Jefferson County

Brookville, the county seat, is a borough in Jefferson County 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh founded in 1830.

The area was initially settled in the late 1790s upon the arrival of brothers Joseph and Andrew Barnett and Samuel Scott who established the first settlement at the confluence of the Sandy Lick and Mill Creeks in the area now known as Port Barnett. Brookville's main source of economic development throughout the 19th century was the lumber industry. Brookville's many streams and its connection to larger rivers (the Clarion and later, the Allegheny) allowed for extensive construction of lumber mills along the watersheds and the floating of timber to markets in Pittsburgh. The town enjoyed great economic success during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, serving as home to several factories, breweries, an important railroad stop for local coal and timber and briefly the Twyford Motor Car Company, which operated from 1905 to 1907 and produced the world's first 4-wheel drive automobile.

The Ambiance of a 19th Century small town awaits you in historic Brookville listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A restored Victorian Main Street offers quaint shops and striking architecture. Take a self-guided walking tour through the 90-acre historic district and stop by the new Jefferson County History Center offering exhibits, publications and gift items. The Western Pennsylvania Laurel Festival, a weeklong celebration with craft and sidewalk sales, grand parade and much more, is held here the third week of June. Each December, Brookville dresses up in hoop skirts and morning coats for their Victorian Christmas Celebration, complete with sleigh bells, carolers and decorated windows.

Brockway was laid out in 1836 and became a lumbering center in the later half of the 19th century. Beginning in the 1890s, it became a center of glass manufacturing. The Taylor Memorial Museum is notable for its vast display of glass from local industry. Brockway is widely known for its Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration and one of the region’s most notable hiking trails, the 19-mile Clarion Little Toby Creek Trail. The trail begins here and winds along the banks of the Little Toby Creek and the picturesque Clarion River, passing old logging dams and ghost towns along the way.

Punxsutawney, famous the world over for its quirky Groundhog Day celebration, was originally a Native American campsite. Situated halfway between the Allegheny and Susquehanna rivers, its location made it convenient for travel; in fact, the town is located on the earliest known trail to the east, the Shamokin Path. Punxsutawney was officially incorporated as a borough in 1850. Coal mining has given way to light industry and, of course, tourism, the considerable fame and popularity of Punxsutawney Phil ensure that this charming small town is flooded with visitors each February 2.