Final answer:
County governments were designed to meet the needs of a rural population, serving as administrative units under state constitutions, with various forms of governance. They have adapted over time to serve diverse populations due to urbanization and demographic changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
County governments were primarily designed to meet the needs of and provide services to a rural population. Historically, county government structures emerged in areas with small, dispersed settlements, where the low population density discouraged the growth of more centralized urban administrations.
As administrative units of the state, counties serve a larger geographic area than cities and towns, but smaller than states, typically operating under provisions set out in state constitutions. There are several forms of county government structures, including the commission system, the council-administrator system, and the council-elected executive system.
Despite the historical rural orientation of counties, American demographic trends indicate an increase in urbanization and a growing suburban population. However, the core functions of county governance initially addressed the challenges of rural life, adapting over time to serve increasingly diverse populations with different urban and suburban needs.