New townships; area and population; petition; notice

The board of county commissioners shall not set off or organize any new township unless it shall contain territory equal to at least thirty square miles, and at least two hundred inhabitants within the limits thereof, except when an incorporated city or town is included in the limits of said township; nor shall any township be set off or organized unless a petition be first presented to the board, signed by at least fifty electors resident therein, asking for such change, nor unless notice of such proposed change and of the presenting of a petition therefor has been given for at least three months next prior to the time of presenting such petition, by publication at least once a week in a newspaper published in the county, and of general circulation among the people to be affected by such proposed change, for three consecutive weeks, or if no such paper be published in the county, then by written or printed notices securely posted in at least three public places in each township to be affected by the change.