How Do You Incorporate a Township Into a Village?
Villages are an incorporated area under a town. For a place to become legally known as a village, its residents must apply for an incorporation following the state's incorporation laws. Originally, villages were created by clusters of homeowners to qualify for the benefits towns enjoyed, such as police and fire protection, when there was confusion about the scope of the nearest town. The legal purpose of a village changes depending on its state or country. In New York, for instance, a village is a municipal corporation formed voluntarily that exists solely to receive municipal services. It does not collect taxes and is still part of the town where it is located.
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Instructions
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Count a minimum number of residents. The specific minimum number will depend on the local government. In Nebraska a township must have between 100 and 800 residents before it may apply to become a village. You can find out the population of a township by looking at tax records or asking the nearest chamber of commerce. You can also find useful population data and statistics at quickfacts.census.gov.
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Describe the boundaries of the village. Generally the village boundaries cannot exceed the town boundaries, or include the territory of another county. For example, in New York, a village must contain no more than 5 square miles. Hire a surveyor and a qualified lawyer to prepare this document.
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Ask residents to sign a petition to incorporate into a village. In New York, at least 20% of the population must sign the petition. Advertise in local media where and when the petition will be signed, send a circular letter to all residents or setup a website and allow for residents to sign electronically.
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Submit a signed petition to the supervisor of the town the village belongs to. In some states, like North Carolina, a village can only be incorporated by act of General Assembly, and so you must send your petition there.
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Tips & Warnings
Some villages have a population below the current minimum because they were incorporated before the requirement was established.
In some states, like North Carolina, incorporated municipalities can be called villages, cities or towns interchangeably.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit village green in cheshire village of aldford image by green308 from Fotolia.com
