Centre

Formed February 13, 1800 (29^th county)

Centre County (158,163), Bellefonte (6,075), State College (40,487)

The Greek Revival courthouse was built in 1805.  It stands at Allegheny and High streets.  Pennsylvania State Highway 144 passes in front of the courthouse.  Heidrich-Kennedy-Rishberger are the architects.  The building was enlarged in 1811, 1835, 1911 and 1964.  The courthouse was renovated in 1855.  The county was organized on February 13, 1800 from parts of Northumberland, Mifflin, Lycoming, and Huntingdon counties as the 29^th county with Bellefonte as the only county seat.  The county’s name is a geographical description of its location in the state.  Bellefonte is a French word for “beautiful fountain.”  Centre County is the birthplace of 2 Pennsylvania governors, William F. Packer and Andrew G. Curtin. 

Centre County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Four Common Pleas Court Judges and Six Magistrate Court Judges serve Centre County.  The county is in the central part of the state.  The geographical center of Pennsylvania is 2.5 miles southwest of Bellefonte in the county.  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is southwest and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is southeast of the county.  The county center is 4.2 miles Southwest of Bellefonte nearer Grove Park.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Clinton, Union, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Blair, and Clearfield counties. 

The area of the county is 1112 square miles.  It is 5 out of 67 in the state.  It ranks 22 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 142.2 persons per square mile making it 33 out of 67 in the state.  Centre County has 34.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 80 travels east to west through the county from Clinton County to Clearfield County.  United States Highway 220 is joined with Interstate Highway 80 from Clinton County, splits and goes southwest into Blair County.  United States Highway 322 comes from Mifflin County, southeast, and goes to Clearfield County, west.  The county looks like a tug boat.  Bellefonte is located near the center of the county.  State College is in the southern quarter of the county.  Bellefonte is the county seat and State College is the largest city.  Bellefonte is 3.8% of the county population while State College is 25.6% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced BEL-FONT.  This county is in the State College Metropolitan Statistical Area.