About Us
The pilgrim fathers brought the township form of government to America in 1620. This unit of local government eventually spread as far west as the Rocky Mountains. Today, it is found in twenty-two (22) states.
In Ohio, the township form of government predates the Ohio state form of government and was the “first form of local government.” The townships’ size and shape were determined by the Congressional Acts, which established various land grants.
In 1785, under the Articles of Confederation, Congress enacted the Land Ordinance of 1785 that identified the Seven Ranges (land parcels west of the Pennsylvania border) and specified that these “ranges” or parcels be subdivided into six-mile squares called townships. With the formation of the Old Territory under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, these township squares were used as the primary means of establishing local civil governments in the territory.
As the Ohio territory became populated, it was only natural that the surveyed townships become the basic unit of local government. After statehood, in 1804, the Ohio General Assembly prescribed the form and powers of township government. The elected officials of a township consisted of three (3) trustees, a clerk, two overseers of the poor, and a sufficient number of supervisors of highway, in addition to justices of the peace and constables. A township treasurer and assessor were later added. In the early years of statehood, Ohio township government cared for the poor, maintained the roads and preserved the peace.
Richfield Township was founded in 1809 and originally was twenty-five (25) square miles in size. The Village of Richfield separated from Richfield Township in 2003 with some land area lost through annexation. This left Richfield Township with its current area of 16.35 square miles. Since the first settler arrived, the Township has evolved to become home to a population of 2,517. Click here for the Map of Richfield Township.
Richfield Township is located in the northwest corner of Summit County and is bounded on the west by Medina County and the north by Cuyahoga County. Adjacent communities include the Townships of Bath & Boston (Summit County), Hinckley (Medina County), the Village of Richfield (Summit County) and the Cities of Brecksville and Broadview Heights (Cuyahoga County). Summit County is named for the highest point along the Ohio-Erie Canal and Richfield is the highest point in Summit County.
Richfield Township is sixteen (16) miles south of Cleveland, Ohio and fifteen (15) northeast of Akron, Ohio with the major highways of Interstate 77, Interstate 271, Ohio Turnpike (I-80), State Route 303 (Streetsboro Road) and State Route 176 (Broadview Road) through the township.
Today, just as in 1804, the township is a political subdivision of the state. To keep pace with the demands of changing times, the functions, duties and obligations of the township have changed over the years. Demands for increased or different services have prompted the state legislature to grant Ohio’s 1,308 townships the authority to fulfill these changing needs.
Three (3) trustees and a fiscal officer, each elected to a four-year term, administer the townships today. Elected officials fill their roles on a part-time basis, however, their intimate knowledge of their community, its needs and its citizens enables them to offer more personal service than any other unit of government. In contrast to other forms of local government, it has been said that the township form of government is the most productive.
In addition, some townships now appoint a township administrator, whose duties are defined by the individual township. The township administrator typically helps plan, coordinate and implement township goals. Richfield Township follows this model.
RECENT HISTORICAL TIMELINE
The Village of Richfield was incorporated with a vote of 577 "FOR" and 464 "AGAINST." The Village of Richfield was still part of Richfield Township but was referred to as the "incorporated portion of the Township." Richfield Township was not part of the Village. There was a one (1) year window for Richfield Township and the Village of Richfield to become combined and this did not happen.
A merger attempt was made and the law changed to allow politicial subdivisions in charter counties to merge. The merger attemp was defeated in Richfield Township and passed in the Village of Richfield.
There was an attempt to merge the Village of Richfield and Bath Township. This vote passed in Bath Township but failed in the Village of Richfield.
A second attempt to merge the Village of Richfield and Richfield Township and the election results are as follows:
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Municipality
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For
|
Against
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Total Votes Cast
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Village of Richfield
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908
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458
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1366
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% of the Votes
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60%
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40%
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Richfield TWP
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349
|
531
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880
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% of the Votes
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40%
|
60%
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Out of 716 qualified registerd freeholders, 402 signed the petition to separate from the Village of Richfield that was circulated by the Citizens for Choice.
During these five (5) years, there were numerous court cases regarding separation. In 2001, Richfield Township filed a suit to rule the original judgement null and void. Judge Adams' decision to uphold the petition was referred to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
On Monday, July 28, 2003 a Special Counsel Meeting was called by Council President Lyons. Council President informed council that the Summit County Council received an opinion from the Attorney General regarding the separation of the Village of Richfield and Richfield Township. It was encumbent upon Council to submit its opions as to how to divide the properties due to the separation.
The Attorney General rendered a very thoughtful, 11-page opinion. The ruling read, "... In order for the proper division of assets pursuant to Revised Code 503.11 should allocate between the new Township and the municipal corporation any assets of the original Township that were accrued from taxes levied on the property of the Township as a whole and should allocate to the new Township any assets that were accrued from taxes levied only on the unincorporated area of the Township. Assets that were allocated to the original Township pursuant to the Probate Court Order upon municipal incorporaten are subject to bring allocated again in accordance with these principles."
The minutes of this Special Meeting can be found in its entirety on the Village of Richfield's website.
Official separation of the Village of Richfield and Richfield Township ocurred August, 2003.