Final answer:
Townships may be irregularly shaped due to the use of the metes and bounds system, gerrymandering, or the contrast with the township and range system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Townships might be an irregular shape for various historical and geographical reasons. In regions using the metes and bounds system, townships evolved organically as settlers made claims to unclaimed land, using natural landmarks to demarcate property lines. This system led to land division that looked like a huge jigsaw puzzle with the role of geography, such as rivers and mountains, influencing the shape of properties. The irregularity stemming from this method often made determining exact property lines challenging, especially when natural landmarks changed or were movable like trees and streams.
Alternatively, townships might be irregularly shaped due to gerrymandering, which involves redrawing electoral districts to influence election outcomes. In such cases, the shapes are manipulated carefully to encompass certain demographics, creating oddly shaped districts to benefit specific political groups.
Another factor involves the implementation of different land survey systems, such as the township and range system. This grid-based system, introduced by Thomas Jefferson, contrasts sharply with the jigsaw-like patterns of metes and bounds, showing more regular shapes. Regions like Ross County, Ohio, show a stark difference in patterns of land parcels based on the survey system used.