Borough (Pennsylvania)

In the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough (sometimes spelled boro) is a self-governing municipal entity, equivalent to a town in most jurisdictions,[1] usually smaller than a city, but with a similar population density in its residential areas.

All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships.

[1] Boroughs tend to have more developed business districts and concentrations of public and commercial office buildings, including courthouses.

Boroughs are larger, less spacious, and more developed than the relatively rural townships, which often have the greater territory and even surround boroughs of a related or even the same name.

[2] Many home rule municipalities remain classified as boroughs or townships for certain purposes, even if the state's borough and township codes no longer apply to them.