NCPA History-Folklore


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History & Folklore
Lycoming County

  • Formed: 13 Apr 1795 from Northumberland County. The county is named for Lycoming Creek, the Delaware Indian name for the stream that flows from the north and joins the West branch of the Susquehanna River as it flows through the southern portion of the county.
  • Named derived from: Lycoming Creek. The Delaware Indian name for the stream that flows from the north and joins the West branch of the Susquehanna River as it flows through the southern portion of the county. The Delaware Indian word lycaumick means sandy or gravelly creek.
  • County seat: Williamsport.
    • Selected and laid out in 1795. Originally known as William's Port. Incorporated as a borough on 1 Mar 1806 and as a city on 14 Jan 1866.

Northumberland County included the entire north-central part of the state as far west as the Allegheny River. When Lycoming County was formed from Northumberland, it included all or part of these present-day counties:
County
Date Formed
County Seat
  Armstrong
Bradford
Cameron
Centre
Clarion
Clearfield
Clinton
Elk
Forest
Indiana
Jefferson
McKean
Potter
Sullivan
Tioga
Venango
Warren 		12 Mar 1800
21 Feb 1810
29 Mar 1860
13 Feb 1800
11 Mar 1839
26 Mar 1804
21 Jun 1839
18 Apr 1843
11 Apr 1848
30 Mar 1803
26 Mar 1804
26 Mar 1804
26 Mar 1804
15 Mar 1847
26 Mar 1804
12 Mar 1800
12 Mar 1800		 Kittanning
Towanda
Emporium
Bellefonte
Clarion
Clearfield
Lock Haven
Ridgway
Tionesta
Indiana
Brookville
Smethport
Coudersport
Laporte
Wellsboro
Franklin
Warren


Records Location

Early Lycoming County records (from April 1795 on) can be found in Williamsport. Prior to April 1795, the records are at the county seat of Northumberland County.


Bibliography

  • History of Lycoming County, Vol. I, by Collins & Gordan, 1906, 513 pp.
  • History of Lycoming County, Vol. II, by Collins & Gordan, 1906, 560 pp.
  • History of Lycoming County, by Thomas W. Lloyd, 1929, 600 pp.
  • Lycoming County's First Centennial, by John F. Meginness, 1895, 82 pp.
  • Cemetery Inscriptions, by Helen H. Russell (DAR), 1961, 361 pp.
  • Church Records, Births and Marriages, by Helen H. Russell (DAR), 1961, 334 pp.
  • Probate Court Records, 1795–1851, by Helen H. Russell (DAR), 1963, 233 pp.
  • Family & Bible Records, by Helen H. Russell (DAR), 1965, 263 pp.


Links
See these sites for more information on Lycoming County and its history, or to post queries regarding Lycoming County: