A grist mill was built along the banks of Highbank Creek in the township in 1856.

[4] Coats Grove was located five miles northeast of Hastings on the Chicago, Kalamazoo and Saginaw Railway.

[6] As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,475 people, 1,339 households, and 969 families residing in the township.

There were 1,477 housing units at an average density of 42.0 per square mile (16.2/km2).

22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.