California county studies secession

San Bernardino County is putting together a committee to analyze its funding compared to other counties—the next step in its study of possibly seceding from California. In November, voters of the United States’ largest county approved a ballot proposal that directed local officials to study the possibility of secession. The proposal would have to be approved by the California legislature and Congress for the county to secede, which many say is unlikely to happen. Kristin Washington, chair of the San Bernardino County Democratic Party, dismissed the vote as a political stunt. County leaders say most tax dollars are spent in cities—like San Francisco and Los Angeles—while more rural counties are ignored.

Have other counties tried to secede? Throughout its 172-year history, California has weathered more than 220 failed attempts to dismantle the state into as many as six smaller states, according to the California State Library. San Bernardino County has more than 2 million residents and is larger than the country of Switzerland, according to the county website. 

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in Compassion on a rural housing crisis across the United States.