Native Americans occupied the Springs property in the 1700s. Robert Reed's family arrived from North Carolina in 1816 and obtained a land grant, and others soon moved into the area. In 1871, Dave Franklin built a log cabin in the area that was named Center Point. In the 1900s, Center Point had a one-room school, blacksmith, shop, grocery store, post office, and Baptist and Methodist churches. Andy Beard invented the coupling mechanism for railroad cars and sold it for $10,000. In 1924, the Center Point Elementary rock school was constructed. In 1947, Cullen Scott discovered water to supply Center Point. Seeing the community's growth potential, Paul Snow began development of Sun Valley subdivision and Erwin Elementary and High School. In 1967, Center Point became the largest unincorporated area in the U.S., with a population of 64,000, businesses, recreational facilities, homes, and churches. In 1999, Jefferson County Commissioner Bettye Fine Collins called a meeting to discuss the community, and the Center Point Action Committee formed to clean it up, with Betty Cannon as first chairperson. Wink Chapman, the next chairperson, formed a committee to study incorporation, petitions were gathered for 1 1/2 years, and Arthur Payne spearheaded legislative efforts. Citizens voted for incorporation on March 12, 2002, and on April 23, 2002, the first mayor and council were elected: Mayor Tom Henderson, Council President Billie Davis, and council members George Franklin, Roger Barlow, Jesse Miller, and Ken McIntyre. The first City Hall was renovated at 19 20th Ct. NW with space donated by Ronnie Roddam, and the historic Center Point Elementary School was leased for City Hall and renovated by volunteers under George Franklin. Significant accomplishments included acquiring the 17-acre Reed-Harvey Park, the Center Point ballpark, and the Scott home for a library, completing the Center Point Senior Center, and joining the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership.