Freedom was founded in 1832 by Jonathan Betz and Stephen Phillips, co-owners of a steamboat building business. They purchased about one hundred acres of land for $2,000.00 from General Abner Lacock. The original village was surveyed and plotted by Simon Meredith. All of the lots, streets and alleys were located with special preference to the steam-boat building business, the only business at the time. Later, an additional 39 acres were purchased from Captain William Vicary for $2,500.00.
About 150 people first located in Freedom and it grew rapidly. The town was laid out on a Tuesday and by the following Saturday, fourteen houses had been built.
In 1833, Freedom contained 40 dwellings, 47 families, and about 320 people. Boat building and distilling were its two main businesses.
By 1837, Freedom had grown to a population of about 600, and 100 dwellings. New businesses included a foundry, and steam engines manufactured by J. Baker and Company, a large steam sawmill, and an extensive distillery and gristmill owned by J. Stahl and Company. The merchants at that time were: Phillips and McConnell, Stile and Fisher, Phillip Bentel, John Donnan, J. W. Mead, three innkeepers: Samuel Furnier, J. W. Snead, and Thomas G. Kerr and two physicians: Drs. William Smith and T. F. Robinson.
In 1896, Saint Clair Borough joined with Freedom Borough as Greater Freedom. (Saint Clair Borough was located in what is currently Freedom's second ward - Dutchman's Run to 12th street.) It was laid out by Captain William Vicary and was often called Vicary or Vicary Extension.
Consideration $2000.
Conveys a tract of land situate in New Sewickley
Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described as
follows: "Beginning at a post on the Ohio River near a marked
linn tree thence by land of William Vicary north 87 degrees east
178 perches to a walnut sapling, thence by land of said Lacock
north six degrees east 118 perches to a post thence by land of
the same north 17 degrees west 30 perches to a small gum standing
in a ravine, thence by land of same south 38 degrees west 144
perches to a post, thence north 47 degrees 30 minutes west, 12
perches to a post, thence south 52 degrees 30 minutes west, 89
perches to a post on the River, thence by the same south 35 degrees
east, 35 perches to the place of beginning. Containing 101 acres,
12 perches, be the same more or less, being part of lot No. 36
of depreciation land."