[3] Ronald Township was formed in 1845 from parts of Lyons and Ionia townships, and given its name by state representative A. L. Roof, who said he was inspired by the lead character in a novel he was reading at the time.

(This may have been Sir Walter Scott's narrative poem The Lord of the Isles, in which the protagonist is named Ronald.)

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,903 people, 651 households, and 514 families residing in the township.

There were 708 housing units at an average density of 19.5 per square mile (7.5/km2).

15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.