Williamsport, Pennsylvania#Combined Statistical Area

{{Main|History of Williamsport, Pennsylvania}}

File:PostcardWilliamsportPABizSectionAerial1919.jpg

File:Williamsport pre 1921 postcard3.jpg

File:Williamsport pre 1921 postcard8.jpg

In 1763, the Battle of Muncy Hills took place during the French and Indian War. It was a clash between the Native Americans and colonists seeking homestead sites in Native American territory.[http://www.historicwilliamsport.com/timelinenew.html Welcome to Historic Williamsport: Books by Robin Van Auken] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006040443/http://www.historicwilliamsport.com/timelinenew.html |date=October 6, 2008 }} In 1768, at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the British purchased the land that became Lycoming County from the Iroquois Nation who controlled the lands.

In March 1796 the first house was built in Williamsport. James Russell built his inn on what is now the northeastern corner of East Third and Mulberry Streets in downtown.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsofyesteryear.com/archives/510 |title=Lycoming County: Williamsport Firsts |access-date=2012-02-15 |author=Robin Van Auken, Lou Hunsinger Jr. |newspaper=Williamsport Sun-Gazette |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209151332/http://www.newsofyesteryear.com/archives/510 |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} On April 13, 1795 Lycoming County was formed from Northumberland County. It encompassed all the lands of Northumberland County situated west of Muncy Hills and was a domain of {{convert|12500|sqmi|km2}}, comprising most of north central Pennsylvania. In 1796 the first recorded childbirth in Williamsport was James Russell, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Russell and grandson of James Russell of the Russell Inn, and the first school was built as a one-room log addition to the building that would eventually become the first Lycoming County Courthouse. In 1798 the first brick house in Williamsport was erected on Front Street, between Market and Mulberry, by Andrew Tulloh, a lawyer. The bricks were made on the banks of Grafius Run where that stream crossed Hepburn Street.

In 1799, a post office opened at the corner of Third and State Streets in what is now downtown, and the following year, a jail was constructed at the northeast corner of William and Third Streets. The post office was later converted to a saloon.

In 1801, the town's first store was opened by William Winter on Third Street. In 1831 Jacob L. Mussina established the Repasz Band, the oldest brass band in America still in existence. On Oct. 15 1834 The West Branch Canal opened and the first boat to pass through the canal en route to Jersey Shore was that of George Aughenbaugh. The first freight carried into town was iron for the foundry of John B. Hall. The same year the enactment of the common school law by Pennsylvania Legislature led to public education here. In May 1835, the first public schools opened in Williamsport and also the town's first bank, the West Branch National Bank.

The Underground Railroad, used by enslaved African-Americans to obtain their freedom in the 30 years before the Civil War (1860–1865) included routes from states in the South, which supported slavery, to "free" states in the North and Canada.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/maps/undergroundrailroad/|title=The Underground Railroad|date=2011-11-16|work=National Geographic Society|access-date=2017-05-24|language=en}} From 1830 until 1865, the underground railroad, a system of safe houses and routes for slaves escaping to freedom, operated in Lycoming County; many local abolitionists, including Daniel Hughes, served as conductors and agents.

Based on the oral history of Mamie Sweeting Diggs (1933–2011), fourth generation descent and great-granddaughter, Hughes, was a river raftsman on the Susquehanna river who had migrated from Oswego, New York. He lived on the Muncy Indian Reservation until he acquired land off Freedom Road.{{cite web|url=http://www.lycoming.edu/art/underground/mamie-sweeting-diggs.html|title=Mamie Sweeting Diggs {{!}} The Underground Railroad in Lycoming County, PA|website=www.lycoming.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-05-24}} During his trips transporting logs to Maryland, he brought escaped slaves back on foot from Baltimore, over Bald Eagle Mountain and hid them at his home and in the caves on Freedom Road.{{cite web|url=http://www.lycoming.edu/art/underground/sites.html|title=Williamsport/Trout Run Sites {{!}} The Underground Railroad in Lycoming County, PA|website=www.lycoming.edu |language=en|access-date=2017-05-24}}

Mamie's grandfather, Robert, helped his father, Daniel Hughes, hide escaped slaves in the caves behind their home on Freedom Road. They fed them, nursed the sick back to health and delivered them safely to the next "station", The Apker House in Trout Run. The Apker House was the home of Robert Fairies, abolitionist and president of the Williamsport-Elmira Railroad. The railroad ran through his property where escaped slaves were hidden in the barn and house and then loaded into railway baggage cars for the trip to Elmira, NY, the next "station."

Mamie's grandfather, Robert passed the stories to his children, including Mamie's mother, Marion. Marion tended the family homestead, maintained Freedom Road Cemetery (where nine black Civil War vets are buried) and passed Daniel's stories down to her children.

In 1849, the Market Street Bridge was built over the West Branch Susquehanna River. It was opened as a toll bridge to cover the state's costs of $23,797. In 1854, a brewery opened. The brewery was sold to Henry Flock in 1865. This brewery was run by the Flock family until the 1940s. The Flocks' business survived Prohibition by converting to a dairy.

In 1875, the first tower clock in the United States to sound the Cambridge Quarters (Westminster Chime) was installed at Trinity Episcopal Church, a gift of Peter Herdic with bells given by judge J. W. Maynard. The following year, the Williamsport Hospital opened its first facility April 1 at Elmira and Edwin Streets.

In 1881, a state law ended racial segregation in Pennsylvania schools. By 1948, all schools in this area were integrated. In 1895, Harry Houdini appeared in one of his earliest performances, at the Old Fair Grounds with The Welch Brothers Circus.{{cite web|url=http://www.houdini.org/houdinisinwilliamsportPA.html|title=Houdini Museum Harry Houdini attractions Williamsport Scranton Tourism, Bus Groups, School Assembly Programs|website=www.houdini.org}}

Williamsport was the birthplace of the national newspaper Grit in 1882. Williamsport purportedly once had more millionaires per-capita than anywhere else in the world.{{cite web|last=Meckley|first=Thad|title=Williamsport's Millionaires' Row|url=https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738537979}} For this reason, the area's local high school, the Williamsport Area High School, uses "Millionaires" as its team mascot.

File:WilliamsportA.png

The Flood of March 17–18, 1936 caused the river to crest at 33.9'. Flood waters reached High Street. It was known locally as the Hello, Al flood because Al Glaes, operating a short-wave radio station from his home on High Street, kept the city in touch with the rest of the world after the flood disrupted electricity and telephone service.

On June 6, 1939 the first Little League Baseball game was played on a sandlot outside Bowman Field in Williamsport. Carl Stotz conceived the idea of a Little League, and he and Bert and George Bebble managed the first three teams. In 1941 the U.S. entered World War II after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Williamsport native Joe Lockard, stationed on Oahu, gave warning of the impending attack based on radar readings. His readings were dismissed as American B17 bombers coming in from the mainland. Also in 1941 the Williamsport School Board created the Williamsport Technical Institute for high school and post-high school students. It grew into the Williamsport Area Community College, and later became Pennsylvania College of Technology.

File:Looking to Downtown Williamsport (10054849105).jpg seen from neighboring South Williamsport]]

Williamsport is located at {{Coord|41|14|40|N|77|1|7|W|type:city}} (41.244428, −77.018738),{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} and is bordered by the West Branch Susquehanna River to the south (with Armstrong Township, South Williamsport, Duboistown and Susquehanna Township south of the river), Loyalsock Township to the east and north, Old Lycoming Township to the north and Woodward Township to the west.{{Cite FTP |scale=1:65,000

|url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/lycoming_GHSN.PDF

|server=Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division

|url-status=dead

|title="2007 General Highway Map Lycoming County Pennsylvania"

|access-date=2009-12-27

}} As the crow flies, Lycoming County is about {{convert|130|mi|km|0}} northwest of Philadelphia and {{convert|165|mi|km|0}} east-northeast of Pittsburgh.

The Peter Herdic House, Hart Building, Millionaire's Row Historic District, City Hall, Williamsport Armory, and Old City Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

File:Williamsport Pajama Factory.jpg

Neighborhoods of Williamsport include:

• Downtown, between Hepburn Street and Basin Street, south of Little League Blvd
• Grampian Hills, the area around and north of Grampian Blvd.
• Millionaire's Row, along W. 4th Street
• Newberry, west of Lycoming Creek
• Park Avenue, south of Williamsport Hospital
• Vallamont, the area north of Rural Ave and west of Market St.
• East End, the area south of Grampian Blvd. and east of Market St.
• West Hills, the hillside and hilltop north of Dewey and west of Round Hill Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|9.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|8.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}} (6.92%) is water.

Under the Köppen climate classification, Williamsport falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) if the {{convert|0|°C}} isotherm is used or a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) if the {{convert|-3|°C}} isotherm is used. Williamsport has four distinct seasons, and lies in USDA hardiness zone 6b, with areas away from the West Branch Susquehanna River falling in zone 6a.{{cite web |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |author=United States Department of Agriculture |publisher=United States National Arboretum |url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html |accessdate=2015-02-26 |authorlink=United States Department of Agriculture |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303152208/http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html |url-status=dead }} Winters are cold and comparatively dry but typically bring a mix of rain, sleet, and snow with occasional heavy snowfall and icing. January is the coldest month with an average mean temperature of {{convert|26.8|F|1}}, with temperatures on average dropping to or below {{convert|0|F|0}} on 2.8 days and staying at or below freezing on 29 days per year. Snowfall averages {{convert|36.0|in|cm}} per season. The snowiest month on record was {{convert|40.1|in|cm}} in January 1987, while winter snowfall amounts have ranged from {{convert|85.9|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1995–96 to {{convert|7.0|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1988–89. Summers are typically very warm and humid with temperatures exceeding {{convert|90|F|0}} on 15 days per year on average; the annual count has been as high as 42 days in 1988, while only 1907 and 1979 did not reach that mark. July is the warmest month with an average mean temperature of {{convert|72.7|F|0}}.

The all-time record high temperature in Williamsport of {{convert|106|F|0}} was established on July 9, 1936, which occurred during the Dust Bowl, and the all-time record low temperature of {{convert|−20|F|0}} was set on January 21, 1994. The first and last freezes of the season on average fall on October 16 and April 30, respectively, allowing a growing season of 168 days. The normal annual mean temperature is {{convert|50.4|F|1}}. Normal yearly precipitation based on the 30-year average from 1981–2010 is {{convert|41.28|in|mm}}, falling on an average 133 days. Monthly precipitation has ranged from {{convert|16.80|in|mm|abbr=on}} in June 1972 (due to heavy rainfall from Hurricane Agnes) to {{convert|0.16|in|mm|abbr=on}} in September 1943, while for annual precipitation the historical range is {{convert|70.26|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 2011 to {{convert|27.68|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 1930.

{{Weather box

|location = Williamsport Regional Airport, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1895–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 70

|Feb record high F = 76

|Mar record high F = 87

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 96

|Jun record high F = 104

|Jul record high F = 106

|Aug record high F = 103

|Sep record high F = 102

|Oct record high F = 93

|Nov record high F = 83

|Dec record high F = 70

|year record high F = 106

|Jan avg record high F = 56

|Feb avg record high F = 58

|Mar avg record high F = 70

|Apr avg record high F = 83

|May avg record high F = 90

|Jun avg record high F = 93

|Jul avg record high F = 95

|Aug avg record high F = 92

|Sep avg record high F = 89

|Oct avg record high F = 79

|Nov avg record high F = 68

|Dec avg record high F = 58

|year avg record high F = 96

|Jan high F = 35.3

|Feb high F = 38.7

|Mar high F = 48.4

|Apr high F = 61.7

|May high F = 72.4

|Jun high F = 80.5

|Jul high F = 84.8

|Aug high F = 82.7

|Sep high F = 75.2

|Oct high F = 63.1

|Nov high F = 50.6

|Dec high F = 39.7

|year high F = 61.1

|Jan mean F = 27.7

|Feb mean F = 30.1

|Mar mean F = 38.7

|Apr mean F = 50.3

|May mean F = 60.8

|Jun mean F = 69.4

|Jul mean F = 73.7

|Aug mean F = 72.0

|Sep mean F = 64.7

|Oct mean F = 53.0

|Nov mean F = 41.9

|Dec mean F = 32.8

|year mean F = 51.3

|Jan low F = 20.1

|Feb low F = 21.5

|Mar low F = 29.0

|Apr low F = 39.0

|May low F = 49.1

|Jun low F = 58.3

|Jul low F = 62.7

|Aug low F = 61.2

|Sep low F = 54.1

|Oct low F = 42.8

|Nov low F = 33.2

|Dec low F = 25.8

|year low F = 41.4

|Jan avg record low F = 1

|Feb avg record low F = 5

|Mar avg record low F = 13

|Apr avg record low F = 25

|May avg record low F = 34

|Jun avg record low F = 45

|Jul avg record low F = 52

|Aug avg record low F = 50

|Sep avg record low F = 40

|Oct avg record low F = 30

|Nov avg record low F = 19

|Dec avg record low F = 10

|year avg record low F = -1

|Jan record low F = −20

|Feb record low F = −18

|Mar record low F = −5

|Apr record low F = 8

|May record low F = 28

|Jun record low F = 36

|Jul record low F = 43

|Aug record low F = 38

|Sep record low F = 28

|Oct record low F = 19

|Nov record low F = 3

|Dec record low F = −15

|year record low F = -20

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.96

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.31

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.13

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.62

|May precipitation inch = 3.86

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.85

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.64

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.17

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.76

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.70

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.25

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.27

|year precipitation inch = 43.52

|Jan snow inch = 9.7

|Feb snow inch = 9.3

|Mar snow inch = 7.3

|Apr snow inch = 0.8

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.1

|Nov snow inch = 1.7

|Dec snow inch = 6.9

|year snow inch = 35.8

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.1

|Feb precipitation days = 10.1

|Mar precipitation days = 11.6

|Apr precipitation days = 12.2

|May precipitation days = 13.7

|Jun precipitation days = 11.8

|Jul precipitation days = 11.9

|Aug precipitation days = 10.5

|Sep precipitation days = 10.0

|Oct precipitation days = 10.7

|Nov precipitation days = 10.0

|Dec precipitation days = 11.9

|year precipitation days = 136.5

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 7.7

|Feb snow days = 6.0

|Mar snow days = 3.4

|Apr snow days = 0.6

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.2

|Nov snow days = 1.4

|Dec snow days = 4.6

|year snow days = 23.9

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ctp

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 7, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014778&format=pdf

| title = Station: Williamsport, PA

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 7, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1810= 344

|1820= 624

|1840= 1353

|1850= 1615

|1860= 5664

|1870= 16030

|1880= 18934

|1890= 27132

|1900= 28757

|1910= 31860

|1920= 36198

|1930= 45729

|1940= 44355

|1950= 45047

|1960= 41967

|1970= 37918

|1980= 33401

|1990= 31933

|2000= 30706

|2010= 29381

|2020= 27754

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

}}

[[Image:Williamsport-Lock Haven CSA.png|thumb|upright=1.1|Location of the Williamsport-Lock Haven CSA and its components:

{{legend|#FF0000|Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area}}

{{legend|#FFFF00|Lock Haven Micropolitan Statistical Area}}

The black dot shows the location of Williamsport]]

File:Former USPO now City Hall Williamsport from north.jpg

Williamsport is the larger principal city of the Williamsport-Lock Haven, PA Combined Statistical Area, which includes the Williamsport metropolitan area (Lycoming County) and the Lock Haven micropolitan area (Clinton County){{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070526063716/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List4.txt Metropolitan Statistical Areas And Components]}}, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2008-08-01.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070629011245/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List5.txt Micropolitan Statistical Areas And Components]}}, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2008-08-01.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070629011223/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List6.txt Combined Statistical Areas And Component Core Based Statistical Areas]}}, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2008-08-01. and had a combined population of 157,958 at the 2000 census.

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,706 people, 12,219 households, and 6,732 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,456.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 13,524 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,522.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 84.1% White, 12.7% Black, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 12,219 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,946, and the median income for a family was $33,844. Males had a median income of $26,668 versus $20,196 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,707. About 13.7% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

{{See also|List of Mayors of Williamsport, Pennsylvania}}

File:The Cell Block bar crop.JPG

Williamsport operates on a "Strong Mayor" form of government, meaning the mayor is given almost total administrative authority and a clear, wide range of political independence with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads without council approval and little need for public input. The mayor is Derek Slaughter.{{cite web |title=Meet The Mayor |url=http://www.cityofwilliamsport.org/Meet_The_Mayor.php |publisher=City of Williamsport |access-date=2015-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325121242/http://cityofwilliamsport.org/Meet_The_Mayor.php |archive-date=March 25, 2018 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Williamsport is located in Pennsylvania's 23rd senatorial District, Pennsylvania's 83rd House District, and Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district.

Williamsport Bureau of Fire was established in 1874 after a devastating fire that destroyed much of the cities down town in 1871.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcentralpa.com/life/covid-19_public_information/williamsport-firefighter-unknowingly-exposed-to-coronavirus-patient/article_0065734a-744a-11ea-b8fe-5325f2c2af17.html|title=Williamsport firefighter unknowingly exposed to coronavirus patient|last=Snook|first=Morgan|website=NorthcentralPA.com|date=April 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-13|archive-date=2020-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406161313/https://www.northcentralpa.com/life/covid-19_public_information/williamsport-firefighter-unknowingly-exposed-to-coronavirus-patient/article_0065734a-744a-11ea-b8fe-5325f2c2af17.html|url-status=live}} It has a cooperative agreement with the Old Lycoming Volunteer Fire Department.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofwilliamsport.org/departments/fire/fire-department-staff-directory|title=Fire Department Staff Directory – City of Williamsport|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-12|archive-date=2020-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928150012/https://www.cityofwilliamsport.org/departments/fire/fire-department-staff-directory|url-status=live}} Since the late 1980s, it contracts with Susquehanna Regional EMS for ambulance service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sremspa.org/our-history/|title=Our History|last=UpMcSusquehanna363|website=Susquehanna Regional EMS|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13|archive-date=2022-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125223224/https://www.sremspa.org/our-history/|url-status=live}}

Williamsport's top ten employers are UPMC Susquehanna, the Pennsylvania State Government, the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport Area School District, Brodart Company, Springs Window Fashions, Weis Markets, West Pharmaceuticals, and Textron Lycoming Engines.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

Williamsport is noted for the Lycoming aircraft engines which is a division of Avco Corporation and a subsidiary of Textron. Brodart, a library supplies company, is also based in Williamsport. Overhead Garage Door is also located in Newberry.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Bethlehem Wire Rope, a {{convert|46|acre|m2|adj=on}} manufacturing complex in Williamsport, with over {{convert|620000|sqft|m2}} under roof, is the single largest wire rope manufacturing facility in North America.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwrope.com/|title=Wire Rope Works Inc.- Bethlehem Wirerope|website=www.wwwrope.com}}{{unreliable source?|date=November 2014}}

Recently, interest has grown in extracting natural gas in the Williamsport area.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129993583&ft=1&f=1025|title=Natural Gas Fuels Economy In Pennsylvania|website=NPR}} Williamsport has become a key area in the Marcellus Shale drilling.{{Cite web |last=PennLive |first=John Beauge {{!}} Special to |date=2010-08-24 |title=Impact of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling is widespread in Williamsport |url=https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2010/08/impact_of_marcellus_shale_dril.html |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=pennlive |language=en}}

Lonza Group, a Swiss biotechnology and pharmaceutical company, has a large manufacturing site on the western fringes of the city, where a number of specialty chemicals are made that go into a wide array of oilfield, nutritional, personal care, and industrial applications.{{cite web|url=https://www7.lonza.com/products-services/consumer-health/personal-care.aspx |title=Personal Care |access-date=July 23, 2020 }}{{cite web|url=https://www7.lonza.com/products-services/coatings-and-composites/oil-and-gas.aspx |title=Oil & Gas |access-date=July 23, 2020 }}

The Williamsport Downtown Gateway Revitalization Project began in 2004 in order to attract more people (both citizens of the Williamsport community and visitors) to the downtown Williamsport area.{{Cite book |title=Williamsport |last=Brigandi |first=Dana |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4671-2360-0}} The construction on the Carl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge, the first of many projects, began in June 2004 and was completed in 2008.

Williamsport is the home of Lycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology, and The Commonwealth Medical College. There is also a continuing education center of Pennsylvania State University located in Williamsport.{{cite web |url=http://www.pct.edu/wdce |title=Workforce Development | Pennsylvania College of Technology |publisher=PCT.edu |date=2021-11-22 |access-date=2021-11-26}}

Williamsport Area School District consists of:

• Cochran Primary School
• Hepburn Lycoming Primary School
• Jackson Primary School
• Curtin Intermediate School
• Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
• Williamsport Area Middle School
• Williamsport Area High School

Stevens Primary School was closed in 2022.

Williamsport Area School District has a renowned music program, frequently ranked in the top schools in the country each year according to the NAMM Foundation.{{cite web |url=https://www.nammfoundation.org/articles/2018districts|title=2018 Best Communities For Music Education Districts |date=April 16, 2018 |website=nammfoundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915032813/https://www.nammfoundation.org/articles/2018districts |archive-date=September 15, 2018}}

Private schools in the area include West Branch School, Mountain View Christian School and Williamsport Christian School and several Catholic schools in Lycoming County are run by Saint John Neumann Regional Academy.{{cite web |url=http://www.sjnra.org |title=St. John Neumann Regional Academy, Williamsport, PA |website=www.sjnra.org}}

File:James V. Brown Library Williamsport.jpg

The James V. Brown Library is Williamsport's public library. The library has a staff of nearly 50 full and part-time employees, and offers volunteer opportunities for youth and adults.{{cite web|url=https://jvbrown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Public-Disclosure-James-V-Library.pdf|title=James V. Brown Library Public Disclosure|date=April 2017|website=www.jvbrown.edu|access-date=May 4, 2018}} With a collection of nearly 150,000 units it offers books, DVDs, CDs, and other resources, while the library offers wireless Internet access, local history archives, and premium online reference resources. As the headquarters for the county library system, the Brown Library serves almost 87,000 patrons, some years{{vague|date=November 2014}} circulating upwards of 550,000 books both in-house and through its traveling Storymobile.

The James V. Brown offers preschool and early learning opportunities, as well as programs for teens and adults. The library, led by local retired physician Dr. William R. Somers, constructed a children's wing in 2009 to target educational and social resources to young people from birth through the second grade. The library has since been able to bolster its school-age programming to include teen and tween populations, offering a variety of after-school gaming clubs, arts and crafts programs, and social events that occur on a regular basis. The library's after-school café also provides reading and study incentives for young students. The Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Bureau of Library Development funds the statewide online resource "Ask Here PA", a free chat service that provides Williamsport and other Pennsylvania library patrons with access to 24/7 reference support.

Lycoming College's Snowden Library and the Pennsylvania College of Technology's Madigan Library are also located in Williamsport.

UPMC Susquehanna is a six hospital integrated health system including:

• UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport
• UPMC Susquehanna Divine Providence
• UPMC Susquehanna Muncy (located east of Williamsport in Muncy)
• UPMC Susquehanna Soldiers & Sailors (Wellsboro, Pennsylvania)
• UPMC Susquehanna Lock Haven (Lock Haven, Pennsylvania)
• UPMC Susquehanna Sunbury (Sunbury, Pennsylvania)

UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport was recognized as one of the 2011 Thomson Reuters 50 Top Heart Hospitals in the nation.[http://susquehannahealth.org/Top50Heart/ Award-Winning Quality {{!}} Susquehanna Health - Muncy, Williamsport, Wellsboro]. Susquehanna Health. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.

{{see also|Transportation in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania}}

File:Williamsport pre 1921 postcard2.jpg

Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT), located several miles east of the city in the borough of Montoursville, is served by Southern Airways with passenger flights to and from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., which began in 2024.https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-05-29/052924lycoairport Fullington Trailways provides daily long distance bus service from a station in the downtown to Elmira, New York, Harrisburg, New York City, and Philadelphia.{{cite web|title=Daily Bus Departures|publisher=Fullington Tours|url=http://www.fullingtontours.com/pages/daily_bus_departures|access-date=October 21, 2017}} Local bus service within Williamsport and to other places in Lycoming County is offered by River Valley Transit.{{cite web|url = http://www.ridervt.com/routes/routes.htm |title= River Valley Transit: Bus Routes and Schedules |publisher = River Valley Transit |access-date = 2008-01-29}}

Williamsport is served by several major highways, including Interstate 180, U.S. Route 15, and U.S. Route 220. I-180 and US 220 run together northeast/southwest through Williamsport, and US 15 joins (in the opposite direction) for two miles.{{Cite FTP |scale=1:65,000 |url=ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/lycoming_GHSN.PDF |format=PDF |server=Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division |url-status=dead |title=2007 General Highway Map Lycoming County Pennsylvania |access-date=2008-01-29 }} Once completed, Interstate 99 will enter Williamsport from the southwest on US 220 and continue north on US 15, joining only one at a time.

Until the mid-20th century, Williamsport was a major transfer point between the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) and Reading Railroad to Jersey City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, and on New York Central Railroad to Lyons, New York via Corning, New York.{{cite journal |title=Reading Railroad, Table 23|journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=74 |issue=1 |date=June 1941}}New York Central Railroad timetable, February 1935, Table 33{{cite journal |title=Index of Railroad Stations, p. 1719 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=64 |issue=9 |date=February 1932}}

The longest enduring trains service was the Buffalo Day Express to New York City, Buffalo, Harrisburg, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, the Dominion Express to the north, the Washington Express and Dominion Express to the south, and to the Northern Express to Erie and west, and the Southern Express, which reached southern destinations.{{cite journal |title=Pennsylvania Railroad, Table 44|journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=99 |issue=7 |date=December 1966}}

Freight rail service west to Avis and east to Muncy is provided by the Lycoming Valley Railroad, which has its main yard in the Newberry section of Williamsport, and offers connections to the Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific railroads.{{cite web|url=http://www.nshr.com/LVRR/lvrr.shtml |title=Lycoming Valley Railroad |publisher=North Shore Railroad System |access-date=2008-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231070340/http://www.nshr.com/LVRR/lvrr.shtml |archive-date=2007-12-31 |url-status=dead }}

The West Branch Susquehanna River is not navigable, but a dam at Hepburn Street provides a large lake for recreational boating, including outings on the mock paddlewheeler Hiawatha from Susquehanna State Park.{{cite web|url = http://www.ridehiawatha.com/ |title= Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat |publisher = River Valley Transit |access-date = 2008-01-29}}

File:Little League World Series and Lamade Stadium.JPG is held annually at Lamade Stadium]]

The Williamsport Crosscutters, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League, play their home games at Bowman Field. Each year, the field also hosts the MLB Little League Classic.

The Little League World Series is held annually on the south side of the West Branch Susquehanna River in South Williamsport, where Little League Baseball now has its headquarters.

The Williamsport Country Club, an 18-hole A. W. Tillinghast designed course, is located in nearby Loyalsock Township. Its premier event—the WCC Invitational—features golfers from the local area and further afield in an annual tournament dating to 1928.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://wcc1909.com/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=wcc1909.com}}{{Cite web |title=95th Invitational |url=https://wcc1909.com/Default.aspx?p=dynamicmodule&pageid=100&ssid=100129&vnf=1 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=wcc1909.com}}

The Susquehanna 500 Mini Indy Gokart Racing Series was held annually in Brandon Park. During the 2014 race, a fatal crash involving one of the go-kart operators marked the end to the yearly tradition.{{cite web|last=PennLive|first=John Beauge {{!}} Special to|date=2014-09-22|title=Man dies in go-cart crash at Susquehanna 500 Mini-Indy in Williamsport|url=https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2014/09/fatalty_causes_red_cross_to_ca.html|access-date=2020-11-01|website=pennlive|language=en}}{{cite web|title=Crash kills driver; today's racing off|url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2014/09/crash-kills-driver-today-s-racing-off/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=sungazette.com|language=en-US}}

Local newspapers include the Williamsport Sun Gazette, Webb Weekly and The Williamsport Guardian.

The local news/talk radio stations are WRAK/WRKK (1400/1200 kHz), WWPA 1340 kHz and WXPI Community Radio 88.5 FM. Williamsport has an all-sports station, ESPN (AM) (1500 kHz). Williamsport is ranked #260 by Arbitron in terms of its radio market.

TV stations in Williamsport are served by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market.

A multiplex movie theater on West 4th Street opened May 2, 2008.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

{{Williamsport Radio}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Clyde Peeling's Reptiland
• Little League Museum
• Genetti Hotel
• Historic Bowman Field
• Peter Herdic Transportation Museum
• Thomas T. Taber Museum & Lycoming County Historical Society
• Lycoming Mall
• Millionaires Row
• Candy Cane Lane
• Downtown Williamsport
• River Walk

{{Div col end}}

==Notable people==

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Butch Alberts, former designated hitter in Major League Baseball, played for the Toronto Blue Jays{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=alberbu01 |title=Butch Alberts Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac|access-date= November 6, 2012}}
• James Milton Black, composer of hymns, choir leader and Sunday school teacher
• Ruth Blair, silent film actress, born in Williamsport
• Gary Brown, football player, running backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNGAR01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206121537/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNGAR01 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 6, 2007 |title=Gary Brown |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=January 15, 2016 }}
• Henry Bubb, president of Capitol Federal Savings Bank
• Ernest Callenbach, writer
• Michael Capuzzo, journalist and author
• Edgar T. Collins, U.S. Army major general{{cite magazine |last=Barnett |first=Allison Joseph |date=June 11, 1934 |title=Obituary, Edgar Thomas Collins |url=https://usmalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/aogreunion/id/20899/rec/1 |magazine= Annual Report of the Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy |location=Newburgh, NY |publisher=Moore Printing Company |page=194 |via=West Point Digital Library |ref={{sfnRef|Barnett}}}}
• Julia C. Collins, one of the earliest published Black female novelists
• Henry Cosgrove, Roman Catholic bishop
• Alexander Cummings, third governor of the Territory of Colorado
• Allen Ertel, U.S. congressman{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=E000208 |title=Ertel, Allen Edward, (1937 - )|dictionary= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= November 6, 2012}}
• Joanna Hayes, athlete, Olympic gold medalist
• Daniel Hughes, abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad
• James Hall Huling, U.S. congressman
• Alize Johnson, basketball player, Chicago Bulls
• Larry Kelley, 1936 Heisman Trophy winner
• Lawrence Lessig, Roy L. Furman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, former director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University, and candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States in the 2016 U.S. presidential election{{cite web|url=http://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/10519/Lessig/|title=Harvard Law School Faculty Lawrence Lessig}}
• Harry J. Lincoln, early 1900s music publisher and composer{{cite web | url = http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/scriptorium/sheetmusic/b/b03/b0351/ | title = Harry J. Lincoln: Sunset Limited | publisher = Duke University | access-date = 2011-12-06}}
• Joseph Lockard (October 30, 1922 - November 2, 2012), U.S. soldier and SCR-270 radar staffer/initial, primary source of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service's impending attack on Pearl HarborPenn Live - Patriot News. "Remembering: Joseph Lockard, was in the Army during Pearl Harbor attack." Updated Jan 05, 2019; Posted Dec 07, 2012. https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2012/12/remembering_joseph_lockard_was.html
• Jack Losch, football player{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LOSCHJAC01 |title=Jack Losch |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024205440/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LOSCHJAC01 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 }}
• George Luks, Ashcan School painter{{cite web|url=http://www.askart.com/AskART/L/george_benjamin_luks/george_benjamin_luks.aspx|title=George Benjamin Luks - Artist, Fine Art Prices, Auction Records for George Benjamin Luks|website=www.askart.com}}
• Henry J. Lutcher, businessman
• Tom Marino, U.S. congressman, U.S. Attorney, District Attorney{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001179 |title=Marino, Thomas A., (1952 - )|dictionary= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= November 6, 2012}}
• Jamie McAndrew, MLB player for the Milwaukee Brewers{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mcandja01 |title=Jamie McAndrew Stats |publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 6, 2012}}
• Henry J. Messing, rabbi
• Malcolm Muir, United States district judge noted for the R. Budd Dwyer case
• Mike Mussina, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mussimi01|title=Mike Mussina Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac|access-date= November 6, 2012}}
• Bob Pellegrini, American football player{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=PELLEBOB01 |title=Bob Pellegrini |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023224213/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=PELLEBOB01 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 }}
• H. Beam Piper, science-fiction author
• Bill Reifsnyder, two-time U.S. national marathon champion
• Severin Roesen (1815? – 1872), still-life painter
• Sal Rosato, football player{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121006163635/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ROSATSAL01 Sal Rosato Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards – databaseFootball.com]}}
• William Schreyer, financier{{cite web|url=http://www.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_1997/Sept15/news.html|title=Untitled Article|website=www.psu.edu}}
• H. Paul Shuch, SETI scientist
• Trisha Rae Stahl, actress
• Carl Stotz, founder of Little League Baseball{{cite web|url=http://www.northcentralpa.com/article/happy-birthday-carl-stotz|title=Carl Stotz|access-date=February 15, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909003647/http://www.northcentralpa.com/article/happy-birthday-carl-stotz|archive-date=September 9, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• Mary Szybist, poet, winner of the National Book Award for Poetry, 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2013_p_szybist.html#.UpAAEGQbdDs|title=Incarnadine by Mary Szybist, 2013 National Book Award Winner, Poetry|website=www.nationalbook.org|access-date=November 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123190745/http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2013_p_szybist.html#.UpAAEGQbdDs|archive-date=November 23, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
• Mike Taylor, basketball coach
• Martha Dewing Woodward, artist and art teacher in Paris, Miami, and New York
• Weldon Wyckoff, baseball player

{{Div col end}}

{{Panorama

| image = File:Williamsport, Pennsylvania panorama.jpg

| caption = Panoramic view of South Willamsport, Duboistown and Williamsport from the River Walk on top of the flood control levee. Bald Eagle Mountain, West Branch Susquehanna River, Hepburn Street Dam on the left, center is River Walk path, Lycoming Valley Railroad, Interstate 180 and city skyline, right is Market Street Bridge over the river.

| height = 200

| alt =

}}

{{portal|Pennsylvania}}

• Frank E. Heller Dam
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Further reading

• {{cite book|last=Dornsife|first=Samuel J.|title=Lost Williamsport: a Photo Album of Williamport's Vanishing Architectural Treasures|year=1995|publisher=River Run Productions|location=Williamsport, Pennsylvania|page=196|author2=Wolfson, Eleanor M. }}
• {{cite book|last=Larson|first=Robert H.|title=Williamsport: Frontier Village to Regional Center|year=1984|publisher=Windsor Publications|location=Woodland Hills, California|isbn=0-89781-110-0|page=208 |author2=Morris, Richard J. |author3=Piper Jr, John F.}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Williamsport}}

• [http://www.cityofwilliamsport.org/ City of Williamsport]
• [http://www.williamsport.com/ Williamsport, PA City Portal]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Williamsport

| Northeast = Loyalsock

| North = Loyalsock

| East = Montoursville

| Southeast = Montgomery

| South = South Williamsport

| Southwest = Duboistown

| West = Jersey Shore

| Northwest = Salladasburg

|

}}

{{Lycoming County, Pennsylvania}}

{{County Seats of Pennsylvania}}

{{Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1769 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Cities in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Category:Cities in Pennsylvania

Category:County seats in Pennsylvania

Category:Pennsylvania populated places on the Susquehanna River

Category:Populated places established in 1769