An independent city is like a special kind of city that does not belong to any county or state. It can be a city all by itself, meaning it has its own government, laws, and services. It's like a small kingdom, but instead of a king or queen, they have a mayor, who is in charge of running the city.
Unlike other cities that are part of a bigger county or state, independent cities do not have to follow the rules and regulations of the county or state they are located in. They make their own rules and laws, and they have their own taxes, police departments, schools, and even courts sometimes.
So, if you live in an independent city, you may have some different laws and services than someone who lives in a city or town that is part of a county or state. It's like living in your own little world that's separate from everyone else, but still connected to the outside in some ways.