Its name derives from the Ojibwe word ziibiiweng meaning "by the stream.

"[4] As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,944 people, 1,252 households, and 832 families residing in the township.

There were 1,351 housing units at an average density of 41.4 per square mile (16.0/km2).

There were 1,252 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families.

31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.