During Chicago's initial explosive growth, it developed from an adjacent swampy area to a full-fledged residential, commercial and resort community.

The township was founded by Paul Cornell, who paid for a topographical survey of the lakefront south of the city in 1852.

[2] After 1850, Cook County was divided into basic governmental entities,[9] which were designated as townships as a result of the new Illinois Constitution.

[10] Following the June 29, 1889, elections,[13] several suburban townships voted to be annexed to the city, which offered better services, such as improved water supply, sewerage, and fire and police protection.

Nonetheless, the majority of voters in 1889 supported annexation perhaps because of the city's water system for fire prevention[14] or because of the belief that township government had become too unwieldy.

[14] The township has no current governmental structure or functions,[1] other than being used by the Cook County Assessor's office for taxation valuation and record keeping purposes.