Formed in 1848 from part of Barry Township, it is named for war hero William Orlando Butler.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,588 people, 1,416 households, and 1,035 families living in the township.

There were 1,540 housing units at an average density of 59.0 per square mile (22.8/km2).

There were 1,416 households, out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families.

23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.