The vast majority of the township's population resides in its eastern half; the half west of La Grange Road consists of the Palos Forest Preserves, a section of the Cook County Forest Preserves.

In 1850 the small town of Trenton, Illinois changed its name to Palos; this recommendation was made by M.S.

Powell, the local postmaster, whose ancestor supposedly sailed with Christopher Columbus from Palos de la Frontera.

Palos Township's approximate borders are Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43) on the east, 135th Street on the south, Will-Cook Road extended to the DuPage County line on the west, and 87th Street on the north; in the northwest, the township border follows the Des Plaines River from 87th Street to DuPage County's southeast corner.

The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, designated a National Historic District in 2011, passes through the township just south of the river, and the Cal-Sag Channel roughly bisects the township from east to west.

The northwest border with Lyons Township follows the Des Plaines River, directly adjacent to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (managed by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago) which connects Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River.

These Cook County Forest Preserves woods: As of the 2020 census[4] there were 56,836 people, 21,168 households, and 13,852 families residing in the township.

The town board is responsible for providing a budget and taxes sufficient to run the operations of the township government each year.

The township clerk, assessor and highway commissioner are elected officials; however, they do not have a vote on the town board.