The Township of Zone was incorporated in 1856 under the terms of the Baldwon Act,Chapter 81, Canada Statutes, 1849. As an incorporated township, lower tier municipality, it had a council consisting of an elected Reeve and councillors depending on population. Its responsibilites related largely to the upkeep of the local road system and the delivery of services. It had the power to raise money through direct taxation on land and through the use of debentures. Under the provisions of Bill 26, the Savings and Restructuring Act, 1996, Zone was amalgamated into the new Municipality of Chatham-Kent effective January 1, 1998.