Carlton is bounded on the north by Ionia Co., on the east by Woodland Twp., on the south by Hastings Twp., and on the west by Irving Twp.  North Branch of Thornapple River runs roughly north/northwest through sections 27, 22, 21, 16, 9, 4, 5 and 6.  It is joined by the Little Thornapple River which runs from Woodland roughly diagonally through sections 13, 24 and 23.  Carlton Center was at the junction of sections 15, 16, 22 and 21.  It had 2 churches, 2 stores, and 4 small residential lots in addition to the surrounding farms. 

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The current method of numbering townships and the 36 sections within each township developed in stages, beginning with the Congressional Act of May 18, 1796.  The baseline for Barry County is also its southern border, so the rows of Barry Co. townships begin with 1 N and continue northward.  The prime meridian is to the east in Ingham Co., so the columns of townships begin with Range 7 W and continue westward.  Michigan gazetteers show Base Line and Meridian Roads.


Sections are located as follows within each township, each being 1 square mile:

[ Transcribed by Lynn Kenney, Jan. 2002]