The U.S. state of North Carolina is divided into 1,035 townships in 100 counties.^[1]

History

North Carolina's 1868 constitution adopted a "Township and County Commissioner Plan" for structuring local government, largely inspired by provisions in Pennsylvania's constitution. Townships were created under the county unit of government, with every county divided into them, and each given their own township board. The boards comprised two justices of the peace and a clerk each elected to a two-year term, and together they were responsible for roads, township finances, and property tax assessments. Townships also elected constables and three-person local school committees.^[2] The creation of townships was designed to disrupt the control of political life planter elites exercised over counties in the antebellum period and give citizens an opportunity to participate more in government.^[3]

While disliked by white supremacists and opponents of Reconstruction policies from their onset, the creation of townships initially met little public resistance. As more blacks began to be elected to local offices, white supremacists became more determined to eliminate the townships. After "Redeemers" took control of state government in 1874, they turned their focus to eliminating local centers of black political influence. The Redeemers convened a constitutional convention in 1875 to repeal Reconstruction policies. Originally seeking to totally eliminate townships, they were forced to compromise due to stiff opposition and added provisions to the constitution which allowed the North Carolina General Assembly to void townships' powers.^[4] By 1880, townships' authority had been largely stripped at the benefit of county governments.^[5]

In the 1890s, a Fusionist coalition comprising Republicans and Populists briefly took control of state government. The Republicans wanted to restore townships' powers but were unable to do so do to a lack of support from the Populists.^[6] By the early 20th century, townships were mostly reduced to administrative divisions with minimal political significance.^[2]

Current legal status

North Carolina's townships were never legally appealed and thus continue to persist, mostly as geographic divisions without much legal significance.^[7] They are presently used for administrative purposes such as categorizing land deeds, organizing tax collection and voting precincts, and informing the creation of fire and school districts.^[8]

List

See also

• North Carolina
• List of cities and towns in North Carolina
• List of counties in North Carolina

References

Works cited

• Davis, Anita Price; Rhyne, Mike; Withrow, Scott (2011). Colfax Township. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738586915.
• Farbman, Daniel (June 2022). "Redemption Localism". North Carolina Law Review. 100 (5): 1527–1556.
• Orth, John V.; Newby, Paul M. (2013). The North Carolina State Constitution (second ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199300655.

External links

• National Association of Towns and Townships