According to the 1984 Adams County History Book, on March 12, 1853, "the county began its legal existance under authority of the Legislature of Iowa, for the purpose, at which time its territory was composed of 36 congressional townships, including the present counties of Union and Montgomery. This territory was divided into three civil townships, the settlers of Union Township voting at the Mormon cabins, called Pisgah, and those of Montgomery Township voting at the cabin of Amos Lowe on the Nishna-botna, while those of Quincy Township, comprising Adams County, voted at the house of Samuel Baker, in the cabin still standing (in 1890) on the Lewis J. Jeffrey estate in Douglas Township."
"Union County organized for itself after a partnership of 30 days, and Montgomery set up a local organization in 1854, leaving Adams with 12 congressional townships."
| Town/Township | Location |
| Briscoe | Section 3, Lincoln Twp 1881-1903 |
| Brooks | Section 7, Jasper Township |
| Brookville | name changed to Brooks |
| Canaan | Section 7, Jasper Twp 1857-1860 name changed to Simpson in 1860, then to Brooks |
| Carbon | Section 12, Jasper Township |
| Carl | had Post Office 1858-1907 |
| Carson | Section 12, Douglas Twp shown on maps 1875 |
| Corning | Sections 33-35, Quincy Township, Sections 2-3, Jasper Township |
| East Nodaway | Section 21, Nodaway Twp 1869-1875 name changed to Rochelle |
| Eureka | Section 33, Washington Twp 1881-1900 |
| Hayes | Section 15, Lincoln Twp 1881-1903 |
| Hoyt | Section 27, Douglas Twp 1889-1900 |
| Icaria | Section 31, Prescott Twp and village 1855-1857 |
| Iveyville | Section 31, Mercer Twp 1893-1900 |
| Lincoln Center | Section 15, Lincoln Township |
| Mercer Center | Section 15, Mercer Township |
| Mount Etna | Section 15, Washington Township |
| Mount Washington | Section 25, Washington Twp 1863-1867 |
| Nevinville | Section 2, Colony Township |
| Nodaway | Section 21, Nodaway Township |
| Prescott | Section 23, Prescott Township |
| Queen City | Section 25, Quincy Twp 1859-1869 |
| Quincy | Section 17, Quincy Twp 1855-1900 |
| Rochelle | Section 21, Nodaway Twp |
| Shinn | Section 12, Douglas Twp 1885 |
| Simpson | 1861-1869 later named Brooks |
| Strand | Section 31-32, Lincoln Twp 1889-1903 Norwegian settlement |
| Stringtown | |
| Summit | Union Township |
| Williamson | |
| Windyville | Washington Twp 1880-1900 mining camp |