Template talk:Lake County, Illinois

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[edit] Zion Township

Zion Township does indeed appear on the census map:

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US1709784233&tree_id=4001&context=dt&_lang=en&_ts=229634201968

It is listed on the official Lake County website, which also states that there are 18 townships, not 17:

http://www.co.lake.il.us/government/township.asp

It appears on city-data.com:

http://www.city-data.com/township/Zion-Lake-IL.html

It has its own website:

http://www.ziontownship.org/

Based on all of this, it seems clear that the township does indeed exist. Omnedon (talk) 00:35, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes, it no doubt exists as a township, but it is also co-extensive with the city. According to the township general info page, it is one of 20 townships in Illinois that are co-terminus. The township administration and duties are separate from that of the city, but unless there is some substantive matter of significance unique to the township as distinct from the city, I suggest the township page should redirect to the city page and the matter of being co-terminus discussed there. older ≠ wiser 14:53, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

The simple fact that the city and the township share the same borders does not necessarily diminish the significance of the township. As you say, a township typically serves a different role for its residents than a city; and in addition, the city and the township have separate websites, which I think is significant. For consistency's sake, it makes sense to have an article for this bona fide township, just as we do for all the others in the county, and in other counties in Illinois, and in Indiana, and so on. Omnedon (talk) 15:12, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

If the only thing to be said about the township is that it exists, I don't see why there should be separate article. Redirects are quite common for such situations. OTOH, if there is indeed something distinctive about the township apart from the city, then perhaps. older ≠ wiser 15:23, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

I see no reason not to have the article. Simply sharing borders doesn't negate an item's significance: after all, we have an article for Marion County despite Indianapolis being coextensive; for Union Township despite Shadeland; etc. Given that the other townships have articles, it would seem inconsistent and confusing to the reader if one was deliberately skipped, particularly when (judging by all the sources) it's as official and legitimate a township as the rest. Huwmanbeing ☀★ 16:33, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

As long as the township really does exist, and (I'd guess) would perhaps have a separate administration, there's nothing wrong with having an article on it. Nyttend (talk) 16:45, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Eh, whatever. As it stands now, there is nothing in the township article that couldn't be exhaustively covered in a short paragraph in the city article. But this would hardly be the first case of needless redundancy on Wikipedia. older ≠ wiser 16:57, 25 May 2008 (UTC)