Township (Pennsylvania)

Township
A map showing the location of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, shaded in red, in the contiguous United States of America, shaded in vanilla. The Commonwealth realm of Canada, shaded in silver, is shown to the north, and the United Mexican States, also shaded in silver, is shown to the south. The State of Alaska and the State of Hawaii are shown at the bottom left-hand corner, in their own boxes.
Category Second-level administrative division
Location Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of three types of municipalities in the state, along with cities and boroughs. There are two types of townships: first class and second class, each operating under its own laws.[1][2][3]

History

See also: Civil township

Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and typically vary in size from 6 to 40 square miles (16–104 km2). There are two classifications of townships, first class and second class. To become a first class township, townships of the second class must have a population density of 300 inhabitants per square mile (120/km2) and voters must approve the change of classification in a referendum. However, many townships have chosen to remain second class townships even though they meet the population density requirements to become first class townships.[1]

Any township, regardless of its class, may adopt a home rule charter, at which point it is no longer governed by the Pennsylvania Township Code.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Townships". Citizen's Guide to Pennsylvania Local Government: 5. 2010. Retrieved 2015-04-05. Pennsylvania has two classes of townships. All townships are second class except where first class status has been approved by the voters.
  2. ↑ "Act of Jun. 24, 1931,P.L. 1206, No. 331 Cl. 73 - "FIRST CLASS TOWNSHIP CODE, THE"". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  3. ↑ "Second Class Township Code". Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
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