List of townships in North Carolina

The boards comprised two justices of the peace and a clerk each elected to a two-year term, and together they were responsible for roads, township finances, and property tax assessments.

[2] The creation of townships was designed to disrupt the control of political life planter elites exercised over counties in the antebellum period and give citizens an opportunity to participate more in government.

[3] While disliked by white supremacists and opponents of Reconstruction policies from their onset, the creation of townships initially met little public resistance.

After "Redeemers" took control of state government in 1874, they turned their focus to eliminating local centers of black political influence.

[7] They are presently used for administrative purposes such as categorizing land deeds, organizing tax collection and voting precincts, and informing the creation of fire and school districts.