Van Buren Township, Putnam County, Ohio

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Van Buren Township, Putnam County, Ohio

|settlement_type = Township

|nickname =

|motto =

|image_skyline = Van Buren Township school, D and 4.jpg

|imagesize = 250px

|image_caption = Former school on State Route 65 northeast of Leipsic

|image_flag =

|image_seal =

|image_map = Van Buren Putnam.PNG

|mapsize = 250px

|map_caption = Location of Van Buren Township in Putnam County

|image_map1 =

|mapsize1 =

|map_caption1 =

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = Ohio

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Putnam

|government_footnotes =

|government_type =

|leader_title =

|leader_name =

|leader_title1 =

|leader_name1 =

|established_title =

|established_date =

|unit_pref = Imperial

|area_footnotes =

|area_magnitude =

|area_total_km2 = 93.9

|area_land_km2 = 93.8

|area_water_km2 = 0.1

|area_total_sq_mi = 36.3

|area_land_sq_mi = 36.2

|area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

|population_as_of = 2020

|population_footnotes = {{cite web |title=Van Buren township, Putnam County, Ohio - Census Bureau Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Van_Buren_township,_Putnam_County,_Ohio?g=060XX00US3913779450 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=11 August 2023}}

|population_total = 2821

|population_density_km2 = 30.1

|population_density_sq_mi = 77.9

|timezone = Eastern (EST)

|utc_offset = -5

|timezone_DST = EDT

|utc_offset_DST = -4

|elevation_footnotes = {{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=2007-10-25}}

|elevation_m = 227

|elevation_ft = 745

|coordinates = {{coord|41|6|36|N|83|57|39|W|region:US-OH|display=inline,title}}

|postal_code_type =

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|blank_name = FIPS code

|blank_info = 39-79450{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}

|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank1_info = 1086871

|website =

|footnotes =

}}

Van Buren Township is one of the fifteen townships in Putnam County, Ohio, United States. According to the 2020 census, the township had a population of 2,821.

Geography

Located in the northeastern corner of the county, it borders the following townships:

Two villages are located in Van Buren Township: Belmore in the northern part of the township and Leipsic in the western part of the township.

Name and history

The township was surveyed in 1821, but not organized until 1843. (Before organization it had been known as North Blanchard.) The swampiness of the land and "masses of fallen timbers" were the primary reasons for its slow settlement. Abraham Baughman was the township's first settler, moving there in 1835.Putnam County Centennial History 1834-1934 by Putnam County Pioneer Association The population grew from 172 in 1850 to 608 in 1860 (768 including Leipsic). While most early residents were farmers, over 30 worked as railroad laborers in 1860.United States Census Enumeration Data, 1850 and 1860

Statewide, other Van Buren Townships are located in Darke, Hancock, and Shelby counties.

Government

The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer,[http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/503.24 §503.24], [http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/505.01 §505.01], and [http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/507.01 §507.01] of the Ohio Revised Code. Accessed 4/30/2009. who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.

References

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