On February 18, 1809, Dr Robert H Rose purchased 248 tracts of land totaling about 100,000 acres which at that time was part of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

A part of the land purchased would later form the whole of Silver Lake Township, Susquehanna County.

[3] The land was deeded from Anne Francis to Rose with Richard Penn Jr., the grandson of William Penn, signing the deed after noting his equitable interest and confirming the sale.

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 1,716 people, 708 households, and 512 families residing in the township.

22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.