Township government is the oldest form of government in our country; yet it is probably the one people are most unfamiliar with. A township is a political and geographical subdivision of a county and state. It is a municipal corporate body, that can own property, sue and be sued, borrow money and levy taxes in accordance with state statutes. A township's elected officials may act for the electorate in the township's name when conducting business.

There are eight officers in each township, elected for terms of four years: Supervisor, Clerk, Assessor, Highway Commissioner and four Trustees. The annual meeting of the township electors is held on the second Tuesday in April.

Townships have many duties and some permissive powers. Services, which are expressly required of all townships, include providing for welfare assistance, buildings and maintaining rural roads and assessing property. In addition, townships may establish libraries, community buildings, recreation districts, cemeteries and youth committees.

Township services touch the lives of most of our residents. We are small, accessible, responsive, and cost effective claiming less than one and one-half percent of the entire real estate tax bill.

What is it that Township Government does?

1)     General assistance for the indigent

·        Townships may provide assistance (food, shelter)

·        Emergency relief for needy people until they are able to support themselves. 

·        To see if you qualify for General Assistance contact the Supervisor. 

2)     The assessment of real property for the basis of local taxation

·        Townships establish the value of all real estate property in the township. 

·        Township assessors are the ONLY elected governmental official who must pass approved courses of instruction before standing for election to office. 

3)     Maintenance of all roads and bridges outside federal, state, and other local jurisdiction.

·        The Wesley Township Road District maintains over 40 miles of roads. W

Land area: 28.0 sq. mi.

Water area: 0.4 sq. mi.

Population: 2,568 (65% urban, 35% rural)

Population density: 92 people per square mile (average).

 Males: 1,237 (48.2%)             Females: 1,331 (51.8%)
Median age of males: 36.8      Median age of females: 36.1

Average household size: 2.91 Average family size: 3.28
Occupied houses/apartments: 2,368 (2,167 owner occupied, 201 renter occupied)
% of renters: 8% State: 33%
200 people in state prisons

Housing units in Wesley Township with a mortgage: 399
(74 second mortgage, 48 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 196
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $80,000
Year house built:
• 1999 to March 2000: 19
• 1995 to 1998: 15
• 1990 to 1994: 60
• 1980 to 1989: 43
• 1970 to 1979: 194
• 1960 to 1969: 175
• 1950 to 1959: 207
• 1940 to 1949: 54
• 1939 or earlier: 121

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:
Wesley township: 5.3% Whole state: 10.7%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999:
Wesley township: 2.8% Whole state: 5.1%

68% of Wesley township residents lived in the same house 10 years go.
Out of people who lived in different houses, 61% lived in this county.
Out of people who lived in different counties, 67% lived in Illinois.
Number of foreign born residents: 26 (50% naturalized citizens)
Wesley township: 1.0% State: 12.3%