Marlette was first settled in the 1850s by people from Ontario who sought tall timber and fertile soil.

The community name was derived from a family of settlers, who carved their surname "Marlatt" on a log shanty.

[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 52.5 square miles (136 km2), all land.

There were 743 housing units at an average density of 14.2 per square mile (5.5/km2).

14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.