The earliest responsibilities of counties included the maintenance of the local judicial system and the local prison. Because prisons were often associated with debtors, counties in a backdoor fashion acquired some responsibilities for human services, and traditionally cared for the poor and the disadvantaged.With the advent of the 20th century, the role of county government came to be defined as it is known today. County government now had both state and local dimensions. Its primary responsibilities, traditional in nature, are as an agent of the state for purposes of administration of justice, maintenance of legal records, the conduct of elections and administration of human services programs. Counties have also been granted powers more commonly considered local, rather than state, in character. Some of these powers include zoning, parks and recreation, emergency management and solid waste management.Since the early 1960's, however, county government has experienced explosive growth, especially in the human services programs and criminal justice areas. Counties have grown into the role of primary provided of state and federal social programs. Counties have outgrown their former "caretaker" status and evolved into active providers of services for their inhabitants.