[2] The area was settled as early as 1765 by the St. Helena Island fisheries, which was operated by the Newton Brothers firm.

The township itself was formally organized much later in 1878 and named after Nelson Newton.

[5] The township is in western Mackinac County, on the northern shore of Lake Michigan.

St. Ignace, the Mackinac county seat, is 50 miles (80 km) to the east via US Highway 2, and Manistique is 30 miles (48 km) to the west.

[15] Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service via Gould City between St. Ignace and Ironwood, Michigan.