Currently Township government in Ohio functions to handle roads, police and fire, parks and recreation, cemeteries, zoning, waste disposal, line fences, hospitals, ditches and other surface waters, and weeds and brush. The history of Township government history goes back to the Pilgrim fathers; they brought it with them and in New England it is referred to as the “town”. Today the Township is used in twenty-two states of the union. As such, the use of Townships as a unit of local government predates the establishment of Ohio as a state. The lands were surveyed under the range and township system as established by Congressional Acts. Though the Virginia Military Lands are the exception. The Connecticut Western Reserve established in 1786 was subdivided into townships of five miles square, all others are surveyed into six mile square townships.

As Ohio population increased it seemed logical to use the townships as a local government unit. In 1804, this unit consisted of three trustees, a clerk, two overseers of the poor, undetermined numbers of highway supervisors, constables and justices of the peace.

Being a political subdivision of the State it only has those powers granted to it by the legislature and performs those functions defined by the state. The registering of brands was an early duty of Ohio township government. As is natural, functions have changed over the years, and today includes zoning. Some permissive functions are the erecting of monuments and artificial lighting for public safety.In this 21st century, three trusties and a clerk, each elected for four years, administer to each of the some 1309 Ohio townships. The title of Clerk was changed to Fiscal Officer in 2005-2006.

In Wood county 20 townships were created. They are: Bloom, Center, Freedom, Grand Rapids, Henry, Jackson, Lake, Liberty, Middleton, Milton, Montgomery, Perry, Perrysburg, Plain, Portage, Ross, Troy, Washington, Webster, and Weston. Ross Township ceased to exist upon the incorporation of the villages of Rossford and Northwood, although early land records will still be found under 'Ross Township'.