State Ex Rel. O'Neal v. Jennette

Counties are civil and political divisions of the State created and organized for the more convenient administration of government, and are invested with such powers as are essential to the welfare and protection of the public within their boundaries. They are not regarded as municipal corporations in the strict legal sense (although referred to under this title in Article YII of the Constitution), but as instrumentalities of the State; and in the exercise of ordinary governmental functions they are subject practically to the unlimited control of the Legislature, unless restricted by…