1 6 9 ▁and ▁State ▁Highway ▁ 7 3 ▁( M N ▁ 7 3 ) ▁are ▁two ▁of ▁the ▁main ▁routes ▁in ▁the ▁town ship . ▁ ▁The ▁city ▁of ▁Ch ish ol m ▁is ▁located ▁within ▁the ▁south – central ▁portion ▁of ▁B alk an ▁Township ▁ge ograph ically ▁but ▁is ▁a ▁separate ▁entity . ▁ ▁Geography ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Census ▁Bureau , ▁the ▁town ship ▁has ▁a ▁total ▁area ▁of ▁; ▁ ▁is ▁land ▁and ▁, ▁or ▁ 1 . 6 2 %, ▁is ▁water . ▁ ▁The ▁Sh annon ▁River ▁flows ▁through ▁the ▁west – central ▁edge ▁of ▁B alk an ▁Township . ▁ ▁B ori in ▁Creek ▁flows ▁through ▁the ▁north – central ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁town ship . ▁ ▁The ▁East ▁Branch ▁of ▁the ▁St ur geon ▁River ▁flows ▁through ▁the ▁n ortheast ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁town ship . ▁ ▁S low ▁Creek ▁flows ▁through ▁the ▁east – central ▁part ▁of ▁B alk an ▁Township . ▁ ▁Ad j acent ▁town ships ▁and ▁cities ▁The ▁following ▁are ▁adjacent ▁to ▁B alk an ▁Township ▁: ▁▁ ▁The ▁city ▁of ▁Ch ish ol m ▁ ▁The ▁city ▁of ▁H ib bing ▁( west ▁and ▁south ) ▁ ▁Cher ry ▁Township ▁( s out heast ) ▁ ▁Great ▁Scott ▁Township ▁( east ) ▁ ▁The ▁city ▁of ▁Bu hl ▁( east ) ▁ ▁The ▁city ▁of ▁Kin ney ▁( east ) ▁ ▁Dark ▁River ▁Un organ ized ▁Territ ory ▁( n orth ) ▁ ▁French ▁Township ▁( n