Legal Definitions - cherry-stem annexation

Definition: Cherry-stem annexation is the process of incorporating a piece of land into a municipality that is not directly connected to it, but is connected by a narrow strip of land that looks like a stem, with the annexed area resembling a cherry.

Examples: An example of cherry-stem annexation would be if a city wanted to incorporate a nearby town, but there was a piece of land in between that was not part of either municipality. The city could annex that piece of land, creating a narrow strip connecting the two areas, and then annex the town. Another example would be if a city wanted to expand its borders to include a park or natural area that was not directly adjacent to the city, but was connected by a narrow strip of land.

Explanation: Cherry-stem annexation is a way for municipalities to expand their borders and incorporate nearby areas that may not be directly connected. The narrow strip of land that connects the annexed area to the municipality is often referred to as the "stem," while the annexed area itself is referred to as the "cherry." This type of annexation can be useful for cities that want to expand their boundaries without having to go through the process of annexing all of the land in between.