Union Cemetery

The Union Cemetery, also known as the Bellefonte City Cemetery, originated in 1806 when the co-founders of Bellefonte, James Harris and James Dunlop, set aside what they called “The Bellefonte Graveyard.” Burials occurred as early as that year when Dr. William Harris was the first recorded burial. In 1856 the cemetery was officially chartered, and a five-acre plot was added to the property. The first known burial occurred in 1808, and the cemetery was chartered in 1856.  Beginning with five acres on Howard Street, it has expanded to nearly 20 acres over the years. While the above facts are known, the name “Union” for the cemetery is still debated today. One popular theory is that the six men of Bellefonte united to donate their land for the cemetery. The second theory is that the name was suggested to honor the number of Union soldiers interned in the cemetery. The cemetery was progressive as it was racially integrated in 1897 (date being confirmed), far before many others. In 2022,  the cemetery is currently 19.6 acres in size and has at least 8,168 internments.