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Beaver County marks its 175th anniversary this year. Half a century of war and the threat of savage Indian attacks ended with General Anthony Wayne's successful expedition of 1794-95 and the Treaty of Greenville. The years of peace that followed encouraged settlement of the land north of the Ohio, which, in turn, created a need for local government in this vast area.
The legislature responded on March 12, 1800, by passing "an Act to erect certain parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, and Lycoming counties into separate counties."
In this manner, Beaver. County was erected, along with seven others (Armstrong, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango and Warren).
The boundaries of Beaver were defined by the legislature as follows: "That those parts of the counties of Allegheny and Washington included within the following boundaries, viz., Beginning at the mouth of Big Sewickley Creek on the Ohio river; thence up the said creek to the west line of Alexander's district of depreciation lands; thence northerly along the said line and continuing the same course to the north line of the first donation district-, thence westerly along the said line to the western boundary of the State; thence southerly along the said boundary across the Ohio River to a point in the said boundary, from which a line to be run at a right angle easterly will strike White's Mill on Raccoon Creek, and from such point along the said easterly line to the said mill, leaving the said mill in the county of Beaver; thence on a straight line to the mouth of Big Sewickley Creek, the place of beginning; be, and the same is hereby erected into a separate county to be henceforth called Beaver County,- and the place of holding the courts of justice shall be at Beavertown, in the said county."
About one third of this territory was lost in 1849, when Lawrence County was formed from parts of Beaver and Mercer (see page 22). Beaver County, in a century and three-quarters, has progressed to international renown for its industrial development. The products of our factories are distributed over the world.
The beginning ot our industrial endeavor can be traced to 1789 with the contribution of White's Mill (then in Washington County). Significantly, the early grist mill, pictured here, is mentioned in the county boundary description.
Progress has passed by the pastoral setting in Raccoon Creek valley where White's Mill once stood, but the valleys of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers, providing, in turn, water power, transportation, and cooling water, are host to a remarkable concentration and variety of heavy industry. Standing proudly on her pioneer traditions, strengthened by enterprising people from distant lands, Beaver County looks to the future with confidence.