From our bountiful farmland and our game-filled forests to our quaint “hometowns” and our modern and revitalized County Seat, Lycoming County is rich in history, tradition and diversity. Here you can enjoy all the amenities of twenty-first century culture and technology and still never be away form the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains or the Susquehanna River. You can watch the Ballet or listen to the Symphony downtown, and with a short five-minute drive, be surrounded by wilderness. If you close your eyes, you can easily imagine the Native American tribes roaming the land in search of the deer which still dot our landscape.

The first European settlers began to migrate here in the late 1700's after the French & Indian War. Exciting tales of battles and uprisings during the Revolutionary War will enthrall any history buff. And, many of our towns played important roles in our country's coming of age. Jersey Shore boasts the Tiadaghton Elm, the tree where a Declaration of Independence was signed by the Fair Play Boys in 1776, simultaneously with the more famous Declaration signed in Philadephia. Muncy, cheartered by Benjamin Franklin, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. And, Williamsport during its lumbering hey-day had more millionaires per capita than any other city on earth, hosting such glittering notables as Diamond Jim Brady, Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) and Lillian Russell in its grand hotels and opera houses.

Through the years, Williamsport and its surrounding municipalities has become a hub of thriving commerce and manufacturing in Northcentral Pennsylvania. Its diverse ethnic population witnessed by such unofficial areas as Little Italy and Dutch Hill, has resulted in a rich blend of cultures and a strong work ethic. Here you'll find every kind of enjoyable activity from turkey suppers at the Grange Halls and livestock exhibits at the County Fair to touring Broadway shows at the Community Arts center and Repasz Band concerts in Brandon Park.

Never far from our roots, our residents have diligently worked to preserve our heritage. But mindful of the demands of progress, we have also planned for our future with aggressive modernization of Downtown Williamsport, expansion of our colleges and our bustling industrial parks. And we certainly love to play and be entertained as well. Sports fields, bike trails, boat docks and recreational parks abound throughout the area. Our playhouses and teaters host every kind of diversion from country music to Mozart. Our gamelands attract thousands of hunters each Fall; our waterways attract thousands of fishermen each Spring. And at any given time there is always a festival, gallery show, carnival, poetry reading, or just plain get-together party like our famous Mardi Gras celebration. Whatever you're looking for, you're sure to find it in Lycoming County.

As the County Seat, Williamsport is the center of buisiness and government of Lycoming County (and pretty much the rest of Northcentral Pennsylvania). It's modern rejuvenated downtown is also the center of culture, dining and entertainment. Foremost is our magnificent Community Arts Center, a painstakingly restored 1920's grand theater which now hosts touring Broadway shows, big name entertainers, our own very professional Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and our Civic Ballet. Our Community Theater League, now in a state-of-the-art theater in the round at the new Trade & Transit Center, is a showcase for a large stable of local talent. The Scottish Rite Auditorium is the home of its own theater group, The Scottish Rite Players and bills a wide mvariety of performances by the Teteque Band, The Repasz Band, and touring groups like the Glenn Miller Band. And the Arena Theater at Lycoming College features an exciting line up of plays and musicals while Clark Chapel plays host to chamber music concert, vocal recitals and other intimate performances.

Dining in downtown Williamsport always presents a difficult choice. For haute cuisine, there's The Peter Herdic House (an impeccably restored lumber mansion) or DiSalvo's where Vince's freshly made pasta gives new meaning to Italian food. You can kick back and enjoy freshly made beers, hearty sandwiches and garlic mashed potatoes while listening to a myriad of live blues, jazz or new age music at The Bullfrog Brewery. Legends at the Genetti Hotel hosts a sumtuous buffet, a Sunday brunch and offers a wide variety of menu items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kansas City Steak House boasts great steaks in a relaxed, casual atmospheare. For family dining, there's Perkins (save room for the great desserts). For just about any taste for any food, there's the gigantic food court at Wegman's featuring everything from sushi to noodle soup. The latest addition to downtown's dining and entertainment line-up is The Warehouse with a video arcade for the kids, dancing with a DJ for adults, great casual dining for everyone and pool table for just hanging out with friends. And for a quick stop, don't forget Burger King near Penn College or on the Boulevard. Whatever your fancy for food, Williamsport has it.

Williamsport is extremely proud of its colleges. The Pennsylvania College of Technology, a part of the Penn State University system, is renowned worldwide for its high technology curriculum. Lycoming College founded in 1812 is a highly respected liberal arts college (not to mention its athletic teams). Together, these schools provide an invaluable resource to our citizens in the form of culture, enhanced educational opportunities, and community involvement.

Once touted as the Lumber Capital of the World, Williamsport's Millionaire's Row features many restored Victorian Mansions, Churches and apartment buildings. At the center of the historic district is the Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society just across from Ways Garden, where imaginatively displayed artifacts bring to life our rich heritage. The museum also houses the famous Shempp Model Train collection of over 300 toy trains. At various times throughout the year, the mansions are open to the public complete with costumed Victorians and rides on the three reproduction trolly cars, the Herdic Trolly, the Carl Stotz Trolly and the Weighman Trolly. You can step back to yesteryear amid the opulence that was once a hallmark of our city.

Festivals have long been a part of our tradition. Just about any excuse is a good one to get together with friends abd neighbors fo fun and lots of food. Some of our more notable events include:

• The Susquehanna 500 Mini-Indy Race sponsored by the local chapter of the Red Cross and held in Brandon Park is one of the largest such races in the country.
• The Dave Wollet Memorial Criterium Bike Race - The finest cyclists from Pennsylvania and surrounding states compete on a fast-paced course through the downtown retail area. The two-day races attracts 600 cyclists.
• The Susquehanna Valley Festival of the Arts held each June at Penn College features artisans, musicians, dancers, actors, poets...all in celebration of the arts.
• Home-Made Days, a food and craft extravaganza in Brandon Park each summer.
• Victorian Christmas and Heritage Days are both events in the historic district when the mansions are open to the public and feature a variety of concerts, art sales and lots of food. The Ways Garden Art Show held during Heritage Days is over 40 years old, one of the oldest shows in the state.
• The Mardi Gras held the weekend before Fat Tuesday brings riotous revelry to the downtown.

Whatever the reason people come to downtown, they always love to shop. And, Williamsport has a variety of specialty boutique shops for just about any taste... Otto's Book Store, Plankenhorn's Stationery, Robert M. Sides Family Music Center, Hoyer's Photo Shop, comic book shops, bath shops, clothing stores, antique shops and more...

For sports enthusiasts, Williamsport has it all. To participate, you can choose any sport and find a team playing it.From softball to soccer for players 6 to 60, it's here. There are public playing fields and swimming pools everywhere and indoor pools can be found at both the YMCA and the YWCA. Our very progressive YMCA also offers a rollerskating arena, indoor driving range and batting cages as well as racquetball, a modern fitness center and, of course, the Children's Discovery Workshop, an iteractive children's museum.

For Spectators, Williamsport is proud to be the home of the Crosscutters, a class A baseball team playing at the newly renovated Bowman Field adjacent to the original Little League fields. Here you can relax in comfort, eat a hotdog, drink a beer, and enjoy the All-American Pastime. Along with aggressive school sports team events, Lycoming College's MAC-chmpionship football and basketball teams give any sports fan a reason to cheer.

Being a river city, Williamsport makes full use of the beautiful Susquehanna River for its recreation. River campsites and docks dot both sides of the river for swimming, boating and water skiing. And our own Hiawatha, a replicated turn of the century paddlewheeler, glides up and down the river routinely during the Summer hosting public excursions, special parties and receptions.

South Williamsport

The "South Side" of Williamsport is a quiet residential community with its own array of shops, restaurants and attractions...foremost being the Lamade Memorial Field, the home of Little League Baseball. The Little League complex is specacular and continuously expanding, now incorporating two mirror-image playing fields. The stadium itself is one of the best in the country with a stunning view of the Valley. The Little League Museum is a "must-see" attraction with lots of displays and interactive exhibits.

The Lookout at the top of the mountain on Route 15 is a breathtaking panorama of the Valley that is well worth the stop on your way to White Deer Golf Course, the areas only public course and Clyde Peeling's Reptiland, a fasinating reptilian zoo both just a few miles farther south on 15.