The township was organized by the Grand Traverse County board of supervisors under the name "North Climax Township" in April 1867 when Benzie County was still attached to Grand Traverse for administrative purposes.

[3] As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,587 people, 620 households, and 437 families residing in the township.

There were 723 housing units at an average density of 20.2 per square mile (7.8/km2).

There were 620 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families.

21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.