the state of Wisconsin, similar to the urban townships of Minnesota and Ohio. The concept, originally proposed in 2001, as AB501[1], limited the classification to towns with over 7,500 people. The proposal has gained support from such organizations as the Wisconsin Towns Association[2]. The impetus that originally spawned the concept of urban towns was an effort to stem annexation of urbanized areas in unincorporated territory by cities and villages across county lines. Obtaining "urban town" status effectively freezes the town's boundaries. While urban towns would have substantially greater zoning and regulatory rights than "rural towns", the status would not confer "incorporated" status on the municipality, freeing them from several responsibilities incumbent upon incorporated municipal governments, thus distinguishing them from the incorporated towns of Illinois.