PHOTO COURTESY OF PENN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
This famous photo of Mount Nittany with Thompson Pond in the foreground by photographer Robert Beese was taken in the 1940s. The image shows a panoramic view of Mt. Nittany taken from the spot where College Avenue now goes under University Drive. It was on this mountain in 1764 that explorer James Potter, the first settler to document their travels to the area, declared to his travelling attendant, “My Heavens, Thompson, I have discovered an empire!” upon witnessing the breathtaking view of Penns Valley, located on the opposite side of the mountain.
BELLEFONTE — Centre County is marking a monumental milestone today, celebrating its 225th anniversary.
Formed on Feb. 13, 1800, by Act 2092 of the Pennsylvania legislature from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin and Northumberland Counties, the region has evolved from a frontier settlement to a key player in Pennsylvania and American history.
As Centre County commemorates its quasquibicentennial, the journey from its creation at the turn of the 19th century to its present-day success as a tourist destination and economic hub is a testament to the community’s resilience and influence.
Home to historic landmarks like Penn State University and significant figures including five Pennsylvania governors, the county has long been a hub of political, educational and natural significance. This year, the county will celebrate its heritage with special programming honoring the people and events that have shaped its legacy.
One of 10 new counties carved from the existing 26 in early 1800, the county, which was then part of the frontier that divided settled and unsettled land at the time of the American Revolution, was named for its central location in the state.
“Later on, a portion of Centre County was moved over to Clinton County, so at that point we were even bigger than we are now,” said Chair of the Centre County Board of Commissioners Mark Higgins, referencing the 1839 merger of parts of Lycoming and Centre Counties that created Clinton County.
The name bears the English spelling of Centre, as in 1800 the American spelling of “center” had yet to be popularized by Webster dictionaries, the first edition of which would be published in 1806.
“Centre County has been a key player in Pennsylvanian and American history,” said Higgins, who recognized the anniversary at the BOC’s weekly meeting.
According to the Centre County Historical Society, prior to becoming the second state, Native Americans, specifically the Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo and Iroquois tribes, “flourished in the early history of Centre County, planting the valleys in corn and squash, and hunting in the ridges.”
In 1764, a decade prior to the American Revolution, American-Irish settler James Potter was the first to document his exploration of the area.
“Following the West Branch of the Susquehanna upriver from Sunbury to Bald Eagle Creek, at its junction with Spring Creek, Potter headed south into unfamiliar land,” the historical society wrote of his journey.
After arriving approximately where Bellefonte now stands, Potter continued along an Indian trail to Mount Nittany. Atop the mountain, overlooking Penns Valley for the first time, he reportedly exclaimed to his attendant, “My Heavens, Thompson, I have discovered an empire!”
Acquiring land warrants for the area, he built that empire, starting with a humble fortified log home near Old Fort in 1774, according to the Centre County Historical Society.
In its early history, Centre County was known for producing coal, lumber, charcoal and iron ore.
“Fast forward a couple decades and Centre County would be known as the home of the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania, now known as Penn State,” Higgins said.
Founded in 1855, eight years later, the Farmer’s High School would be named the state’s first and only land-grant university.
“With its location in the center of the commonwealth and the Pennsylvania State University nestled in the county, many history shaping people have passed through Centre County, and the county has been home to many significant historical figures,” he added.
Never afoul of celebrity, notable people including legendary civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. and American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart both visited Centre County at the heights of their fame.
The county has also been home to five Pennsylvania governors, including William Bigler, William F. Packer, Andrew Gregg Curtin, James A. Beaver and Daniel H. Hastings. Notably, Andrew Curtin served as governor during one of Pennsylvania’s darkest periods, the American Civil War, where he became known for his strong leadership, while both General Beaver and Hastings held significant military positions during the conflict.
“In the past 225 years, Centre County has held many great treasures. In the next 225 years, surely, many more spectacular things are to come,” said Higgins.
Today, one of Centre County’s greatest assets is its abundant wildlife in a setting that still boasts the natural beauty that mystified James Potter well over 250 years ago.
“Fishermen’s Paradise, the Scotia Game Lands and Black Moshannon, Bald Eagle and Poe Valley State Parks are just a few of these public parks and facilities available to Centre Countians,” wrote the county historical society.
The commissioners noted that over the next year, the county will be highlighting and celebrating the history of Centre County, so be on the lookout for programming for the county’s quasquibicentennial!
“However you come to know Centre County, you’re almost certain to be abound by its charm,” said Higgins.