It is just north of Forest City, south of Watkins, and by Clear Lake.

It was first settled in the spring of 1866 by Merritt Birdsall Case, Charles T. Groot, James Hooser, J. S. Reynolds, George Scrivner, George Smith, James W. Polk, Seymour Stevens, and Michael A. Roach.

The first white births in the township were twins born to Mr. and Mrs. George Smith in 1866.

The Minneapolis Pacific Railway Co. purchased land in 1886 and laid their own line of track, temporarily giving Forest Prairie a reputation as a railroading village rather than one as a prospering farm community.

The racial makeup of the township was 99.42% White, 0.12% African American, and 0.46% from two or more races.

13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.