Clearfield County was formed in 1804 and the county seat, Clearfield Borough, incorporated in 1840. Brady Township, encompassing what are today Sandy Township and the City of DuBois, was the western stronghold of population and the economy in the county and Luthersburg was its commercial center.

History books describe a class struggle between the cosmopolitans of Luthersburg and their "backwoods" neighbors. No elected officials were from this portion of the township and intermarriages with those from the "north country" were frowned upon.

The area was already known as DuBois, homage to John DuBois, whose father established a lumber mill in the early 1800's. The family purchased tracts of land in northwestern Clearfield County and, in 1870,Mr. DuBois moved his lumber mill from Williamsport to the area. The then-borough of DuBois was formed in 1881; the city designation came in 1915.

By 1872, the north country was ready for revolution. Like their counterparts 100 years earlier, township residents protested, among other issues, taxes, specifically the road tax.

According to "The City of DuBois" by William C. Pentz, residents had a choice to pay their road tax in cash or work a day maintaining the roads. Because the DuBois residents paid rather than take a day from work, roads in that area were in poor and muddy conditions. Luthersburg roads were in fine shape, however, and there was much concern that taxes would be raised to maintain routes in the pesky north country.

As Mr. Pentz stated, "There was a great deal of discontent in the vicinity of DuBois."

In September l877, the situation came to a head with a meeting called to form a new municipality and, in a decree by Clearfield County Courts dated l878, Sandy Township was born from portions of Brady, Union and Huston townships, its name taken from the Sandy Lick Creek..

Early industries included timber and, like the rest of Pennsylvania, coal. In 1876, the Sandy Lick Gas, Coal and Coke Company shipped 500 tons of coal daily and, in 1877, 56 beehive coke ovens were operated by the Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal and Iron Co.

The abundance of coal also attracted rail lines to the area. Freight yards were constructed and, in turn, encouraged other industries to locate in Sandy Township.

Today, Sandy Township is home to a myriad of business and industry and offers a 190-acre industrial park and a business incubator with more than 27,000 square feet for use.

By the 1920's, trucks were gaining favor as a transportation mode but Sandy Township suffered for this innovation. Trucking meant decreased use of railroads and, once again, accessibility and adequate roads became an issue.

The mid-twentieth century brought changes to the area that spelled dramatic improvement for Sandy Township: construction of transportation network, the opening of the DuBois Mall and development of Treasure Lake.

In addition to rail lines, larger planes and regular commuter service at the DuBois-Jefferson County Airport and the completion of Interstate 80 literallly opened the area for commerce and development. U.S. Routes 219 and 322 and State Routes 119 and 255 also bolstered this economic boom.

In 1972, Montgomery Wards was the first store to open at the mall, which quickly became (and remains) a shopping hub for much of northcentral Pennsylvania, drawing customers from as far away as New York.

Three expansions, the last in 1989, added two additional wings for large anchor department stores and numerous specialty shops.

Today's shopping choices include The Commons, Sandy Plaza and DuBois Area Plaza, as well as a delicious array of restaurants and entertainment options.

Since the 1960's, the nearly constant groundbreakings for new industries and business ventures meant a drastic increase in housing. New homes at Kiwanis Park, Sylvan Heights and the area's premier development, Treasure Lake, were soon under construction.

The 8,000 acres of Treasure Lake were carved from a 35,000-acre tract once known as Juniata Woods. In 1955, owner John E. DuBois Jr. and Chick Harvey began surveying the land with an eye to creating a residential and recreational community, complete with a man-made lake.

One-acre lots at the once Lake Rene (named for Mrs. DuBois) sold in the price range of $500 to $3,000 for a lakefront plot. The first sales office was a picnic table.

Today, there are 1800 homes at the planned residential community, along with golf courses, a ski lodge and restaurant, country club, stables, cross-coutry trails, swimming, boating, stores, a bank and even a church and fire company.

The gated community is a haven for both families and retirees and a major tourism draw as well.

From that long ago wilderness with the forbidding name of north country, Sandy Township is today a shining star in northcentral Pennsylvania that offers a spectacular quality of life.

More than 11,500 people call Sandy Township home and enjoy the protection of a full time municipal staff, police force and active volunteer fire department.

A 10 member crew cares for 89 miles of township roads throughout 50 square miles of land and maintains nearly 10miles of water lines and 27 miles of sewer lines.

The government is a five-member board of supervisors elected at large, plus a five-member planning commission, three-member zoning hearing board and a water and sewer authority, also with five seats.

There are 38 full and part time employees, including a manager, engineer, secretary-treasurer, zoning officer, sewage enforcement officer, co-planning commission directors, receptionist, traffic signal technician, and five school crossing guards.

The township recently launched its own sewer line inspection and maintenance program and, in 2004, will implement curbside recycling in parts of the municipality in partnership with Brockway-based Onyx Waste Services.

Sandy Township's annual budget has grown to nearly $4 million. It's assessed real estate value is more than $98 million while the median home value is $88,900 and the median income is $42,450.

While today's Sandy Township bears little physical resemblance to the 1878 version, the same independent spirit that created the municipality rings loudly through each new development, enterprise and home.

The modern Sandy Township, like its forebears, welcomes new ideas, partnerships and opportunities. Business, individuals and families can easily find their places in Sandy Township, a place where dreams will remain forever possible.

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