List of townships in Missouri facts for kids

The U.S. state of Missouri is divided into 1,378 townships in 114 counties. Think of a township as a local neighborhood or community area within a county. These townships help organize local government and services for people living there.

What is a Township?

A township is a type of local government area. It's a small part of a larger county. Townships help manage local things like roads and other services for the people who live in them. They are usually found in more rural areas, outside of big cities or towns.

Why Does Missouri Have Townships?

Townships in Missouri have a long history. They were created to help organize land and provide local services, especially in areas that weren't part of a city or town. Having townships allows people in smaller communities to have more control over their local needs. This way, decisions about things like roads or community projects can be made closer to the people they affect.

What Do Townships Do?

Townships in Missouri often focus on a few key services for their residents. These can include:

• Maintaining local roads: Many townships are responsible for keeping smaller roads in good condition.
• Providing fire protection: Some townships have their own fire departments or work with nearby fire districts.
• Managing cemeteries: Townships often oversee local cemeteries.
• Local planning: They might help with planning for future growth or development in their area.
• Collecting taxes: Townships collect a small amount of taxes to pay for these local services.

Townships, Counties, and Cities: What's the Difference?

It can be a bit confusing to understand the different parts of government. Here's a simple way to think about it:

• A county is a large area, like a big region within the state. Missouri has 114 counties.
• A city or village is a specific place where many people live close together. Cities and villages have their own governments that handle things like police, water, and parks.
• A township is a smaller part of a county that is not inside a city or village. It helps organize the areas that are more spread out or rural.

So, if you live in Missouri, you live in a county. You might also live in a city or village, or you might live in a township within that county.

Missouri's Many Townships

Missouri has a lot of townships! There are 1,378 of them. Each one has a unique name and covers a specific area. For example, some townships are named after people, like Jackson Township, while others are named after natural features, like Salt River Township.

Here are just a few examples of townships in Missouri:

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Municipios de Misuri para niños

• List of cities in Missouri
• List of villages in Missouri
• List of counties in Missouri