HARRIS TOWNSHIP

Harris Township was erected out of Ferguson, Potter and Spring at April Sessions 1835, and was named in compliment to James Harris, a prominent citizen of Bellefonte, and a noted land surveyor. Its territory was considerably diminished by the erection of College Township in 1875. Among its early settlers were Jacob Jack, Michael Jack, James Watson, John Irvin, James Galbraith, etc., and its earlier surveys dates back to 1767. Its oldest village, Boalsburg, was laid out by Andrew Stroup, December 10, 1810, and Boalsburg Academy was erected in 1853. Its other village, Linden Hall, is situated on the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroad. The Bear Meadows located in the southern end of the township is an interesting feature of the township and now the scene of extensive lumber operations.

(SOURCE: Eleventh Census of the Population of the United States Published by Boroughs and Townships, in Connection with a Business Directory of the Same, Bellefonte, Pa., 1890.)

HARRIS TOWNSHIP CENSUS RECORDS

1850--1,954
1860--1,949
1870--1,999
1880--942
1890--869
1900--826
1910--759
1920--715
1930--809
1940--943
1950--1,134
1960--2,070
1970--3,504
1980--3,415
1990--4,167
2000--4,657

(SOURCE: U.S. Census of Population, Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce.)

TOWNS & VILLAGES

Villages and towns in Harris Township include Linden Hall, Shingletown, Boalsburg, Springfield and Brookside. For a discussion of these, see Paul M. Dubbs, Where to Go and Place-Names of Centre County, 1961.

TAX ASSESSMENT RECORDS

Tax assessment records for Harris Township from 1836 forward can be found in the basement of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte. Persons wishing to use these records must first sign the Guest Researcher register in the Pennsylvania Room.

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