The first inhabitants of the area were Leni-Lenape Native Americans.  The word “Saucon” is derived from the Native American word “Saukunk”, which was the name given to an Native American village at the mouth of the Saucon Creek, and afterwards, a large tract of land lying on both sides of the creek from its source to its mouth.  “Saukunk” comes from the Leni-Lenape word Sa-ku-wit, meaning mouth of the creek.

The earliest European settlers were a mix of German, English and Welsh immigrants who arrived in the region beginning around 1732.  These immigrants formally organized the township in 1743.  Agriculture formed the basis of the township’s economy for most of its history.  Wheat, rye, oats, corn, potatoes, clover, timothy (a European grass grown for hay), fruits, and garden vegetables were some of the township’s early agricultural products.  Access to trading and selling these products was provided by the precursor to PA Route 309, which rested in the same general location as the present highway and extended from Allentown to Philadelphia.

The Village of Center Valley formed the principle gathering spot and evolved as a linear community initially focused around the intersection of present-day Routes 309 and 378.  In 1848, the village consisted of only a general store, hotel, and sixty-acre farm.  Construction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad through the township in 1856 brought about improved transportation and expanded access to urban markets.  The rail line established its Center Valley Station on the east side of the Saucon Creek about a quarter of a mile east of the village nucleus.  The Center Valley Station became an important shipping point for agricultural products from surrounding farms.  The community around the station was at one point locally known as “Milk Town” because of the large quantity of milk that had been shipped out of the area. Center Valley continued to grow and by 1862 boasted not only a store and hotel, but also a post office, blacksmith shop, and shoemaker, along with several dwellings.

By 1873, as many as seven homes had been established near the railroad station, and in 1875 local commissioners authorized $1,200.00 for the construction of the Centennial Bridge.  This bridge was a 233 feet long stone arch bridge providing an important link between the original village nucleus and the settlement forming around the railroad station to the east.  By the time the bridge was completed in 1876, the area around the station had extended toward the original village nucleus by adding eighteen homes; two coal yards, one store, and a hotel.  The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, however was demolished in 2013.

In addition to agricultural trade, the township’s other key industry was mining zinc ore.  The Friedensville Zinc Mine is the only registered historical site in the township and dates back to 1845.  The mining of zinc ore first occurred on a farm, which was eventually purchased by the Lehigh Zinc Company, and was the largest of many mines in the local area.  Between 1869 and 1872, the Lehigh Zinc Company installed the world famous Cornish pump, known as “The President”.  This pump was used to remove 12,000 to 16,000 gallons of water per minute from the mines.  The Lehigh Zinc Company was later acquired by the New Jersey Zinc Company and is currently owned by Lehigh University.