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I received some requests for the information I have on township and borough origins for Cambria County. There may be some errors and formatting problems. One error I see is the statement that the McGuire cabin on Chest Creek was built in 1788. Actually, the cabin was built in 1768. He moved to the area permanently in 1788. I have an interesting newspaper debate over whether the McGuire Settlement near Loretto or the Adams settlement near Johnstown should be considered the "first White settlement in Cambria County." Anyway, here goes:
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CAMBRIA COUNTY, Ebensburg, Pa.
The territory comprised within the limits of Cambria County was formed in to a separate [sic] County by an Act of Assembly passed the 26th day of March, 1804. The territory comprising it was taken from the Counties of Huntington and Somerset. The Act provided "That so much of the Counties of Huntingdon and Somerset, included in the following boundaries, to-wit:
Beginning at the Conemaugh river, at the southeast corner of Indiana County, thence by a straight line to the Canoe place on the West Branch of the Susquehanna; thence easterly along the line of Clearfield County to the southwesterly Corner of Centre County, on the heads of Moshannon Creek; thence southerly along the Allegheny mountain to Somerset and Bedford County lines; thence along the lines of Somerset and Bedford counties about seventeen miles until a due West course from thence will strike the main branch of Paint Creek; thence down said Creek, the different courses thereof till it empties into Stoney Creek; thence down Stoney Creek the different courses to the mouth of Mill Creek, thence a due West line till it intersects the lines of Somerset and Westmoreland counties; then northerly along the line to the place of beginning; be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be henceforth called Cambria County." It is bounded by Clearfield on the North, Blair and Bedford on the East, Somerset on the South and Westmoreland and Indiana on the West. It was originally divided into three townships, Allegheny, Cambria and Conemaugh. The following present townships were the first three: Allegheny, Cambria and Conemaugh.
Land Area: 694.9 Square Miles.
TOWNSHIPS, FORMED FROM AND COUNTIES
Allegheny, Cambria and Conemaugh Were The Three Original Townships Created When Cambria County was formed By an Act of Assembly Passed the 26th day of March, 1804.
| Township |
Formed out of: |
| Summerhill |
Conemaugh Feb. 10, 1810 - R. D. 1 - P. 29 |
| Clearfield |
Allegheny Dec. 31, 1822 - R. D. 1 - P-85-95 |
| Susquehanna |
Allegheny & Cambria Jan. 6, 1825 - R.D. 1 - P-84-113 |
| Jackson |
Summerhill, Cambria & Conemaugh Twp. Jan. 3, 1828 - R. D. 1 - P-134 |
| Washington |
Summerhill, Allegheny & Cambria Jan. 6, 1831 - Twp. F |
| Richland |
Conemaugh April 2, 1833 - R. D. 1 - P-164 |
| White |
Summerhill, Allegheny & Cambria July 6, 1838 - Twp. File |
| Carroll |
Susquehanna Twp. Jan. 1, 1840 - R.D. 1 - P-181 |
| Blacklich [sic] |
Cambria and Jackson Oct. 10, 1850 - R. D. 2 - P-98 |
| Chest |
Susquehanna and White Twp. Dec. 10 1853 - O.S.D. - Vol. 3 P-289 |
| Munster |
Cambria, Allegheny & Washington Twp. Sept. 9, 1854 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 3 P-556 |
| Taylor |
Conemaugh Twp. Sept. 16, 1857 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 3 P-483 |
| Yoder |
Conemaugh Twp. July 17, 1858 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 3 P-556 |
| Croyle |
Summerhill Sept. 9, 1858 - Q.S.D. - Vol.3 P-556 |
| Gallitzin |
Allegheny June 4, 1866 - Q.S.D. - Vol.5 P-74 |
| Adams |
Richland Jan. 5, 1870 - Q.S.D. - Vol.1 P-9 (Dist. Ct.) |
| Barr |
Susquehanna, Blacklick and Cambria Twp. Sept. 4, 1872 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 6 P-50 |
| Stoneycreek |
Conemaugh Jan. 4, 1876 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 6 P-307 |
| Dean |
Clearfield July 10, 1877 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 6 P-381 |
| Elder |
Chest Feb. 12, 1878 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 7 P-34 |
| Portage |
Summerhill & Washington Mar. 4, 1878 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 7 P-61 |
| Lower Yoder |
Yoder Twp. Sept. 1, 1879 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 7 P-237 |
| Upper Yoder |
Yoder Twp. Sept. 1, 1879 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 7 P-237 |
| Reade |
White Twp. Sept. 1, 1879 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 7 P-237 |
| East Taylor |
Taylor Twp. June 2, 1884 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 8 P-120 |
| West Taylor |
Taylor Twp. June 2, 1884 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 8 P-120 |
| Cresson |
Washington Twp. Dec. 4, 1893 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 10 P-377 |
| Middle Taylor |
West Taylor Twp. June 30, 1908 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 18 P-466 |
| East Carroll |
Carroll Twp. Sept. 5,1910 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 21 P-138 |
| West Carroll |
Carroll Twp. Sept. 5,1910 - Q.S.D. - Vol. 31 [sic] P-138 |
Note:
1. Carroll, Yoder and Taylor are no longer Townships, having been divided into other districts.
2. There are a total of 30 Townships in Cambria County.
Cambria County Facts
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"Cambria" is derived from the ancient Celtic word for Wales, Cymri or Gymra.
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First permanent settlers known in Cambria were in 1771.
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First permanent settlers known in Johnstown were in 1777.
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In 1788 Michael McGuire built a cabin on Chest Creek.
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In 1793 Joseph Johns settled at mouth of Stoneycreek river.
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In 1795 settlement of Beula founded along the Blacklick.
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In 1796 a Welsh colony settled where Ebensburg now stands.
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In 1805 Ebensburg chosen as the County seat by a special Act passed March 29, 1805.
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In 1807, January 26, Cambria County by Act of Assembly was given complete status.
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In 1808 John Young was First President Judge.
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1 - 3rd Class City - JOHNSTOWN
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1 - 1st Class Township - STONYCREEK
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29 - Second Class Townships
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TOTAL ELECTION DISTRICTS 199
Johnstown City 47
Boroughs & Townships 152
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CAMBRIA COUNTY - 4th Class
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Formed on March 26, 1804 from parts of Huntingdon and Somerset Counties.
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Third Class City
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Name of City Incorporated Prior Status: Johnstown Dec. 18, 1889 Laid out as a town in 1800.
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Incorporated as the Borough of Conemaugh on January 12, 1831.
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Name changed to Johnstown on April 14, 1834
Boroughs Town Laid Out
| Name of Borough |
Date Incorporated
or Settled |
Incorporated From |
| Ashville |
Mar. 9, 1887 (1) |
1842 Gallitzin Township June 6, 1887 (2) |
| Barnesboro |
Mar. 5, 1893 (1) |
Susquehanna Township Mar. 5, 1894 (2) |
| Brownstown |
June 10, 1908 |
Lower Yoder Township |
| Carrolltown |
Mar. 30, 1858 |
Carroll Township |
| Cassandra |
Sept. 23, 1908 |
Washington Township |
| Chest Springs |
Apr. 19, 1858 (1) |
Allegheny Township May 10, 1858 (2) |
| Cresson |
June 7, 1902 (1) |
Cresson Township Dec. 4, 1905 (2) |
| Daisytown |
June 9, 1893 |
S 1776 Conemaugh Township |
| Dale |
Mar. 9, 1891 |
Stonycreek Township |
| East Conemaugh |
Sept. 10, 1868 |
Taylor Township |
| Ebensburg |
Jan. 15, 1825 |
S 1796 Cambria Township |
| Ehrenfield |
Aug. 4, 1956 |
Croyle Township |
| Ferndale |
June 1, 1896 |
S 1785 Upper Yoder Township |
| Franklin |
Mar. 9, 1868 |
Conemaugh Township |
| Gallitzin |
Dec. 3, 1873 |
1849 Gallitzin Township |
| Geistown |
1930 |
S 1812 Richland Township |
| Hastings |
Apr. 16, 1894 (1) |
1889 Elder Township Dec. 4, 1894 (2) |
| Lilly |
June 11, 1883 |
S 1806 Washington Township |
| Lorain |
Nov. 4, 1915 |
Stonycreek Township |
| Loretto |
Mar. 8, 1845 |
1816 Allegheny Township |
| Nanty-Glo |
Sept. 2, 1918 |
S 1797 Blacklick and Jackson Twps. |
| Patton |
Sept. 4, 1893 |
S 1844 Carroll, Chest, Clearfield and Elder Townships |
| Portage |
Oct. 7, 1890 |
Portage Township |
| Sankertown |
June 11, 1906 |
Cresson Township |
| Scalp Level |
Nov. 6, 1898 |
S Before 1835 Richland Township |
| South Fork |
Aug. 3, 1887 |
Croyle Township |
| Southmont |
June 2, 1919 |
S About 1850 Upper Yoder Township |
| Spangler |
Nov. 13, 1893 (1) |
Susquehanna Township Dec. 13, 1893 (2) |
| Summerhill |
Sept. 6, 1892 (1) |
1810 Croyle Township Sept. 4, 1892 (2) |
| Tunnelhill |
Dec. 5, 1876 |
Gallitzin Township |
| Vintondale |
Sept. 4, 1907 |
Jackson Township |
| Westmont |
June 13, 1892 |
S About 1788 Upper Yoder Township |
| Wilmore |
Feb. 10, 1859 |
1831 Summerhill Township |
| Name Incorporated |
Settled |
Incorporated From |
| First Class Township |
| Stonycreek |
Jan. 4, 1876 |
Conemaugh Township |
| Second Class Townships |
| Adams |
Jan. 5, 1870 |
Richland Township |
| Allegheny |
1807 |
1788 |
| Barr |
Sept. 4, 1872 |
Blacklick, Cambria and Susquehanna Townships |
| Blacklick |
Oct. 10, 1850 |
Cambria, Carroll and Jackson Townships |
| Cambria |
1798 |
|
| Chest |
Dec. 10, 1853 |
White and Susquehanna Twps |
| Clearfield |
Dec. 31, 1822 |
Incorporated while part of Allegheny County |
| Conemaugh |
1801 |
|
| Cresson |
Dec. 4, 1893 |
Washington Township |
| Croyle |
Sept. 9, 1858 |
1802 Summerhill Township |
| Dean |
July 10, 1877 |
Clearfield Township |
| East Carroll |
Sept. 5, 1910 |
Carroll Township |
| East Taylor |
June 2, 1884 |
Taylor Township |
| Elder |
Feb. 12, 1878 |
About 1800 Chest Township |
| Gallitzin |
June 4, 1866 |
About 1800 Allegheny Township |
| Jackson |
Jan. 3, 1828 |
Cambria and Summerhill Townships |
| Lower Yoder |
Sept. 1, 1879 |
1820 Yoder Township |
| Middle Taylor |
June 30, 1908 |
West Taylor Township |
| Munster |
Dec. 9, 1854 |
Allegheny, Cambria and Washington Townships |
| Portage |
Mar. 4, 1878 |
Summerhill and Washington Townships |
| Reade |
Sept. 1, 1879 |
White Township |
| Richland |
Apr. 2, 1833 |
About 1780 Conemaugh Township |
| Summerhill |
Feb. 7, 1810 (1) |
1792 Cambria Township, Feb. 10, 1810 (2) |
| Susquehanna |
Jan. 6, 1825 |
Allegheny and Cambria Twps. |
| Upper Yoder |
Sept. 1, 1879 |
1820 Yoder Township |
| Washington |
1834 (1) |
Allegheny, Cambria and Jan. 6, 1831 (2) Summerhill Townships |
| West Carroll |
Sept. 5, 1910 |
Carroll Township |
| West Taylor |
June 2, 1884 |
Taylor Township |
| White |
July 6, 1838 |
Before 1850 Clearfield Township |
Notes:
(1) Godcharles
(2) Cambria County Historical Society, A Brief History Commemorating the Sesquicentennial of Cambria County (Ebensburg, Pa. Cambria County History Society, 1954).
Source
1. "Origin of Cambria County," Office of the County Commissioners, Cambria County Pa. (Ebensburg, Pa., n. pub.), undated two page monograph with supplemental data. Prepared under offices of Commissioners Joseph P. Roberts, Joseph B. Gorman and Raymond B. Johnson.
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