In 1681 the King of England granted the land that is presently Pennsylvania to William Penn and his family, but settlers from areas of Connecticut established many land claims in the northeast portion of Penn's property, including portions of what is now Nescopeck Township. Between that time and 1786, when the first settler, George Walker, settled along Nescopeck Creek, settlers, Native Americans, and Connecticut settlement people had frequent disputes that were at times quite violent. In 1786 the Connecticut settlers agreed to a Congressional treaty giving the land to the Penn family. At about the same time a road was laid out from the mouth of Nescopeck Creek to the Lehigh River, and many settlers began to arrive in the area. Luzerne County was organized by being separated from Northumberland County, and in 1792 Nescopeck Township was separated from Newport Township. Originally it covered a very large area, including what are now Hollenback, Sugarloaf, Butler, Hazel, and Black Creek townships, as well as Nescopeck Borough, which was not incorporated until 1896. With the establishment of the road and the erection of several mills along the creek, many settlers arrived from a number of countries, and besides the mills, agriculture became an important part of the culture. The first church was built in 1811 by Lutheran and German Reformed members along the main road. Later, as the population grew, two post offices, several hotels, and other churches were constructed. After a railroad from Nescopeck to Hazelton was built and a variety of employment opportunities were created in adjacent communities, the township's population grew rapidly, although little industrial growth occurred within the township because most of the land was woodlands or farmland. Over time the hotels, post offices, and one-room schoolhouses closed. Today the township has three churches representing three different denominations, one service station, several farm markets, one miniature golf course and recreation center, several small engine repair facilities, commercial greenhouses, and a large facility selling country decor items. The remainder of the land is residential or agricultural, with dairy and beef cattle, poultry, and vegetables raised there. The township also has an active volunteer fire company with a social hall used for local and regional events. Its present size is 18.8 square miles, with 0.7 square miles of water. As of 2007 the population was estimated at 1,102, almost the same as in the 2000 census, indicating very little population growth. The median age is 40, suggesting a high percentage of senior citizens in the area, and the township's future is uncertain as more younger people move in who are not interested in maintaining a rural and agricultural lifestyle.