Patton, PA

Patton is a Cambria County borough in the valley of Chest Creek, northwest of Altoona and inside the Johnstown metropolitan area. The place began under names such as Polish Corners and Marks Mills before taking the Patton name in honor of John Patton and A.E. Patton. Chest Creek brought early settlers, while lumber, farming, coal, and rail connections helped the town grow. The biggest industrial chapter came from the Patton Clay Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1895 and known for clay products, building brick, and paving blocks shipped far beyond Pennsylvania.

The old Clay Works grounds now hold Patton Plaza, housing developments, and a memorial kiln, so the manufacturing past remains part of the borough’s physical map. Patton’s historic district was listed in 1996 and includes churches, former schools, company-era homes, and other late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century buildings. Borough offices manage police, water, sewer, roads, and public notices, while Patton Park and Pool provide a current gathering place. Patton is a small mountain-valley borough whose street pattern still carries the marks of clay, rail, church, and school life.