Which statement about the relationship between counties and townships is true?

• A. Townships exist only in urban areas.
• B. Counties cannot contain townships.
• C. Townships are subdivisions of counties.
• D. Counties and townships are the same level of government.

Answer: (C)

Think about how local government is organized in layers. A county covers a broad geographic area and provides services that affect the whole region. Within that county, townships exist as smaller, local units that handle more limited tasks and often have their own elected officials. This structure makes townships subdivisions of counties.

The other statements don’t fit this arrangement: townships aren’t limited to urban areas—they’re common in rural parts as well; counties can and do contain townships; and counties and townships are not the same level of government—the county is the larger unit, with townships operating inside it.