[2] The township was named for the abundance of pine trees in the area.

U.S. Route 322 runs through the township south of and roughly parallel to I-80, leading west into Brookville and southeast to Reynoldsville.

Unincorporated communities in the township include Pinecreek, Port Barnett, Emerickville, Iowa, Fuller, and Meredith.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,369 people, 424 households, and 323 families residing in the township.

20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.