A Township is a basic division of a County, a primary unit of local government having powers to levy taxes, pass local ordinances & regulations, and provide various services as authorized by state statutes and elected officials.

Ideally, a township is a portion of territory 6 miles on each side - 36 miles in area. However, this often varies due to both geographical and political reasons. ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP is about 31 square miles having lost an area at its southeast corner, now part of O'Hare Field, to the City of Chicago.

The boundaries of ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP are Central Road on the North; Mt. Prospect Road on the East; Devon Avenue on the South; and Rohlwing Road; (generally Route 53) on the West.

About 85% of Elk Grove Village is in our Township; 55% of Mt. Prospect; 20% of Des Plaines; 15% of Arlington Heights and 10% of Rolling Meadows. About one-fourth of the geographic area of the Township is unincorporated, a large portion of which is Forest Preserve.

There are nine elected Township officials. The SUPERVISOR is the chief administrative official, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Treasurer of all funds and Supervisor of General Assistance. The CLERK is the secretary of the Board of Trustees, custodian of all Township records and has responsibility in all matters relating to elections. The ASSESSOR is in charge of all matters pertaining to tax assessment, tax complaints, and tax relief grants. The COLLECTOR is a non-functioning position at the present time due to a court restraining order; hence this official receives no salary of office expenses. The HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER is responsible for the construction, maintenance and repairs of all township roads and bridges. Along with the Supervisor the TRUSTEES, four in number, make up the Board of Trustees, which is the legislative branch of the Township. They examine all township accounts, set township policy, determine budgets and tax levies and serve on various township boards and commissions.