Sylvania
Ohio
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Sylvania Township
History:
The township form of government was brought to America in 1620 by the Pilgrims. There are 88 counties in Ohio and currently over 1,300 townships. The word "Sylvan" means "abounding in woods, groves, or trees" and that is where Sylvania got its name. In February of 1835 Ohio Legislatures ordered the establishment of Sylvania Township within the boundaries of then Wood County, Ohio.
When Sylvania Township was established in 1835 the boundaries included all of what became Sylvania Township, part of what became Springfield Township, almost all of what became Richfield Township, parts of what became Carey Township (Adams Township) and a small portion of what became Spencer Township.
The first settlers to the area were Judge William Wilson and General David White, who together started to purchase large tracts of land with plans to build a town. It was the Ten-Mile Creek and the Ottawa River that brought the first Indians to the area, and it was these same bodies of water that attracted the first white settlers to Sylvania Township. Soon after he settled here General White built a saw mill which helped the new settlers build the first homes, businesses and school.
In September of 1835 Lucas County, Ohio was established by taking a portion of the land that had been part of Wood County. Sylvania Township became part of Lucas County at this time, and on April 4, 1836 the residents of Sylvania Township, Lucas County, Ohio held public elections and their organizational meeting under their new county government.
Over the next twenty years Sylvania Township was reduced in size by the establishment of Springfield Township in 1836, Richfield Township in 1839, Spencer Township in 1845 and finally Carey Township (Adams Township) in 1856. The boundaries of Sylvania Township remained this way until 1867 when the Lucas County Commissioners set apart property within the boundaries of Sylvania Township to establish the Village of Sylvania, which in 1960 became the City of Sylvania. The City of Sylvania is still an incorporated entity within the boundaries of Sylvania Township, and was never officially removed, which is why the residents of the City of Sylvania also vote for the Sylvania Township elected positions, and city property owners pay a tax into the township's general fund.
From 1835 until 1999 Sylvania Township operated entirely by the authority given to them by state laws governing townships. On November 2, 1999, shortly after a new state law was enacted to benefit the larger townships throughout the state, the residents of Sylvania Township voted at a general election. At this election a majority of the residents voted in favor of establishing "Limited Home Rule - Urban Government" as authorized by section 504.01 and 504.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, giving the Sylvania Township Trustees an additional tool to deal with specific problems that arise in larger townships. This new "Home Rule" government went into effect in Sylvania Township on January 1, 2000.
The township form of government was brought to America in 1620 by the Pilgrims. There are 88 counties in Ohio and currently over 1,300 townships. The word "Sylvan" means "abounding in woods, groves, or trees" and that is where Sylvania got its name. In February of 1835 Ohio Legislatures ordered the establishment of Sylvania Township within the boundaries of then Wood County, Ohio.
When Sylvania Township was established in 1835 the boundaries included all of what became Sylvania Township, part of what became Springfield Township, almost all of what became Richfield Township, parts of what became Carey Township (Adams Township) and a small portion of what became Spencer Township.
The first settlers to the area were Judge William Wilson and General David White, who together started to purchase large tracts of land with plans to build a town. It was the Ten-Mile Creek and the Ottawa River that brought the first Indians to the area, and it was these same bodies of water that attracted the first white settlers to Sylvania Township. Soon after he settled here General White built a saw mill which helped the new settlers build the first homes, businesses and school.
In September of 1835 Lucas County, Ohio was established by taking a portion of the land that had been part of Wood County. Sylvania Township became part of Lucas County at this time, and on April 4, 1836 the residents of Sylvania Township, Lucas County, Ohio held public elections and their organizational meeting under their new county government.
Over the next twenty years Sylvania Township was reduced in size by the establishment of Springfield Township in 1836, Richfield Township in 1839, Spencer Township in 1845 and finally Carey Township (Adams Township) in 1856. The boundaries of Sylvania Township remained this way until 1867 when the Lucas County Commissioners set apart property within the boundaries of Sylvania Township to establish the Village of Sylvania, which in 1960 became the City of Sylvania. The City of Sylvania is still an incorporated entity within the boundaries of Sylvania Township, and was never officially removed, which is why the residents of the City of Sylvania also vote for the Sylvania Township elected positions, and city property owners pay a tax into the township's general fund.
From 1835 until 1999 Sylvania Township operated entirely by the authority given to them by state laws governing townships. On November 2, 1999, shortly after a new state law was enacted to benefit the larger townships throughout the state, the residents of Sylvania Township voted at a general election. At this election a majority of the residents voted in favor of establishing "Limited Home Rule - Urban Government" as authorized by section 504.01 and 504.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, giving the Sylvania Township Trustees an additional tool to deal with specific problems that arise in larger townships. This new "Home Rule" government went into effect in Sylvania Township on January 1, 2000.