The township includes the cities of Cold Spring and Richmond.

The present name, adopted in 1870, is in honor of Samuel Wakefield, a county official.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,103 people, 1,046 households, and 875 families residing in the township.

There were 1,151 housing units at an average density of 37.2 per square mile (14.4/km2).

13.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.