| |
Centre County, PA
|
Created on February 13, 1800, from parts of Huntingdon,
Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland Counties. Its name
refers to its geographical location at the center of the
state. Bellefonte, the county seat, was incorporated as
a borough on March 28, 1806. Its name, French for
“beautiful spring,” alludes to a large spring there and
is said to have been suggested by a visitor, the famous
French statesman Talleyrand.
 Early
settlements at Bald Eagle’s Nest and Penns Valley
occurred around 1770, but the discovery of iron ore in
1784 led to iron manufacturing, and Bellefonte was laid
out in 1795. Iron making flourished until it was
eclipsed by the high quality of Lake Superior iron ore.
Centre County’s last furnace closed in 1921. Much
bituminous coal has been produced, and the northern
section of the county yielded abundant lumber that was
used for charcoal and also floated southward. Because of
the coal production railroads were constructed into the
county. Paper manufacturing flourished in Bellefonte and
Cerro Corporation opened a brass mill in 1915. Today
lime and gypsum are produced. Agriculture has
flourished, and Centre is now about fifteenth in the
State in value of livestock and seventh in alfalfa
production. Farms occupy 21 percent of the land. The
Pennsylvania State University, which began as Farmer’s
High School in 1855, has influenced the character of the
county in many ways.
Underground Railroad stations were at Bellefonte and
Half Moon. Since 1912 the State Prison at Rockview has
affected the county’s economy. Publications and
electronic, clay, and glass products are manufactured in
Centre County, and the value added to the economy by
manufacturing increased 46 percent between 1987 to 1992.
Governors Bigler, Packer, and Curtin were born here.
Governor Beaver attended school in Pine Grove, and
Governor Hastings taught school in Bellefonte. |
|
|
|
|
