the five boroughs

In New York City, a borough is a unique form of government used to administer the five constituent counties that make up the city; it differs significantly from other borough forms of government used in other parts of the Tri-State Region and elsewhere in the United States. New York City is often referred to collectively as The Five Boroughs; this phrase is used to refer to New York City as a whole unambiguously, avoiding confusion with any particular borough or with the greater metropolitan area. It is often used by politicians to counter a focus on Manhattan and to place all five boroughs on an equal standing.
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