Trinity Center was so named as it was situated at the center of the Shasta-Yreka trail. Originally the land of the Wintu, the first white community was said to be created by Moses Chadbourne in 1851. One hundred years later, several of the town’s buildings were moved to the present location after the construction of the Trinity River Dam and the flooding of the original townsite. Trinity Center School District is said to be one of the earliest school districts established in the county, in operation during the 1862 – 63 school year. Then as now, there was one teacher.