Rooks County was established with four townships: Bow Creek, Lowell, Paradise and Stockton. That number increased to seven by 1878[2] and twenty three in 1925. The twenty three townships were in place until 1971 when the number was reduced to the current twelve townships.[3]
Township 5 was formed from Rooks County townships Alcona, Bow Creek and Sugar Loaf[4] in 1971 pursuant to Kansas Statute 80-1110.[5] 80-1110 allowed for the disorganization of townships and assigning those territories to contiguous townships.[6]
Alcona Township was established in 1879 from part of Stockton Township.[7]
Bow Creek Township
Bow Creek was one of the original four Rooks County civil townships along with Lowell, Paradise and Stockton. The original Bow Creek Township was 6 miles north-to-south (1 survey township). The east border was with Lowell Township, 9 miles (1-1/2 survey townships) from the Osborne County line. The west border was the Graham County line making Bow Creek 21 miles (3-1/2 survey townships) wide. Farmington, Sugar Loaf and the west half of Lanark townships were originally part of Bow Creek Township.[2]
Bow Creek Township was named for Bow Creek that flowed through the township.[8]
Sugar Loaf Township
Sugar Loaf Township was established in 1880 from part of Bow Creek Township. The township was named for a unique rounded mound of flint rock that was once used as a lookout by Native Americans.[9]