Surveys on Bald Eagle creek in the territory of Worth were made as early as May 17, 1770, but its whole territory nearly is covered by the Gratz block of surveys of July 1793. Cyrus Cartwright made the first improvement about 1785 where Daniel Frantz now lives. George Records, George Ardry and William Kelly were among its early settlers. The pioneer grist mill was erected by Abraham Elder in 1806 in the Western end of the township. Its village, Port Matilda, was laid out in 1850 by Clement Beckwith, Esq. The township was erected out of Taylor by a decree of Court July 27, 1848, and called Worth in honor of General Worth, one of the heroes of the war with Mexico.
(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.)
WORTH TOWNSHIP CENSUS FIGURES
1850--302 1860--246 1870--650 1880--809 1890--840 1900--732 1910--754 1920--831 1930--324 1940--409 1950--354 1960--357 1970--475 1980--568 1990--709 2000--835
(Source: U.S. Census of Population, Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce.)
TAX ASSESSMENT RECORDS
Tax assessment records for Worth Township from 1849 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.