Township government, established in Providence, Rhode Island in 1636, is the oldest existing unit of government on our continent today. It is a local government for the people; an administration close to home.

Centuries ago, land was divided "like a checkerboard" into six-mile squares called townships of which today our nation holds 17,000. Illinois' 1,434 townships continue to serve more than 8 million of the state's residents. Thornton Township, the largest township in the State of Illinois, has approximately 180,000 residents.

Thornton Township is made up of seventeen communities.