NCPA History-Folklore


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History & Folklore
Centre County

  • Formed: 13 Feb 1800 from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin and Northumberland counties.
  • Name derived from: Location—the geographical center of the state.
  • County seat: Bellefonte.
    • From the French word meaning beautiful spring. A political exile named Charles Maurice (Duke of Taleyrand-Perigord) suggested the name when he visited Center Furnace. Laid out 1795 by Col. James Dunlap and his son-in-law, James Harris.

Chronological Township Formation
 Centre County had eight original townships—Potter, Upper Bald Eagle, Lower Bald Eagle, Haines, Patton, Miles, Centre, and Warrior's Mark.
1774
 Potter: One of the eight original townships, formed in Northumberland County from parts of Bald Eagle, Penn's and Buffalo townships.
1786
 Upper Bald Eagle and Lower Bald Eagle townships: Two of the eight original townships. Formed from Lycoming County's Bald Eagle Township.
1789
 Potter Township split between Northumberland County and the newly formed Mifflin County. The portion that went to Mifflin County retained the name Potter Township.
1790
 Haines: One of the eight original townships. The portion of Potter Township that remained in Northumberland County was renamed Haines Township.
1794
 Patton: One of the eight original townships. Formed from Upper Bald Eagle Township in Mifflin County.
1795
 Lycoming County is formed from Northumberland County townships Muncy, Loyalsock, Lycoming, Pine Creek, Washington, Nippenose, and Lower Bald Eagle. Lycoming contributed Bald Eagle Township to Centre Co. in 1800.
1797
 Miles: One of the eight original townships. Formed from Haines Township, Northumberland County.
1798
 Warrior's Mark: One of the eight original townships. Formed from Franklin Township, Huntingdon County.
1799
 Centre: One of the eight original townships.
1800
 Centre County formed.
1801
 Spring: Formerly Upper Bald Eagle Township. The name was changed in 1801.
1801
 Bald Eagle: Formerly Lower Bald Eagle Township. Lower was dropped in 1801 after Upper Bald Eagle changes its name to Spring Township.
1801
 Ferguson: Formed from Patton Township.
1801
 Half Moon: Petitions were made to rename Warrior's Mark Township to Half Moon Township.
1802
 Petition to rename Warrior's Mark Township granted. Now called Half Moon Township.
1810
 Howard: Formed from the northern portion of Centre Township.
1810
 Walker: Formed from the southern portion of Centre Township.
1810
 Centre Township as a name disappeared.
1814
 Boggs: Formed from Spring Township.
1814
 Rush: Formed from Half Moon Township.
1814
 Covington: Spring Township renamed Covington Township in late 1814 and early 1815.
1814
 Jenner: Half Moon Township renamed Jenner for the last few months of 1814.
1815
 In January, Jenner Township returned to the name Half Moon Township.
1815
 In April, Covington returned to the name Spring Township.
1817
 Lamar: Formed from Lower Bald Eagle Township.
1819
 Logan: Formed from Miles Township.
1826
 Gregg: Formed from Potter, Miles, and Haines townships.
1835
 Harris: Formed from Potter, Ferguson, and Spring townships.
1838
 Huston: Formed from Patton Township.
1839
 Bald Eagle Township taken from Centre County for the newly formed county of Clinton.
1839
 Logan Township taken from Centre County for the newly formed county of Clinton.
1839
 Lamar Township taken from Centre County for the newly formed county of Clinton.
1839
 Snow Shoe: Formed from Boggs Township.
1840
 Marion: Formed from Walker Township.
1844
 Penn: Formed from Haines Township.
1845
 Liberty: Formed from Howard Township.
1845
 Taylor: Formed from Half Moon Township.
1847
 Worth: Formed from Taylor Township.
1850
 Union: Formed from Boggs Township.
1853

Benner: Formed from Spring Township.
1856
 Burnside: Formed from Snow Shoe Township.
1857
 Curtain: Formed from Harris and Benner townships.
1875
 College: Formed from Harris and Benner townships.


Records Location

  • Carlisle
  • Bedford
  • Huntingdon
  • Lewistown
  • Sunbury
  • Bellefonte


Early Business and Occupations

  • Mills
  • Iron ore. Seven iron furnaces were in operation by 1840.
  • Limestone
  • Lumber
  • Farming


Bibliography

  • Where to Go and Place-Names of Centre County, by Paul M. Dubbs, 1961
  • History of Centre & Clinton Counties, by John Blair Linn, 1883
  • Index to Linn's History of Centre & Clinton Counties, by J. Thomas Mitchell, 1962
  • History of Centre & Other Counties, by I. D. Rupp, 1847
  • History of Centre County, by Fred Kurtz, Sr.., 1900
  • Deaths in Centre County, 1889–1920, by John H. Wion, 1969
  • Wills of Centre County, 1800-1853, by Ira F. Fravel, 1939
  • Marriages, Sinking Creek Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William Stuart, 1969
  • History of Centre County, by D. S. Maynard, 1877
  • The Centre County Heritage, by Historical Society, (semi-annual publication), 1956–1973
  • Township Names of Old Northumberland County, Charles Fisher Snyder of the Northumberland Historical Society, 1936


Links
See these sites for more information on Centre County and its history, or to post queries regarding Centre County genealogy: