The township form of government was brought to America in 1620 by the Pilgrims. There are 88 counties in Ohio and currently over 1,300 townships. The word "Sylvan" means "abounding in woods, groves, or trees" and that is where Sylvania got its name.
In February of 1835 Ohio Legislatures ordered the establishment of Sylvania Township within the boundaries of then Wood County, Ohio.
When Sylvania Township was established in 1835 the boundaries included all of what became Sylvania Township, part of what became Springfield Township, almost all of what became Richfield Township, parts of what became Carey Township (Adams Township) and a small portion of what became Spencer Township.
The first settlers to the area were Judge William Wilson and General David White, who together started to purchase large tracts of land with plans to build a town.
It was the Ten-Mile Creek and the Ottawa River that brought the first Indians to the area, and it was these same bodies of water that attracted the first white settlers to Sylvania Township. Soon after he settled here General White built a saw mill which helped the new settlers build the first homes, businesses and school.
In September of 1835 Lucas County, Ohio was established by taking a portion of the land that had been part of Wood County. Sylvania Township became part of Lucas County at this time, and on April 4, 1836 the residents of Sylvania Township, Lucas County, Ohio held public elections and their organizational meeting under their new county government.