Present day Markey Township was established on April 21, 1887, when it was divided from Gerrish Township by an act of the Michigan Legislature. Markey Township was founded as a sawmill settlement by William Markey.
The first annual meeting of the Township was held the first Monday in May 1887, at the home of Benjamin Foster.
The Township established its own post office in 1905. In later years mail was delivered from Roscommon. The mail carrier was Otto Meinzen. During the winter months he would hire Earl Schicker to deliver mail by sleigh.
In 1890 the population in the township was 28 persons. In 2000 the census county was 2,424.
Electric service came to Markey Township in 1932.
The former Markey Township Hall was located at 4974 E. Houghton Lake Drive, Houghton Lake, Michigan, next to Truman Gardner Park. The building was demolished in October 2025, and the property is planned for future park use.
On February 21, 2021, Markey Township relocated to its current building at 7400 E. Houghton Lake Drive, Houghton Lake, Michigan, 48629. The building was previously known as The Building Center and Peterson’s Standard Service.
Peterson’s Standard Service, 1972, now the Markey Township Hall.
