Township Bio

History of U.S. Township Government

Township government has a long and rich history in America. The Township form of government was created by the earliest American settlers during the mid-1600's in response to autocratic, centralized governments from which many had fled. Seeking greater freedom and participation in government, residents developed new towns with a simple form of local government, which gave each resident a voice in decisions affecting the community.

An important part of this local government consisted of town meetings, where every citizen had the right of free discussion on every public issue. They elected their own officials, called "selectmen" to ensure that the decisions made at the town meeting were carried out. This early form of Township government played a significant role in the development of democracy in America.

In 1787, the United States Congress established the Northwest Territory. Many of the early pioneers to this region were from the northeastern states where Township government was the most popular governmental unit. These early settlers brought not only energy and spirit to the growing towns and cities of the Midwest but also enthusiasm for the township form of local government.

History of Township Government in Illinois

In Illinois, townships were established as units of state government under the 2nd Illinois Constitution of 1848. Up to this point, a County Commission form of local government prevailed. Under this form, the county unit was the governing body, with commissioners responsible for the administrative and legislative affairs of towns and villages within a county.

In 1849, voters within Illinois counties were given the right to adopt the township form of local government. With the option of choosing a township type of government, voters had the opportunity to elect officials from their local communities who would be directly responsible for conducting business necessary to maintain their communities.

Over the next several decades, the response to adopting township government exploded and today, 85 of Illinois 102 counties operate under a township form of local government, with 1,433 townships serving more than 8 million people.

History of Waukegan Township

Waukegan, first visited by Pere Marquette in 1673, is one of the oldest communities in Illinois. The township started as a French trading post and Potawatomi Indian settlement known as "Little Fort". Records dating back to 1829 tell of a treaty signed by the Potawatomi's in which they ceded all of their land in this area to the Federal Government. Waukegan Township was one of the first townships in the State of Illinois incorporating in 1849.

Little Fort became the County Seat of Government in 1841 by virtue of its population. Between 1844 and 1846, the town's population grew from 150 to 750 people. In 1849 when the township was incorporated, the population had risen to 2,500.

Proud of the growth of their community and no longer wanting to be characterized as "little", on March 31, 1849 the residents of Little Fort changed the name of their town to Waukegan, the Potawatomi word for "fort" or "trading post".

Early settlers were initially attracted to Waukegan as a port city and shipped produce and grain from Lake and McHenry County farms to Chicago. The creation of the Illinois Parallel Railroad (now the Chicago & Northwestern) in 1855 stimulated interest in Waukegan as a manufacturing center. The township continued to grow and diversify.

Currently, Waukegan Township encompasses parts of 4 cities including; Waukegan, Beach Park, Park City and North Chicago. It boarders up to the south end of Edgewood Road, up to 38000 address in Beach Park. West up to Teske Boulevard in Park City, South up to the North end of 18th Street in North Chicago

The Township Board, comprised of four Trustees and the Supervisor, is the policy-making body of Waukegan Township. In addition, the township board consists of the Township Assessor, Highway Commissioner and the Township Clerk.

Waukegan Township has grown over the years since its inception in 1849 and currently serves a population of over 100,000. In addition to continuing to provide financial relief to needy area residents, Waukegan Township funds and administers many programs for area seniors, transitional facilities for men and women with children, scholarships for our youth and many many more.