[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all land.

[5] Central City is situated on lands originally owned by Shade Township's first settlers, Casper Stotler and George Lambert.

It was founded in 1894 by Anthony Wechtenhiser and received its name from its central location along the projected Midland Railroad.

The projected railroad, under a preliminary survey made in 1894, would have extended the road southeastward along Dark Shade Creek and Shingle Run valleys, across the mountain by way of Frazier's Gap, into Bedford County and eastward to the Atlantic seaboard; however, the project failed to develop.

In 1913, an extension to the town was laid out by the Cook and Neasley Realty Company on lands then owned by John Wechtenhiser and Obadiah Lohr.

This bank, located on Sunshine Ave<>, printed over a half a million dollars worth of national currency during its existence.

The inhabitants of Central City borough and the surrounding area are served by nine churches, sixteen stores, one hotel, five garages and service stations, three barber shops, a printing house, a photo studio, two funeral homes, a greenhouse, two veterans' organizations-American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and one financial institution.

Free public recreation facilities are owned by the borough, such as a tennis court, baseball field, and a well-maintained park.