-------- 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 [log in to unmask]