Gratis Township, Preble County, Ohio

Gratis Township is one of the twelve townships of Preble County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,471 people in the township, 3,343 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.[3]

Gratis Township, Preble County, Ohio
Township
Location of Gratis Township in Preble County
Coordinates: 39°36′59″N 84°32′31″W
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountyPreble
Area
 • Total36.8 sq mi (95 km2)
 • Land36.8 sq mi (95 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation938 ft (286 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total4,471
 • Density120/sq mi (47/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
45330
Area code(s)937, 326
FIPS code39-31486[2]
GNIS feature ID1086847[1]

Geography

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

Two incorporated villages are located in Gratis Township: Gratis in the north, and West Elkton in the south.

Name and history

According to tradition, Gratis Township's name is derived from the original request, namely "we think we ought to have the township gratis".[4] It is the only Gratis Township statewide.[5]

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,[6] 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
  1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. Preble County, Ohio — Population by Places Estimates Ohio State University, 2007. Accessed 15 May 2007.
  4. History of Preble County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches. H. Z. Williams & Bro. 1881. p. 72.
  5. "Detailed map of Ohio" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  6. §503.24, §505.01, and §507.01 of the Ohio Revised Code. Accessed 4/30/2009.
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