Bellefonte

Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, with a historic downtown featuring Victorian buildings, a central courthouse, and a natural spring that runs through the town center. The layout centers on a public square and main street lined with commercial and residential structures from the 1800s and early 1900s.

The settlement was founded in 1795 at a natural spring and became an industrial town after iron deposits were discovered in the surrounding region during the 1800s. This industrial period shaped the borough's growth and built much of the architecture that survives today.

The Victorian homes and storefronts throughout the borough show how families and business owners shaped the community over time. Walking through the streets, visitors encounter the actual buildings where generations of residents have lived and worked.

The borough sits in hilly terrain and is accessible by car or bus from State College, with the Main Street area as the focal point for walking. The best time to visit is from spring through fall when the weather is mild and historic buildings are clearly visible in daylight.

A French diplomat named the settlement after the spring during a 1790s visit when he was exploring land for business ventures. This unexpected connection to French history remains embedded in the town's name and origin story.