Early on it was called New Stony Creek as it was located on a stream of that name.

However, the postmaster Amos R. Wheeler convinced the legislature to rename the place Benona after a legendary Potawatamie lady.

The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 91.0% non-Hispanic white, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.3% from two or more races and 7.2% Hispanic.

[4] As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,520 people, 583 households, and 429 families residing in the township.

22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.