Most residents think of New Glarus as one community. In daily life, that is often how it feels.

Legally, however, the Village of New Glarus and the Town of New Glarus are separate local governments, each with its own elected officials, budget, taxing authority and responsibilities.

That arrangement is not unusual in Wisconsin. Across the state, many communities share a divide between a village, city or town government.

But Wisconsin history also includes examples of communities changing those lines. Some towns have become cities. Some villages have merged with other villages. Some towns and villages have consolidated into one local government.