Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships: A small part of the village of Swanton is located in northwestern Swanton Township.

Formed in the 1830s, Swanton Township was originally called Wing Township after Chandler Wing, an early settler.

Its name was changed to Swanton Township effective April 7, 1851.

[5] On October 29, 1960, the Cal Poly football team plane crash occurred in the township, killing 22 of the 48 people on board.

The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1.