Formed in 1838 from part of Norwegian Township, it is named for the west branch of the Schuylkill River, which flows through it.

At the 2000 census there were 1,871 people, 737 households, and 557 families living in the township.

The population density was 160.2 inhabitants per square mile (61.9/km2).

There were 789 housing units at an average density of 67.6 per square mile (26.1/km2).

[4] Of the 737 households 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families.