It also has examples of a fifth type, the special district, authorized by state law 2 . The form and powers are specified in the constitution and in the Ohio Revised Code. Municipalities govern themselves in one of two ways, either under a structure provided for by state law or under their own charter. There are 37 municipalities in Hamilton County 2 . Townships are unincorporated areas, which were laid out in 6-mile squares in 1785.
Townships are political subdivisions of the state.
Responsibilities are those appropriate to a rural area - road maintenance, cemeteries, fire and police protection. There are 12 townships in Hamilton County. A number of the townships in Hamilton County have populations over 20,000. Urbanized townships face big-city problems, but lack power to deal with them. The Ohio Legislature passed legislation in 1991, allowing townships to adopt a limited form of self-government.