Clinton County, incorporated in 1839, was formed from parts of Centre and Lycoming Counties. The first white settlements of the region were recorded in 1762; land south of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River was purchased in 1768, land north of it was purchased in 1784. Seneca Chief Bald Eagle, one of the most colorful figures in Pennsylvania History, led many successful raids on the territory till his death, in battle, in1779. The county was nearly named Eagle County. Ultimately, it was named for Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York, perhaps as a tribute to his promotion of the Erie Canal–the county’s survival depended on the vibrant economic life provided by the canals on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. The county seat, Lock Haven, was named for its place along the canal system. Clinton’s iron manufacturing industry eventually gave way to the paper, silk, and dye industries. The county’s economy flourished through the 19th and 20th centuries, even through the devastating floods of 1889, 1936, and 1972. It was the home of Piper Aircraft, and remains the proud home of Woolrich Mills, an icon of American clothing manufacturing.