Howard Township was erected at January Sessions 1810, by dividing what was then Centre Township, and called Howard as a tribute of respect to the great philanthropist, John Howard. Survey was made in the territory of Howard as early as November 1769, and the earliest settler was David DeLong, who located where the village of Howard now stands in 1778. Capt. Thomas Askey was also an early settler. James Packer, father of Gov. Wm. F. Packer, built a mill in the territory of Howard as early as 1793. Howard Township originally embraced Curtin, Liberty and parts of Boggs, Snow Shoe and Burnside Townships. Howard Borough was erected out of it May 3, 1864. Mountain Eagle is a village post-office in Howard Township. Howard Iron Works were first erected in 1829 by the Harris'.
(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.)
HOWARD TOWNSHIP CENSUS RECORDS
1850--1,292 1860--1,106 1870--875 1880--947 1890--940 1900--819 1910--709 1920--619 1930--606 1940--644 1950--684 1960--797 1970--732 1980--931 1990--1,004 2000--924
(SOURCE: U.S. Census of Population, Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce.)
TOWNS & VILLAGES
Villages and towns in Howard Township include Mt. Eagle, Mechanicsville, Mountain Eagle and Manntown. For a further discussion of these, see Paul M. Dubbs, Where to Go and Place-Names of Centre County, 1961.
TAX ASSESSMENT RECORDS
Tax assessment records for Howard Township from 1811 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.