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The article incorrectly listed the distance between Williamsport and Pittsburgh as 166 miles when in fact the distance is 199miles per Google maps (and because I have made that drive before, having lived in Pittsburgh myself) |
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{{Short description|City in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Williamsburg, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Williamsport
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Pennsylvania|City]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 290
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/2/2/
| image1 = Williamsport (Large).JPG
| image2 = Downtown-Williamsport.jpg
| image3 = West 4th Street between Court and Market Streets Williamsport.jpg
| image4 = Weightman Block Williamsport Pennsylvania.JPG
| image5 = Williamsport, PA (3874312988).jpg
| spacing = 2
| color = #FFFFFF}}
| image_caption = Clockwise from top left: skyline, downtown from 4th Street, The Weightman Block, Franco's Lounge and skyline panorama
| flag_size =
| image_seal = Seal of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.png
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_size =
| nicknames = Wilpo, Billtown, The Port.
| motto = The will is in us
<!-- images and maps ----------->| image_map = File:Lycoming County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Williamsport Highlighted.svg
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Location of Williamsport in [[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania]]
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------>
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Williamsport in [[Pennsylvania]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|41|14|40|N|77|1|7|W|region:US-PA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Pennsylvania}}
| subdivision_name2 = [[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Lycoming]]
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_name4 = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1769
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1 = 1806 (borough)
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 = 1866 (city)
<!-- Area --------------------->| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Derek Slaughter]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1 =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 24.53
<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->| area_total_sq_mi = 9.47
| area_land_km2 = 22.73
<!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->| area_land_sq_mi = 8.78
| area_water_km2 = 1.80
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.69
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_urban_sq_mi =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_blank1_title =
| area_blank1_km2 =
| area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Population ----------------------->
<!-- elevation -->| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="WTopozone">{{cite web |title=Williamsport Topo Map, Lycoming County PA (Williamsport Area) |url=https://www.topozone.com/pennsylvania/lycoming-pa/city/williamsport-12/ |website=TopoZone |publisher=Locality, LLC |access-date=28 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft = 528
| elevation_point = benchmark at center of city
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref name="WTopozone"/>
| elevation_max_m =
| elevation_max_ft = 980
| elevation_max_point = water tank at northern boundary of city
| elevation_max_rank =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <ref name="WTopozone"/>
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_min_ft = 498
| elevation_min_point = West Branch Susquehanna River
| elevation_min_rank = <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| population_total = 27754
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 1220.89
| population_density_sq_mi = 3162.13
| population_urban =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title =
| population_blank1 =
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information --------------->
| population_note =
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code = 17701,17702,17703,17705 <ref>[http://www.city-data.com/city/Williamsport-Pennsylvania.html Williamsport, Pennsylvania (PA) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news]. City-data.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.</ref>
| area_codes = [[Area codes 570 and 272|570 and 272]]
| area_code_type =
| website = {{URL|cityofwilliamsport.org}}
| footnotes =
| leader_title2 = City Council President
| leader_name2 = Adam J. Yoder (R)
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 42-85312<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1213655<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
}}
'''Williamsport''' is a [[City (Pennsylvania)|city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/maps/undergroundrailroad/|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|access-date=2011-06-07}}</ref> As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 27,754. It is the principal city of the Williamsport [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which has a population of about 114,000. Williamsport is the larger principal city of the Williamsport-[[Lock Haven, Pennsylvania|Lock Haven]] Combined Statistical Area, which includes Lycoming and [[Clinton County, Pennsylvania|Clinton]] counties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Combined Statistical Areas Map (March 2020)|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/metroarea/us_wall/Mar2020/CSA_WallMap_Mar2020.pdf|access-date=2021-08-11|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US}}</ref>
The city is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of North Central Pennsylvania. It is {{convert|177|mi}} from [[Philadelphia]], {{convert|199|mi}} from [[Pittsburgh]] and {{convert|85|mi}} from [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]]. 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 the [[Great 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, the [[Pennsylvania College of Technology]], also known as Penn College, and [[Lycoming College]]. Williamsport is the birthplace of [[Little League Baseball]]. [[South Williamsport, Pennsylvania|South Williamsport]], a town across the [[West Branch Susquehanna River]], is the headquarters of Little League Baseball and annually hosts the [[Little League World Series]] in late summer. Other points of interest include the [[Hiawatha (riverboat)|Hiawatha riverboat]], [[Millionaire's Row Historic District|Millionaires' Row]], [[Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum]], the [[Community Arts Center]], the [[Genetti Hotel]], the Susquehanna Riverwalk, and The Gallery at Penn College.
Williamsport is located {{convert|129.2|mi|km}} northwest of [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] and {{convert|86.3|mi|km}} north of [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]].
==History==
{{Main|History of Williamsport, Pennsylvania}}
===Early history===
[[File:PostcardWilliamsportPABizSectionAerial1919.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Aerial view of Williamsport from the early 20th century]]
[[File:Williamsport pre 1921 postcard3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|West Third Street looking west, c. 1910]]
[[File:Williamsport pre 1921 postcard8.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Williamsport Home for the Friendless, c. 1910]]
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.<ref name="HW_timeline">[http://www.historicwilliamsport.com/timelinenew.html Welcome to Historic Williamsport: Books by Robin Van Auken<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006040443/http://www.historicwilliamsport.com/timelinenew.html |date=October 6, 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="HW_timeline" />
In March 1796 the first house was built in Williamsport. James Russell built his [[Public house#Inns|inn]] on what is now the northeastern corner of East Third and Mulberry Streets in downtown.<ref name="firsts">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> 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,<ref name="firsts" /> and the first school was built as a one-room log addition to the building that would eventually become the first Lycoming County Courthouse.<ref name="firsts" /> 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.<ref name="HW_timeline" />
In 1799, a [[post office]] opened at the corner of Third and State Streets in what is now downtown,<ref name="firsts" /> and the following year, a jail was constructed at the northeast corner of William and Third Streets.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> The post office was later converted to a [[Western saloon|saloon]].<ref name="firsts" />
In 1801, the town's first store was opened by William Winter on Third Street.<ref name="firsts" /> In 1831 Jacob L. Mussina established the [[Repasz Band]], the oldest brass band in America still in existence.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> On Oct. 15 1834 The [[Pennsylvania Canal (West Branch Division)|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.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> 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.<ref name="HW_timeline" />
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 [[Union (American Civil War)|"free" states]] in the North and Canada.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="HW_timeline" />
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.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0" /> 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."<ref name=":1" />
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.<ref name=":0" />
In 1849, the [[Carl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge|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.<ref name="firsts" /> 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 in the United States|Prohibition]] by converting to a [[dairy]].<ref name="firsts" />
In 1875, the first tower clock in the United States to sound the Cambridge Quarters (Westminster Chime) was installed at [[Trinity Episcopal Church (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)|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.<ref name="HW_timeline" />
In 1879 the world's first long distance (100 mile) oil pipeline was laid by the [[Tidewater Oil Company|Tide Water Pipe Company]] with Williamsport as its terminus, where oil was transferred to tank cars of the [[Reading Railroad]].
In 1881, a state law ended racial segregation in Pennsylvania schools. By 1948, all schools in this area were integrated.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> In 1895, [[Harry Houdini]] appeared in one of his earliest performances, at the Old Fair Grounds with The [[Welch Brothers Circus]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Williamsport was the birthplace of the national newspaper ''[[Grit (newspaper)|Grit]]'' in 1882. Williamsport purportedly once had more millionaires per-capita than anywhere else in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meckley|first=Thad|title=Williamsport's Millionaires' Row|url=https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738537979}}</ref> For this reason, the area's local high school, the [[Williamsport Area School District|Williamsport Area High School]], uses "Millionaires" as its team mascot.
=== Modern history ===
[[File:WilliamsportA.png|thumb|upright=1.1|Downtown Williamsport]]
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.<ref name="HW_timeline" />
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.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> 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.<ref name="HW_timeline" /> 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]].<ref name="HW_timeline" />
==Geography and climate==
[[File:Looking to Downtown Williamsport (10054849105).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Downtown and the [[Genetti Hotel]] seen from neighboring [[South Williamsport, Pennsylvania|South Williamsport]]]]
=== Geography ===
==== Physical geography and area landscape ====
Williamsport is located at {{Coord|41|14|40|N|77|1|7|W|type:city}} (41.244428, −77.018738),<ref name="GR1">{{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}}</ref> and is bordered by the West Branch Susquehanna River to the south (with [[Armstrong Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Armstrong Township]], [[South Williamsport, Pennsylvania|South Williamsport]], [[Duboistown, Pennsylvania|Duboistown]] and [[Susquehanna Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Susquehanna Township]] south of the river), [[Loyalsock Township, Pennsylvania|Loyalsock Township]] to the east and north, [[Old Lycoming Township, Pennsylvania|Old Lycoming Township]] to the north and [[Woodward Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Woodward Township]] to the west.<ref>{{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
}}</ref> 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]].
==== Historical places and neighborhoods ====
The [[Peter Herdic House]], [[Hart Building (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)|Hart Building]], [[Millionaire's Row Historic District]], [[U.S. Post Office (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)|City Hall]], [[Williamsport Armory]], and [[Williamsport City Hall|Old City Hall]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
[[File:Williamsport Pajama Factory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The historic Pajama Factory seen from Wildwood cemetery in February 2018]]
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.<ref name="GR1" />
===Climate===
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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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}},<ref name = NOAA /> 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.<ref name = NOAA /> Snowfall averages {{convert|36.0|in|cm}} per season.<ref name = NOAA /> 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.<ref name = NOAA /> 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.<ref name = NOAA /> July is the warmest month with an average mean temperature of {{convert|72.7|F|0}}.<ref name = NOAA />
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.<ref name = NOAA /> 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.<ref name = NOAA /> The normal annual mean temperature is {{convert|50.4|F|1}}.<ref name = NOAA /> Normal yearly [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] based on the 30-year average from 1981–2010 is {{convert|41.28|in|mm}}, falling on an average 133 days.<ref name = NOAA /> 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.<ref name = NOAA />
{{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]]<ref name = 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}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{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}}</ref>
}}
==Demographics==
{{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<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
[[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|thumb|upright=1.1|Williamsport City Hall, a former U.S. Post Office]]
Williamsport is the larger principal city of the Williamsport-Lock Haven, PA [[Combined Statistical Area]], which includes the [[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Williamsport metropolitan area]] (Lycoming County) and the [[Clinton County, Pennsylvania|Lock Haven micropolitan area]] ([[Clinton County, Pennsylvania|Clinton County]])<ref>{{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.</ref><ref>{{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.</ref><ref>{{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.</ref> and had a combined population of 157,958 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]].<ref name="GR2"/>
As of the census<ref name="GR2"/> 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 (U.S. Census)|White]], 12.7% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.
==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=14| 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<br>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<br> (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
|-
! colspan=14|''Williamsport Crime data from State/Federal Crime statistics''<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.crimereports.com/city/Williamsport%2C%20PA | title = See crimes, incidents and sex offenders in Williamsport, PA on CrimeReports. | work = crimereports.gov | access-date = 7 May 2019}}</ref>
|}
==
{{See also|List of Mayors of Williamsport, Pennsylvania}}
[[File:The Cell Block bar crop.JPG|right|thumb|upright=1.1|Lycoming County Prison was built between 1799 and 1801; today it is a night club.]]
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.<ref name="Meet the Mayor">{{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 }}</ref>
Williamsport is located in [[Pennsylvania Senate, District 23|Pennsylvania's 23rd senatorial District]], [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 83|Pennsylvania's 83rd House District]], and [[Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district]].
===Fire protection===
Williamsport Bureau of Fire was established in 1874 after a devastating fire that destroyed much of the cities down town in 1871.<ref>{{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}}</ref> It has a cooperative agreement with the [[Old Lycoming]] Volunteer Fire Department.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Since the late 1980s, it contracts with Susquehanna Regional EMS for ambulance service.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==
Williamsport's top ten employers are [[UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport|UPMC Susquehanna]], the Pennsylvania State Government, the [[Pennsylvania College of Technology]], Williamsport Area School District, [[Brodart|Brodart Company]], [[Springs Window Fashions]], [[Weis Markets]], West Pharmaceuticals, and Textron Lycoming Engines.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
Williamsport is noted for the [[Lycoming Engines|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwrope.com/|title=Wire Rope Works Inc.- Bethlehem Wirerope|website=www.wwwrope.com}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=November 2014}}
Recently, interest has grown in extracting [[natural gas]] in the Williamsport area.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> Williamsport has become a key area in the [[Marcellus Shale]] drilling.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
[[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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www7.lonza.com/products-services/consumer-health/personal-care.aspx |title=Personal Care |access-date=July 23, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www7.lonza.com/products-services/coatings-and-composites/oil-and-gas.aspx |title=Oil & Gas |access-date=July 23, 2020 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Williamsport |last=Brigandi |first=Dana |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4671-2360-0}}</ref> 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.
==Education==
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
[[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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sjnra.org |title=St. John Neumann Regional Academy, Williamsport, PA |website=www.sjnra.org}}</ref>
==Libraries==
[[File:James V. Brown Library Williamsport.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The James V. Brown Library in 2014]]
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.<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" />
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.
==Hospitals==
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, Pennsylvania|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.<ref>[http://susquehannahealth.org/Top50Heart/ Award-Winning Quality {{!}} Susquehanna Health - Muncy, Williamsport, Wellsboro]. Susquehanna Health. Retrieved on 2013-07-23.</ref>
==Transportation==
{{see also|Transportation in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania}}
[[File:Williamsport pre 1921 postcard2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Williamsport station, c. 1910]]
[[Williamsport Regional Airport]] (IPT), located several miles east of the city in the borough of [[Montoursville, Pennsylvania|Montoursville]], is served by [[Southern Airways]] with passenger flights to and from [[Dulles International Airport]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], which began in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Commuter flights return to Williamsport Regional Airport with new Washington Dulles service | url=https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-05-29/052924lycoairport | access-date=2025-08-17 | website=www.wvia.org}}</ref> [[Fullington Trailways]] provides daily long distance bus service from a station in the downtown to [[Elmira, New York]], [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], New York City, and [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Daily Bus Departures|publisher=Fullington Tours|url=http://www.fullingtontours.com/pages/daily_bus_departures|access-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref> Local bus service within Williamsport and to other places in Lycoming County is offered by [[River Valley Transit]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Williamsport is served by several major highways, including [[Interstate 180 (Pennsylvania)|Interstate 180]], [[U.S. Route 15 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 15]], and [[U.S. Route 220 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 220]]. I-180 and US 220 run together northeast/southwest through Williamsport, and US 15 joins (in the [[Wrong-way concurrency|opposite direction]]) for two miles.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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 Company|Reading Railroad]] to Jersey City, New Jersey and [[Philadelphia]], and on [[New York Central Railroad]] to [[Lyons, New York]] via [[Corning, New York]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>New York Central Railroad timetable, February 1935, Table 33</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
The longest enduring trains service was the ''[[Buffalo Day Express]]'' to [[New York City]], [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|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, Pennsylvania|Erie]] and west, and the ''Southern Express'', which reached southern destinations.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Freight rail service west to [[Avis, Pennsylvania|Avis]] and east to [[Muncy, Pennsylvania|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 Railway|Norfolk Southern]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway|Canadian Pacific]] railroads.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
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 (Pennsylvania)|Susquehanna State Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ridehiawatha.com/ |title= Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat |publisher = River Valley Transit |access-date = 2008-01-29}}</ref>
==Sports==
[[File:Little League World Series and Lamade Stadium.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|The [[Little League World Series]] is held annually at [[Howard J. Lamade Stadium|Lamade Stadium]]]]
The [[Williamsport Crosscutters]], a [[collegiate summer baseball]] team of the [[MLB Draft League]], play their home games at [[Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field|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, Pennsylvania|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, Pennsylvania|Loyalsock Township]]. Its premier event—the WCC Invitational—features golfers from the local area and further afield in an annual tournament dating to 1928.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://wcc1909.com/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=wcc1909.com}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Media==
Local newspapers include the ''[[Williamsport Sun Gazette]]'', ''Webb Weekly'' and ''The Williamsport Guardian''.
The local news/talk radio stations are [[WRAK (AM)|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, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]/[[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] market.
A multiplex [[movie theater]] on West 4th Street opened May 2, 2008.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
{{Williamsport Radio}}
==Points of interest==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Clyde Peeling's Reptiland
* [[Little League World Series|Little League Museum]]
* [[Genetti Hotel]]
* [[BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field|Historic Bowman Field]]
*[[Peter Herdic Transportation Museum]]
*[[Thomas T. Taber Museum & Lycoming County Historical Society]]
*[[Lycoming Mall]]
*[[Millionaires Row]]
*[[Candy Cane Lane, Duboistown|Candy Cane Lane]]
*[[Downtown Williamsport]]
*River Walk
{{Div col end}}
==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Butch Alberts]], former [[designated hitter]] in [[Major League Baseball]], played for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[James Milton Black]], composer of hymns, choir leader and Sunday school teacher
* [[Ruth Blair (actress)|Ruth Blair]], silent film actress, born in Williamsport
* [[Gary Brown (running back)|Gary Brown]], football player, running backs coach for the [[Dallas Cowboys]]<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
*[[Henry Bubb]], president of Capitol Federal Savings Bank
* [[Ernest Callenbach]], writer
* [[Michael Capuzzo]], journalist and author
* [[Edgar T. Collins]], U.S. Army major general<ref>{{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}}}}</ref>
* [[Julia C. Collins]], one of the earliest published Black female novelists
* [[Henry Cosgrove]], Roman Catholic bishop
* [[Alexander Cummings (territorial governor)|Alexander Cummings]], third governor of the Territory of Colorado
* [[Allen Ertel]], U.S. congressman<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Joanna Hayes]], athlete, Olympic gold medalist
* [[Daniel Hughes (underground railroad)|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 [[Lawrence Lessig presidential campaign, 2016|candidate]] for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s nomination for [[President of the United States]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 U.S. presidential election]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/10519/Lessig/|title=Harvard Law School Faculty Lawrence Lessig}}</ref>
* [[Harry J. Lincoln]], early 1900s music publisher and composer<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[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 Harbor]]<ref>Penn 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</ref>
* [[Jack Losch]], football player<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* [[George Luks]], [[Ashcan School]] painter<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Henry J. Lutcher]], businessman
* [[Tom Marino]], U.S. congressman, U.S. Attorney, District Attorney<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Jamie McAndrew]], [[MLB]] player for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Henry J. Messing]], rabbi
* [[Malcolm Muir (judge)|Malcolm Muir]], [[United States district judge]] noted for the [[R. Budd Dwyer]] case
* [[Mike Mussina]], [[List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame|member]] of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Bob Pellegrini]], American football player<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* [[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<ref>{{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<!-- Bot generated title -->]}}</ref>
* [[William Schreyer]], financier<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psu.edu/ur/archives/intercom_1997/Sept15/news.html|title=Untitled Article|website=www.psu.edu}}</ref>
* [[H. Paul Shuch]], [[SETI]] scientist
* [[Trisha Rae Stahl]], actress
* [[Carl Stotz]], founder of Little League Baseball<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Mary Szybist]], poet, winner of the National Book Award for Poetry, 2013<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[Mike Taylor (basketball coach)|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 =
}}
==See also==
{{portal|Pennsylvania}}
* [[Frank E. Heller Dam]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania]]
==References==
'''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.}}
==External links==
{{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 Township, Pennsylvania|Loyalsock]]
| North = [[Loyalsock Township, Pennsylvania|Loyalsock]]
| East = [[Montoursville, Pennsylvania|Montoursville]]
| Southeast = [[Montgomery, Pennsylvania|Montgomery]]
| South = [[South Williamsport, Pennsylvania|South Williamsport]]
| Southwest = [[Duboistown, Pennsylvania|Duboistown]]
| West = [[Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania|Jersey Shore]]
| Northwest = [[Salladasburg, Pennsylvania|Salladasburg]]
|
}}
{{Lycoming County, Pennsylvania}}
{{County Seats of Pennsylvania}}
{{Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Williamsport, Pennsylvania| ]]
[[Category:1769 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:County seats in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Populated places established in 1769]]
| |||