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List of Illinois townships facts for kids

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Map of Illinois highlighting counties without township government
Counties that have no townships.

The state of Illinois has 102 counties. Most of these counties, 84 of them, are divided into smaller areas called townships. Think of townships as local areas or neighborhoods that help manage things. Illinois has 1,428 townships in total. They make up most of the local governments in the state. Each township is officially named "___ Township" or "Town of ____". State law says no two townships should have the same name. However, some townships still share names.

History of Townships

Before Illinois became a state in 1818, and for a while after, counties handled most local government. Towns and villages also existed. For example, Chicago became Illinois's first city in 1837.

In 1848, a new state constitution was created. This new rule allowed people in each county to vote. They could decide if they wanted to divide their county into townships.

Counties Without Townships

Not all counties in Illinois have townships. For example, Cook County has townships everywhere except in the city of Chicago. In 1902, people in Chicago voted to get rid of their eight townships.

There are 17 counties that do not have any township governments at all. These counties are: Alexander, Calhoun, Edwards, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Menard, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Scott, Union, Wabash, and Williamson.

Instead of townships, these counties are divided into precincts. Precincts are different from townships. They do not have their own jobs or services. The county government handles all the work in precincts.

How Townships Are Organized and Named

The rules for how townships work in Illinois are mainly found in the state's Township Code. Each county can choose to start or stop having a township government.

A township's name is usually chosen by the people who live there. If everyone agrees, that name is used. If people don't agree, the officials who divide the county into townships can choose the name. Also, if most voters in a township ask for it, the county board can change the township's name.

Each township has an elected board that runs it. This board includes a "supervisor" and four "trustees." There are special rules for cities or villages that want their own township. They can even have their city council act as the township board. This helps local governments work together.

What Townships Do

Townships are allowed to spend money on many important services for their communities. These services include:

  • Public Safety: This means things like local police, fire protection, and making sure buildings are safe.
  • Environmental Protection: This covers managing sewage, keeping areas clean, and reducing pollution.
  • Public Transportation: Townships can help with bus systems, special transport for those who need it, and maintaining local streets and roads.
  • Health: They can support health services for the community.
  • Recreation: This includes providing fun activities and places like parks.
  • Libraries: Townships can help fund and run local libraries.
  • Social Services: They offer help for people who are struggling or for older residents.
  • Economic Development: Townships work to attract and keep businesses, factories, and tourist spots in their area.

With a special vote from the community, townships can also provide other services. These might include cemeteries, public restrooms (called comfort stations), community buildings, hospitals, monuments, and open spaces. They can also help people with developmental disabilities. Some townships also manage trash and leaf disposal. After a public vote, they can even provide water and sewer services.

Coterminous Townships

Some townships in Illinois are called "coterminous." This means their borders are exactly the same as a city or village. They are also known as "townships within a city." These special townships follow the state's Township Code but have extra benefits. For example, they can combine township and city offices. The city council can also act as the township board. They can even add small parts of nearby townships to their area without much trouble.

There are also "functionally coterminous" townships. This means a city completely surrounds them, but the city might also include parts of other townships. Even so, these townships work like coterminous ones. For instance, in Capital Township, the city of Springfield takes care of the roads, not a separate township road crew. However, these townships cannot easily add land from other townships. They must follow the usual rules for adding new areas.

As of 2013, some examples of coterminous townships included:

Former Townships

Over time, some townships in Illinois have changed or been dissolved. This means they no longer exist as separate townships. Their jobs and areas are usually taken over by a nearby city or other townships.

Here are a few examples of townships that no longer exist:

  • Belleville Township, St. Clair County: This township was dissolved in May 2017. The city of Belleville took over its duties.
  • Evanston Township, Cook County: This township was first called Ridgeville Township in 1850. It was renamed Evanston Township in 1857. It was dissolved in May 2017, and the city of Evanston took over its work.
  • Hyde Park Township, Cook County: Created in 1861, it became part of Chicago in 1889.
  • Jefferson Township, Cook County: Created in 1850, it also became part of Chicago in 1889.
  • Lake Township, Cook County: Created in 1850, it was annexed by Chicago in 1889.
  • Lake View Township, Cook County: Formed in 1857, it was annexed by Chicago in 1889.
  • Milam Township, Macon County: This township merged with Mount Zion Township in 2009.
  • Three townships within Chicago (North Chicago, South Chicago, and West Chicago) were created in the 1840s and abolished in 1902.
  • Salisbury Township, Sangamon County: In 1989, this township was dissolved. Its land was added to Fancy Creek and Gardner townships.
  • West Peoria Township, Peoria County: This township was dissolved in May 2021. The City of West Peoria took over its responsibilities.

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