The township encircles the borough of Hanover on three sides, with the York County-Adams County boundary forming the western border of both the township and the borough.

At the 2000 census there were 14,592 people, 5,421 households, and 4,103 families living in the township.

There were 5,643 housing units at an average density of 442.5 per square mile (170.9/km2).

The racial makeup of the township was 97.46% White, 0.49% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races.

[4] Of the 5,421 households 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families.