The name Northland alludes to Norway, the homeland of a large share of the early settlers.

[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.6 km2), all land.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 196 people, 69 households, and 58 families residing in the township.

15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 11.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.