Township government has a long and rich history that winds back to before the formation of this country. In Minnesota, townships served as the base on which the state was built and as one of the first forms of local government. Minnesota has 1,7930 townships that typically consist of a six by six mile geographic area.

Livonia Township was organized as an independent township in 1866. In the mid to late 1800’s Livonia Township was settled in three areas. The Lake Fremont settlement was located just north of the current City of Zimmerman. The Meadowvale area was settled in the 1870’s, and the Spencer settlement was located in the southeastern corner of the township. Benjamin Spencer was an early member of the town board, and the name Livonia is said to have been the first name of Mr. Spencer’s wife.

The population of Livonia Township in 1900 was 501. At that time the village of Lake Fremont (Zimmerman) was unincorporated so those residents were all counted as township residents. In 1950 Livonia Township had a population of 455 and the City of Zimmerman 169. Throughout this time the town board held meetings in everything from the old bank building to St. John Church, and the Zimmerman City Hall.

In the 1990’s Livonia Township experienced significant growth. While the grassroots nature of township government remains unchanged the structure of the town board has not. In the years around the turn of the century, the town board was expanded from three to five members. The elected offices of Clerk and Treasurer were dissolved and combined into a single appointed office.

Livonia Township would like to thank the Sherburne County Historical Society and Loni Lucas for their efforts in preserving township history.