It is part of the Back Mountain, a 118 square mile region in northern Luzerne County.

[2] Gideon Bebee is believed to be one of the earliest settlers in modern-day Franklin Township; he came to the area in the 18th century.

The Pease family, Ezra Olds, and Michael Munson followed in Bebee's footsteps.

[3] Franklin Township was formed from parts of Kingston, Dallas, Northmoreland, and Exeter Townships when a Luzerne County Court authorized its organization in the early 1840s.

Other smaller lakes and streams (e.g., Sutton Creek and Cider Run) are scattered throughout the community.

At the 2000 census there were 1,601 people, 629 households, and 481 families living in the township.