Paper township
Encyclopedia
A paper township is a type of civil township
under Ohio
law that does not act as a functioning unit of civil government. Such townships usually exist due to annexation by cities and village
s.
and village
s, the township government ceases to function. Rumps of townships can be left to function in the event a city
or village
does not completely envelop the township, such as the relationship between Ashtabula County's
Ashtabula Township
and Ashtabula City
.
Sometimes an entire township has been incorporated under a different name, such as Van Buren Township in Montgomery County
, which became the City of Kettering
in 1955. Probably the best known of these paper townships is Mill Creek Township
, which was in south-central Hamilton County
and was absorbed by the City of Cincinnati
in the nineteenth century.
Some townships exist nominally in rump form but have no government. For example, in about 1980, Wayne Township in Montgomery County was re-incorporated as the city of Huber Heights
. However, a small portion of Wayne Township — east of State Route 4 and south of State Route 235 — was part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
and could not be incorporated into the city of Huber Heights. Thus, that portion of Wayne Township, which is part of the Air Force Base, still nominally exists, but it has no local government.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
under Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
law that does not act as a functioning unit of civil government. Such townships usually exist due to annexation by cities and village
Village (United States)
In the United States, the meaning of "village" varies by geographic area and legal jurisdiction. In many areas, "village" is a term, sometimes informal, for a type of administrative division at the local government level...
s.
Defunct townships
Cities and villages in Ohio, which all sprang from townships, are allowed to continue to exist above townships. Once the territory of a township is completely enveloped by citiesCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s, the township government ceases to function. Rumps of townships can be left to function in the event a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
or village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
does not completely envelop the township, such as the relationship between Ashtabula County's
Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County is the northeasternmost county in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 101,497, its county seat is Jefferson. The county is named for a Native American word meaning "river of many fish"....
Ashtabula Township
Ashtabula Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula Township is one of the twenty-seven townships of Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 23,239 people in the township, 6,371 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
and Ashtabula City
Ashtabula, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,962 people, 8,435 households, and 5,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,775.9 people per square mile . There were 9,151 housing units at an average density of 1,211.8 per square mile...
.
Sometimes an entire township has been incorporated under a different name, such as Van Buren Township in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Ohio
Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 535,153 in the 2010 Census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. The county seat is Dayton...
, which became the City of Kettering
Kettering, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,502 people, 25,657 households, and 15,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,077.4 people per square mile . There were 26,936 housing units at an average density of 1,441.6 per square mile...
in 1955. Probably the best known of these paper townships is Mill Creek Township
Mill Creek Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Mill Creek Township is a former township of south central Hamilton County, Ohio that was largely absorbed in the late Nineteenth century by the annexation of suburban villages and outlying settlements by the City of Cincinnati. It extended north from the Ohio River along both banks of the Mill...
, which was in south-central Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
and was absorbed by the City of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in the nineteenth century.
Some townships exist nominally in rump form but have no government. For example, in about 1980, Wayne Township in Montgomery County was re-incorporated as the city of Huber Heights
Huber Heights, Ohio
Huber Heights is a city in Montgomery, Miami, and Greene Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. Huber Heights's motto is "America's largest community of brick homes." The city is named for Charles Huber, the developer who constructed a number of the houses that would later comprise the city. Suburban...
. However, a small portion of Wayne Township — east of State Route 4 and south of State Route 235 — was part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
and could not be incorporated into the city of Huber Heights. Thus, that portion of Wayne Township, which is part of the Air Force Base, still nominally exists, but it has no local government.