On May 13, 1804, General Abner Lacock, the first Congressman from Beaver County, laid out a small town along Little Beaver Creek in Darlington Township. The entire town was formed from the combined landholdings of three men- John Greer, William Martin, and Thomas Sprott-but although it was only three streets wide and five streets long, the little Borough of Darlington was destined to become one of Beaver County's most historical areas-home of the famous Greersburg Academy. The Borough of Darlington, incorporated on March 28, 1820, was originally known as Greersburg. It was named after John Greer who drew lots with the other owners of the land to see who would have the privilege of naming the town. The name, Greersburg, however, was often confused with the town of Greensburg, so the name was changed on April 6, 1830, to its present designation.
America has generally perceived the importance of education as a means of raising the general elevation of society, but the early Presbyterian ministers of Western Pennsylvania also had a second reason, viz., "to raise up a class of educated men to meet the demand for a competent supply of ministers of the gospel." It was such ideas that led Rev. Thomas E. Hughes of Greersburg to propose the establishment of an academy. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Erie, held at Mt. Pleasant Church on April 13, 1802, his idea was adopted through a resolution in which the Presbytery pledged "their aid to erect an academy at Greersburg." Steps were taken at once to carry out this resolution; in fact, the work of building was begun during the summer of the same year, 1802. The determined Rev. Hughes made many a journey on horseback to raise funds for the academy. Finally on February 24, 1806, the Legislature of Pennsylvania chartered the academy and gave it an appropriation of $600. This institution is considered to have been the earliest academy west of the Alleghenies.
Many famous men passed through the "old stonepile" as the Greersburg Academy building came to be known, among whom were the Rev. William H. McGuffey, author of the McGuffey Readers, and according to local legend, John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame. In 1886 the building was sole to the Pittsburgh, Lisbon, and Western Railroad for use as a depot. Today it is being restored by the Little Beaver Historical Society.
The Darlington of today is not the Darlington of the past In the old stage-coach days, most of the traffic between Cleveland and Pittsburgh traveled through the streets of the borough. The town prospered as a relay and supply station for all important stages passing from the region to the northern part of Pennsylvania, but the arrival of the railroad had a significant effect when the mainline bypassed Darlington and went through the nearby village of New Galilee. The stages were discontinued, and Darlington subsequently experienced a general decline in business interests. Today the town is a small residential community of a little over 300 people. The Darlington Brick Company, located just outside of town, is the principal employer. Borough residents, along with those of the neighboring township, are included in the Blackhawk School District.