Most features of county and township govertnment can be traced back to the colonial period. Some structures were inventions to meet pioneer conditions while other structures were adaption of English models.
The structure of local government in Michigan was shaped by the 1785 Northwest Land Ordinance authored by Thomas Jefferson. The NWO provided the basic framework for the settlement and governance of the Northwest Territory which became the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Jefferson strongly believed in a citizen government. Government close to the citizens emerged as a cornerstone of governance in the Northwest Territory. Jefferson developed the rectangular grid survey which permitted the identification of property. Survey townships were 6 miles square (36 sections) placing local government in close proximity to its citizens.
Michigan is modeled after the New York Plan of Government combined with provisions of the Northwest Ordinance. This plan provided for a county board of supervisors comprised of the elected supervisor from each township. Townships maintained distinct roles and responsibilities for roads, the poor, elections, fence viewing, tax assessing and collection of property taxes.
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