The township is in the central part of Erie County and surrounds the borough of McKean, a separate municipality.

[4] The principal streams are Elk Creek, which flows west into Lake Erie, and its tributary Lamson Run.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,619 people, 1,649 households, and 1,322 families residing in the township.

There were 1,714 housing units at an average density of 46.8 per square mile (18.1/km2).

15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.