The island was formerly known as Montour's Island, named for the Native American interpreter Andrew Montour, who lived on the land in colonial times. Before the American Revolution, the island was claimed by both Pennsylvania and Virginia. Both states awarded a claim to the island to citizens of their states. The dispute found its way to the Supreme Court in Irvine v. Sims's Lessee. Charles Simms won the case and gained possession of the island. It was eventually transferred to his partner in the lawsuit, General John Neville, for whom the island, and the township, is named. Neville lived on the island in his final years. The township was incorporated on April 8, 1854, from a part of Ohio Township. It obtained first-class status in 1901. A 1903 newspaper advertisement for real estate on the island promoted it as the next Manhattan Island.
The township boundary encompasses Neville Island and a surrounding portion of the Ohio River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which, of it is land and of it is water. The island is nearly five miles long.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,232 people, 624 households, and 313 families residing in the township. The population density was 929.4 people per square mile. There were 676 housing units at an average density of 510.0/sq mi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.32% White, 1.22% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.32% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were largely irrelevant. There were 624 households, out of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were married couplesliving together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.7% were non-families. 43.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.75. In the township the population was spread out, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males. The median income for a household in the township was $30,625, and the median income for a family was $44,083. Males had a median income of $31,827 versus $26,838 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,630. About 4.6% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
