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The Township's Inception | The Township in Transition | The Township Today
Township Government in the United States | Vernon A. Laubenstein
Schaumburg Township was officially established on April 2, 1850. On that date, the first Annual Town Meeting was held and officers were elected.
Schaumburg Township saw
a steady increase in population in the first fifty
years of its existence, most of whom were relatives
of Schaumburg residents and had emigrated from the
Schaumburg Lippe area in Germany. There were 134
residents listed on the 1860 census and 863 by 1900.
Today's population exceeds 127,000. Seven villages
are located within the Township, plus the unincorporated
areas.
In 1850 a tour through Schaumburg Township would find
mostly farmers. Today there are few farmers. Residents
are now employed in numerous occupations, among those
are doctors, dentist, lawyers, teachers and skilled
craftsmen.
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The Township moved from
"The Buttery" on Roselle Road to the old "Blackhawk
School" in 1977. Township staff and services out grew
that building and a new Town Hall was constructed on
the same site. The Township moved into the new
facility in November 1996, and the old structure was
razed. The new building is about twice the size of the
old one and is a very citizen friendly, state of the
art facility. The Township Road District also has a
building on the same site as the Town Hall.
In reviewing old minutes and correspondence of the
1950's, it is obvious that major changes have taken
place. In 1955 the Highway Commissioner ordered the
founders of Hoffman Estates to destroy the Canadian
thistles on their property before they went to seed.
From one precinct in 1956, Schaumburg Township now has
107 precincts and more are expected. In that same
year, electors at the Town Meeting passed an ordinance
stating that no horses, cattle, swine, or sheep be
allowed to run at large. Times have changed! In 1959,
the lack of traffic signals was a concern. Today,
traffic problems continue to exist but for different
reasons due to the growth in population.
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Township government used to concern itself with taking
care of the roads as one of its main priorities. While
that function still exists in the unincorporated
areas, the Township's main emphasis is on providing
human care services in the areas of mental health,
disabled services, senior services, youth services
and welfare services. The Township also provides a
myriad of other services including,
but not limited to, disabled parking cards, notary
public service, information on tax assessment and
property, and general information and referral.
From the 1850's to the 21st Century the services offered by
the Township would not be possible if it were not for
the dedicated employees and volunteers in our township
family. Whether a rural community of 30 years ago or
the highly diversified urban community of today,
Schaumburg Township's motto of "A History of Service
...A Commitment to the Future" certainly applies to
the officials, employees and volunteers.
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