-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Townships as "non-local" entities
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:06:41 -0500
From: Weessies, Kathleen <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
In LCRI 23.2 under section 5 townships are categorized as a non-local
jurisdiction. I found this a strange designation. In Michigan the
1200-odd township-level governments along with City and County
governments are generally referred to as "local governments".
Tim Watters of Library of Michigan investigated and found:
.. Here's my guess about why townships are called non-local
jurisdictions (from a Citizens Research Council Report): "Townships were
organized without resident input, as geographical entities created by a
congressional survey under the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Cities are creatures of citizen
involvement, creating new units of government to meet their needs for
higher levels of services ... In summary, the powers and limitations of
a home rule city are defined in a city charter framed and approved by a
vote of the city's electors. Conversely, the powers and limitations of
the township are specifically defined in numerous state statutes, which
impose a number of restrictions on the power of townships to perform
services." So maybe the townships are "nonlocal" because the locals
didn't create them?
************************************
LCRI text:
5. U.S. Townships. For U.S. townships (called "towns" in some states)
that encompass one or more local communities and the surrounding
territory, do not include the term "township" or "town" as part of the
name. Instead, add the term after the name of the state.
Examples <http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/LCRI1127.htm>
These non-local jurisdictions are called "townships" in Arkansas,
California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and South Dakota; they are called "towns" in Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont,
and Wisconsin. If there is more than one township with the same name in
the same state, apply LCRI 23.4F1
<http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/LCRI0314.htm> .
Note: For the period 1980-1990, the term "Township" or "Town" was added
only if the name conflicted. Change existing headings for U.S. townships
lacking the term "Township" or "Town" when the headings are needed for
post-1990 cataloging.
Kathleen Weessies
Geography/Maps/Geology Librarian
Michigan State University
100 Library W308
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517)432-6123 x250
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