Russell Township, Geauga County, Ohio

Township in Ohio, United States

41°28′8″N 81°20′58″W / 41.46889°N 81.34944°W / 41.46889; -81.34944CountryUnited StatesStateOhioCountyGeaugaArea

• Total19.4 sq mi (50.2 km²) • Land19.2 sq mi (49.7 km²) • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)Elevation

^[1]

1,086 ft (331 m)Population

(2020)^[2]

• Total5,404 • Density280/sq mi (110/km²)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)ZIP code

44072

Area code440FIPS code39-69232^[3]GNIS feature ID1086160^[1]Websitetwp.russell.oh.us

Russell Township is one of the sixteen townships of Geauga County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 5,404.

Geography

Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships and villages:

Chester Township - north
Munson Township - northeast corner
Newbury Township - east
Auburn Township - southeast corner
Bainbridge Township - south
Chagrin Falls - southwest, south of Chagrin Falls Township
Chagrin Falls Township - southwest, north of Chagrin Falls
Moreland Hills - west, south of Hunting Valley
Hunting Valley - west, north of Moreland Hills
Gates Mills - northwest corner

Name and history

It is the only Russell Township statewide.^[4] Another name for the area is Novelty, from the name of the post office located, in the unincorporated community of Novelty, in the township.^[5]^[6]^[7]

The first five inhabitants — Gideon Russell and his family, who came in 1818 — settled on what today is Chillicothe Road.^[8] In 1827 the township was named Russell, although it had been previously known as the West Woods by neighboring communities. In April of that year the people elected John Lowry, Clark Robinson, and Gideon Russell as their first township trustees. It was Robinson that created the first framed building and started the first store.

Economy

Russell is the home of ASM International, formerly known as the American Society for Metals, whose headquarters is marked by a gigantic geodesic dome, visited by Buckminster Fuller upon its completion.

Nearly all of the non-incorporated parts of the township are served in education by the West Geauga district. (South Russell village and a small part of the rest is covered by the Chagrin Falls district.) In private education, the Butler Campus of Laurel School is on Fairmount Road (originally named "Fairmount Campus" for its location), which has a lodge, pavilion, tree house, residence, and adventure course.

Government

The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer,^[9] who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.

Transportation

Major roads include State Route 306 and State Route 87.

References

^ ^a ^b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Russell township, Geauga County, Ohio - Census Bureau Profile". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Detailed map of Ohio" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Novelty, Ohio
^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Novelty Post Office, Ohio
^ Novelty Post Office Location. United States Postal Service. Retrieved on 2011-04-27.
^ Pioneer and General History of Geauga County: With Sketches of Some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. Historical Society of Geauga County. 1880. p. 109.
^ §503.24, §505.01, and §507.01 of the Ohio Revised Code. Accessed 4/30/2009.