List of Iowa townships facts for kids
Iowa has special areas called townships. These are like small local communities within each county. In 2000, there were 1,599 townships across the state.
What is a Township?
A township is a specific geographic area in the U.S. state of Iowa. It's set up for local government and administration. The county government in Iowa can divide a county into these townships.
How Townships are Managed
Each township is run by a group of people called a board of trustees. These trustees are usually chosen by voters in an election. Sometimes, if voters agree, the county can appoint the trustees instead. Township trustees also help settle disagreements about things like fences between properties.
What Services Do Townships Provide?
Townships in Iowa can offer many important services to their communities. These include:
- Fire protection
- Emergency medical services (like ambulances)
- Cemeteries
- Community centers
- Playgrounds
- Public halls (if voters approve)
Townships can collect taxes to pay for these services. However, the county government helps them by handling some financial tasks, like issuing bonds. The county also pays the trustees for their work. Because of this, townships in Iowa are seen as parts of the counties, not as separate governments, according to the U.S. Census.
See also
- List of townships in Iowa by county
- List of counties in Iowa
- List of cities in Iowa
