The historic public square at the intersection of Washington and Jefferson Streets, was originally laid out in 1798 by John Carlysle Stewart. It was designed as a central open market space modeled somewhat after Philadelphia and became the heart of the original settlement and remains the downtown focal point. The area has been known by several names, including Central Square, Pershing Square after World War I, and Kennedy Square after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, but locals continue to call it simply “The Diamond.”