[3] Its name is derived from the Ojibwe Zhingwaadena (White-pine Town), applied originally to an Ojibwe village located at the confluence of the Snake River with the St. Croix River.

At the 2000 census there were 809 people, 290 households, and 218 families in the township.

There were 480 housing units at an average density of 10.5 per square mile (4.1/km2).

[1] Of the 290 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older.