Williamsport | |
|---|---|
.JPG)    .jpg) Clockwise from top left: skyline, downtown from 4th Street, The Weightman Block, Franco's Lounge and skyline panorama | |
 Seal | |
| Nicknames: Wilpo, Billtown, The Port. | |
| Motto: The will is in us | |
 Location of Williamsport inLycoming County, Pennsylvania | |
  Williamsport Williamsport (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°14′40″N77°1′7″W / 41.24444°N 77.01861°W /41.24444; -77.01861 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| County | Lycoming |
| Settled | 1769 |
| Incorporated | 1806 (borough) |
| 1866 (city) | |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Derek Slaughter (D) |
| • City Council President | Adam J. Yoder (R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.47 sq mi (24.53 km2) |
| • Land | 8.78 sq mi (22.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.69 sq mi (1.80 km2) |
| Elevation [2] (benchmark at center of city) | 528 ft (161 m) |
| Highest elevation [2] (water tank at northern boundary of city) | 980 ft (300 m) |
| Lowest elevation [2] (West Branch Susquehanna River) | 498 ft (152 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 27,754 |
| • Density | 3,162.1/sq mi (1,220.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 17701,17702,17703,17705[4] |
| Area codes | 570 and 272 |
| FIPS code | 42-85312[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1213655[6] |
| Website | cityofwilliamsport |
Williamsport is acity in and thecounty seat ofLycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States.[7] As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 27,754. It is the principal city of the WilliamsportMetropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of about 114,000. Williamsport is the larger principal city of the Williamsport-Lock Haven Combined Statistical Area, which includes Lycoming andClinton counties.[8]
The city is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of North Central Pennsylvania. It is 177 miles (285 km) fromPhiladelphia, 199 miles (320 km) fromPittsburgh and 85 miles (137 km) fromHarrisburg. It is known for its sports, arts scene and food. Williamsport was settled by Americans in the late 18th century, and began to prosper due to its lumber industry. In 1930, the city's population reached a high of 45,729 but since theGreat Depression it has declined by approximately 40 percent to 27,754 in 2020.
As county seat, Williamsport has the county courthouse, county prison, sheriff's office headquarters and federal courthouse, all downtown. It is also home to two institutions of higher learning, thePennsylvania College of Technology, also known as Penn College, andLycoming College. Williamsport is the birthplace ofLittle League Baseball.South Williamsport, a town across theWest Branch Susquehanna River, is the headquarters of Little League Baseball and annually hosts theLittle League World Series in late summer. Other points of interest include theHiawatha riverboat,Millionaires' Row,Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum, theCommunity Arts Center, theGenetti Hotel, the Susquehanna Riverwalk, and The Gallery at Penn College.
Williamsport is located 129.2 miles (207.9 km) northwest ofAllentown and 86.3 miles (138.9 km) north ofHarrisburg.
In 1763, the Battle of Muncy Hills took place during theFrench and Indian War. It was a clash between the Native Americans and colonists seeking homestead sites in Native American territory.[9] In 1768, at theTreaty of Fort Stanwix, the British purchased the land that became Lycoming County from the Iroquois Nation who controlled the lands.[9]
In March 1796 the first house was built in Williamsport. James Russell built hisinn on what is now the northeastern corner of East Third and Mulberry Streets in downtown.[10] 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 12,500 square miles (32,000 km2), comprising most of north central Pennsylvania.[9] 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,[10] and the first school was built as a one-room log addition to the building that would eventually become the first Lycoming County Courthouse.[10] 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.[9]
In 1799, apost office opened at the corner of Third and State Streets in what is now downtown,[10] and the following year, a jail was constructed at the northeast corner of William and Third Streets.[9] The post office was later converted to asaloon.[10]
In 1801, the town's first store was opened by William Winter on Third Street.[10] In 1831 Jacob L. Mussina established theRepasz Band, the oldest brass band in America still in existence.[9] On Oct. 15 1834 TheWest 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.[9] 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.[9]
TheUnderground 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.[11] 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.[9]
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.[12] 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.[13]
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.[12] 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."[13]
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.[12]
In 1849, theMarket Street Bridge was built over the West Branch Susquehanna River. It was opened as atoll bridge to cover the state's costs of $23,797.[10] In 1854, abrewery opened. The brewery was sold to Henry Flock in 1865. This brewery was run by the Flock family until the 1940s. The Flocks' business survivedProhibition by converting to adairy.[10]
In 1875, the first tower clock in the United States to sound the Cambridge Quarters (Westminster Chime) was installed atTrinity Episcopal Church, a gift ofPeter 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.[9]
In 1879 the world's first long distance (100 mile) oil pipeline was laid by theTide Water Pipe Company with Williamsport as its terminus, where oil was transferred to tank cars of theReading Railroad.
In 1881, a state law ended racial segregation in Pennsylvania schools. By 1948, all schools in this area were integrated.[9] In 1895,Harry Houdini appeared in one of his earliest performances, at the Old Fair Grounds with TheWelch Brothers Circus.[14]
Williamsport was the birthplace of the national newspaperGrit in 1882. Williamsport purportedly once had more millionaires per-capita than anywhere else in the world.[15] For this reason, the area's local high school, theWilliamsport Area High School, uses "Millionaires" as its team mascot.
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.[9]
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.[9] In 1941 the U.S. enteredWorld 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.[9] 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 becamePennsylvania College of Technology.[9]
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Williamsport is located at41°14′40″N77°1′7″W / 41.24444°N 77.01861°W /41.24444; -77.01861 (41.244428, −77.018738),[16] and is bordered by the West Branch Susquehanna River to the south (withArmstrong Township,South Williamsport,Duboistown andSusquehanna Township south of the river),Loyalsock Township to the east and north,Old Lycoming Township to the north andWoodward Township to the west.[17] As the crow flies, Lycoming County is about 130 miles (209 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 165 miles (266 km) east-northeast ofPittsburgh.
ThePeter Herdic House,Hart Building,Millionaire's Row Historic District,City Hall,Williamsport Armory, andOld City Hall are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[18]
Neighborhoods of Williamsport include:
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (25 km2), of which 8.9 square miles (23 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (6.92%) is water.[16]
Under theKöppen climate classification, Williamsport falls within either ahot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm is used or ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Williamsport has four distinct seasons, and lies in USDAhardiness zone 6b, with areas away from the West Branch Susquehanna River falling in zone 6a.[19] 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 26.8 °F (−2.9 °C),[20] with temperatures on average dropping to or below 0 °F (−18 °C) on 2.8 days and staying at or below freezing on 29 days per year.[20] Snowfall averages 36.0 inches (91 cm) per season.[20] The snowiest month on record was 40.1 inches (102 cm) in January 1987, while winter snowfall amounts have ranged from 85.9 in (218 cm) in 1995–96 to 7.0 in (18 cm) in 1988–89.[20] Summers are typically very warm and humid with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) 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.[20] July is the warmest month with an average mean temperature of 72.7 °F (23 °C).[20]
The all-time record high temperature in Williamsport of 106 °F (41 °C) was established on July 9, 1936, which occurred during theDust Bowl, and the all-time record low temperature of −20 °F (−29 °C) was set on January 21, 1994.[20] 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.[20] The normal annual mean temperature is 50.4 °F (10.2 °C).[20] Normal yearlyprecipitation based on the 30-year average from 1981 to 2010 is 41.28 inches (1,049 mm), falling on an average 133 days.[20] Monthly precipitation has ranged from 16.80 in (427 mm) in June 1972 (due to heavy rainfall fromHurricane Agnes) to 0.16 in (4.1 mm) in September 1943, while for annual precipitation the historical range is 70.26 in (1,785 mm) in 2011 to 27.68 in (703 mm) in 1930.[20]
| Climate data forWilliamsport Regional Airport, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1895–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) | 76 (24) | 87 (31) | 96 (36) | 96 (36) | 104 (40) | 106 (41) | 103 (39) | 102 (39) | 93 (34) | 83 (28) | 70 (21) | 106 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56 (13) | 58 (14) | 70 (21) | 83 (28) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 95 (35) | 92 (33) | 89 (32) | 79 (26) | 68 (20) | 58 (14) | 96 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.3 (1.8) | 38.7 (3.7) | 48.4 (9.1) | 61.7 (16.5) | 72.4 (22.4) | 80.5 (26.9) | 84.8 (29.3) | 82.7 (28.2) | 75.2 (24.0) | 63.1 (17.3) | 50.6 (10.3) | 39.7 (4.3) | 61.1 (16.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 38.7 (3.7) | 50.3 (10.2) | 60.8 (16.0) | 69.4 (20.8) | 73.7 (23.2) | 72.0 (22.2) | 64.7 (18.2) | 53.0 (11.7) | 41.9 (5.5) | 32.8 (0.4) | 51.3 (10.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.1 (−6.6) | 21.5 (−5.8) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 39.0 (3.9) | 49.1 (9.5) | 58.3 (14.6) | 62.7 (17.1) | 61.2 (16.2) | 54.1 (12.3) | 42.8 (6.0) | 33.2 (0.7) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 41.4 (5.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 1 (−17) | 5 (−15) | 13 (−11) | 25 (−4) | 34 (1) | 45 (7) | 52 (11) | 50 (10) | 40 (4) | 30 (−1) | 19 (−7) | 10 (−12) | −1 (−18) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) | −18 (−28) | −5 (−21) | 8 (−13) | 28 (−2) | 36 (2) | 43 (6) | 38 (3) | 28 (−2) | 19 (−7) | 3 (−16) | −15 (−26) | −20 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.96 (75) | 2.31 (59) | 3.13 (80) | 3.62 (92) | 3.86 (98) | 3.85 (98) | 4.64 (118) | 4.17 (106) | 4.76 (121) | 3.70 (94) | 3.25 (83) | 3.27 (83) | 43.52 (1,105) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.7 (25) | 9.3 (24) | 7.3 (19) | 0.8 (2.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.7 (4.3) | 6.9 (18) | 35.8 (91) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 12.1 | 10.1 | 11.6 | 12.2 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 11.9 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 136.5 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 7.7 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 23.9 |
| Source:NOAA[20][21] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 344 | — | |
| 1820 | 624 | 81.4% | |
| 1840 | 1,353 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,615 | 19.4% | |
| 1860 | 5,664 | 250.7% | |
| 1870 | 16,030 | 183.0% | |
| 1880 | 18,934 | 18.1% | |
| 1890 | 27,132 | 43.3% | |
| 1900 | 28,757 | 6.0% | |
| 1910 | 31,860 | 10.8% | |
| 1920 | 36,198 | 13.6% | |
| 1930 | 45,729 | 26.3% | |
| 1940 | 44,355 | −3.0% | |
| 1950 | 45,047 | 1.6% | |
| 1960 | 41,967 | −6.8% | |
| 1970 | 37,918 | −9.6% | |
| 1980 | 33,401 | −11.9% | |
| 1990 | 31,933 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 30,706 | −3.8% | |
| 2010 | 29,381 | −4.3% | |
| 2020 | 27,754 | −5.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[22] | |||
Williamsport is the larger principal city of the Williamsport-Lock Haven, PACombined Statistical Area, which includes theWilliamsport metropolitan area (Lycoming County) and theLock Haven micropolitan area (Clinton County)[23][24][25] and had a combined population of 157,958 at the2000 census.[5]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 30,706 people, 12,219 households, and 6,732 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,456.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,334.5/km2). There were 13,524 housing units at an average density of 1,522.3 per square mile (587.8/km2). 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% fromother races, and 1.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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. Theper capita income for the city was $14,707. About 13.7% of families and 21.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
| Crime in Williamsport, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
| Homicides | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Rapes | 16 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 12 |
| Robberies | 54 | 72 | 58 | 51 | 35 | 29 | 21 | 55 | 56 | 71 | 39 | 38 | 29 |
| Assaults | 51 | 35 | 41 | 39 | 21 | 66 | 71 | 48 | 61 | 37 | 44 | 33 | 56 |
| Burglaries | 219 | 297 | 296 | 227 | 191 | 232 | 222 | 262 | 138 | 188 | 121 | 99 | 133 |
| Thefts | 917 | 1,123 | 970 | 840 | 876 | 977 | 983 | 1,101 | 902 | 823 | 777 | 893 | 898 |
| Auto Thefts | 72 | 77 | 61 | 84 | 56 | 50 | 43 | 23 | 26 | 31 | 44 | 29 | 35 |
| Arsons | 13 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 9 |
| Crime Index (National average is 277.4) | 348.9 | 350.2 | 326.3 | 302.9 | 333.5 | 318.4 | 325.6 | 310.4 | 319.5 | 322.2 | 339.3 | 254.2 | 259.8 |
| Williamsport Crime data from State/Federal Crime statistics[26] | |||||||||||||
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.[27]
Williamsport is located inPennsylvania's 23rd senatorial District,Pennsylvania's 83rd House District, andPennsylvania'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.[28] It has a cooperative agreement with theOld Lycoming Volunteer Fire Department.[29] Since the late 1980s, it contracts with Susquehanna Regional EMS for ambulance service.[30]
Williamsport's top ten employers areUPMC Susquehanna, the Pennsylvania State Government, thePennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport Area School District,Brodart Company,Springs Window Fashions,Weis Markets, West Pharmaceuticals, and Textron Lycoming Engines.[citation needed]
Williamsport is noted for theLycoming aircraft engines which is a division ofAvco Corporation and a subsidiary ofTextron.Brodart, a library supplies company, is also based in Williamsport. Overhead Garage Door is also located in Newberry.[citation needed] Bethlehem Wire Rope, a 46-acre (190,000 m2) manufacturing complex in Williamsport, with over 620,000 square feet (58,000 m2) under roof, is the single largest wire rope manufacturing facility in North America.[31][unreliable source?]
Recently, interest has grown in extractingnatural gas in the Williamsport area.[32] Williamsport has become a key area in theMarcellus Shale drilling.[33]
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.[34][35]
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.[36] The construction on theCarl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge, the first of many projects, began in June 2004 and was completed in 2008.
Williamsport is the home ofLycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology, andThe Commonwealth Medical College. There is also a continuing education center of Pennsylvania State University located in Williamsport.[37]
Williamsport Area School District consists of:
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.[38]
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.[39]
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.[40] 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] circulating upwards of 550,000 books both in-house and through its traveling Storymobile.[40]
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'sMadigan Library are also located in Williamsport.
UPMC Susquehanna is a six hospital integrated health system including:
UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport was recognized as one of the 2011Thomson Reuters 50 Top Heart Hospitals in the nation.[41]
Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT), located several miles east of the city in the borough ofMontoursville, is served bySouthern Airways with passenger flights to and fromDulles International Airport inWashington, D.C., which began in 2024.[42]Fullington Trailways provides daily long-distance bus service from a station in the downtown toElmira, New York,Harrisburg, New York City, andPhiladelphia.[43] Local bus service within Williamsport and to other places in Lycoming County is offered byRiver Valley Transit.[44]
Williamsport is served by several major highways, includingInterstate 180,U.S. Route 15, andU.S. Route 220. I-180 and US 220 run together northeast–southwest through Williamsport, and US 15 joins (in theopposite direction) for two miles.[45] 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 thePennsylvania Railroad (PRR) andReading Railroad to Jersey City, New Jersey andPhiladelphia, and onNew York Central Railroad toLyons, New York viaCorning, New York.[46][47][48]
The longest enduring trains service was theBuffalo Day Express toNew York City,Buffalo,Harrisburg,Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, theDominion Express to the north, theWashington Express andDominion Express to the south, and to theNorthern Express toErie and west, and theSouthern Express, which reached southern destinations.[49]
Freight rail service west toAvis and east toMuncy is provided by theLycoming Valley Railroad, which has its main yard in the Newberry section of Williamsport, and offers connections to theNorfolk Southern andCanadian Pacific railroads.[50]
TheWest Branch Susquehanna River is not navigable, but a dam at Hepburn Street provides a large lake for recreational boating, including outings on the mock paddlewheelerHiawatha fromSusquehanna State Park.[51]
TheWilliamsport Crosscutters, acollegiate summer baseball team of theMLB Draft League, play their home games atBowman Field. Each year, the field also hosts theMLB Little League Classic.
TheLittle League World Series is held annually on the south side of the West Branch Susquehanna River inSouth Williamsport, whereLittle League Baseball now has its headquarters.
TheWilliamsport Country Club, an 18-holeA. W. Tillinghast designed course, is located in nearbyLoyalsock Township. Its premier event—the WCC Invitational—features golfers from the local area and further afield in an annual tournament dating to 1928.[52][53]
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.[54][55]
Local newspapers include theWilliamsport Sun Gazette,Webb Weekly andThe Williamsport Guardian.
The local news/talk radio stations areWRAK/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 byArbitron in terms of its radio market.
TV stations in Williamsport are served by theScranton/Wilkes-Barre market.
A multiplexmovie theater on West 4th Street opened May 2, 2008.[citation needed]
Notes
References
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Further reading
Places adjacent to Williamsport, Pennsylvania | |
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Municipalities and communities ofLycoming County, Pennsylvania,United States | ||
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| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |
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