Elk+County

Elk County By-Josh Spock

Elk County was created on April 18,1843. It rapidly gained many different cultures for its land. The county possesses a great heritage that runs rampant through the soul and fiber of the area. Elk County's first inhabitants were presumed to be the Seneca or Complanter indians. Ruins of the indians forts have been found near Russell City in Highland Township. Another indian earthwork possible could be situated in Jones Township. The old kittanning indian trial, the most direst route from Olean, New York to Kittanning passes through western Elk county. The first pioneers probably come into the region during the last decade of the eighteenth century. About 1787 John Bennett and his father came up the susquehanna River and the Bennett's Branch point where Caledonia in Jay Township is now found. The abundant forest lands primarily attracted the early settler. The first industries were indicative of the nature terrain. They found the wilderness dense and challenging where the ligh of the sun rarely penetrated the damp and enmeshed undergrowth. But soon enough logger were able to take down many of the trees in Elk county and rafted them down the Clarion, Allegheny and Ohio rivers to many places such as Pittsburgh,Louisville and New orleans. Other industries such as coal mining and the tanning business soon followed. Today, the powder mental and carbon industries are thriving in the County and a large percentage of the population, in 1993, were employed in these industries. The evolution of Elk County's borders is interesting. It took almost 30 years for the County's outline map to assume its present shape, which is in the form of a crouched eagle in flight. The first election for Elk county was held on October 10th, 1843.The first courthouse was of wood frame construction and was completed in May 1845. It is presumed that the first courthouse stood on or near the present courthouse. The contractior for the 1845 Courthouse were Levi G Clover and Edward Derby. The courthouse that they had constructed was the main courthouse in Elk county for nearly 45 years. As everyone knows, Elk County is named for the noble animal that once abounded in great numbers. Today, Pennsylvania's only elk herd roams freely over the area bounded by Elk and Cameron Counties.The elk, numbering now about 230, can be seen near the airport in Benzinger Township or in the Benezette area (more specifically Winslow Hill). Thus, Elk County grew and expanded with each decade so that all its citizens can be proud to be called "Elk Countians" on the occasion of its 150th birthday commemoration.