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Pennsylvania Counties

Centre County

Click here for useful research links.

 Centre County gets its name from being the geographical center of Pennsylvania. The county was created on February 13, 1800, from parts of Huntingdon County, Lycoming County, Mifflin County and Northumberland County. The county seat, Bellefonte, incorporated on March 28, 1806, is a french word meaning "beautiful spring." Some historians believe the name was suggested by the French statesman Talleyrand. Centre County could also be called the county of governors. Governors Bigler, Packer, and Curtin were born in the county, Governor Beaver attended school in Pine Grove, and Governor Hastings taught school in Bellefonte.

Click here for a more detailed early history of
Centre County(1883)
Looking to further your research in Centre County? Try these book titles below.
Centre County: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1915 Pride of the Lions: The Biography of Joe Paterno Centre Co. was carved out of
these four counties in 1800: Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland
Did you know? The Pennsylvania State University, when it was incorporated in 1855, was then known as The Farmers High School. Although they granted college degrees with the idea of promoting the application of science to agriculture, the fact was many farmers distrusted traditional college studies. Calling it The Farmers' High School was a marketing ploy to allay such prejudices. The name lasted until 1862. Click here for a brief history of the Pennsylvania State University.

Other Useful Centre Co. Links

  • Centre Co. Convention and Vistors Bureau

  • Centre Daily Times

  • Centre Hall Borough Official Website

  • Genealogy Queries (Cousin Connect)

  • Ferguson Township Official Website

  • Haines Township Official Website

  • Halfmoon Township Official Website

  • Historical Records Imaging Project

  • History Tour of Centre Co.

  • List of Boroughs and Townships w/origins

  • Maps, Centre Co. Townships

  • Municipalities Incorporation Dates
     (PDF - requires Acrobat Reader)

  • National Register of Historic Places, Centre Co.

  • National Register Eligible Properties, Centre Co.

  • Old Photos from Centre Co.

  • Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State Univ.

  • Pasto Agricultural Museum

  • Penn State Univ. Libraries

  • Penn State Univ. Libraries Catalog

  • Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boalsburg

  • Philipsburg Official Website

  • Rootweb Centre Co. Genealogy

  • Stover - Stober Genealogy Page

  • Fred Waring's America Collection

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