Kittanning

By: Diane Acerni and Armstrong County Historical Society

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Synopsis: Kittanning, a main street presence in rural Armstrong County, takes its name from the Delaware people who inhabited western Pennsylvania. Considered the site of a pivotal conflict during the French and Indian War, Kittanning later emerged as a center for local government and commerce. Families and businesses prospered by tapping into the Allegheny River and the wealth of other natural resources around them. The Allegheny was a lifeline, carrying valuable goods and materials as it twisted along its hilly southern path to the Ohio River. Among Kittanning's more notable exports were the visible print typewriter and the adventuress Nellie Bly. Kittanning showcases that while the faces and facades of this community have changed over the years, the town has stood the tests of time, largely due to the resourcefulness of its residents and their determination and dedication to preserve their riverside home.