American Township, Ohio

American Township is one of the twelve townships of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census found 14,538 people in the township.^[3]

American Township, Allen County, Ohio
Township
The Isaac Rozell Round Barn near Elida
Location of American Township, Allen County, Ohio
Coordinates: 40°46′1″N 84°9′59″W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Allen
Area
• Total	24.2 sq mi (62.6 km2)
• Land	24.2 sq mi (62.6 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation [1]	823 ft (251 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,538
• Density	599/sq mi (231.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	39-01756[2]
GNIS feature ID	1085690[1]
Website	www.amertwp.us

Geography

Located in the center of the county, it borders the following townships:

• Sugar Creek Township - north
• Bath Township - east
• Perry Township - southeastern corner
• Shawnee Township - south
• Amanda Township - southwest
• Marion Township - northwest

Two municipalities are located in American Township: the village of Elida in the northwest, and part of the city of Lima, the county seat of Allen County, in the southeast.

Name and history

It is the only American Township statewide. American Township was named German Township until 1918 when the township's citizens successfully petitioned for the name change, due to the sinking of the Lusitania. The petition cited Anti-German sentiment as the primary reason for the request.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	15,516		—
2010	14,381		−7.3%
2020	14,538		1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[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.