MONTOUR COUNTY AND DANVILLE, PA

Montour County, in the heart of Pennsylvania, is noted for its rural beauty and outstanding quality of life. It is home to rolling farmlands, state game lands, state forests, nature preserves and the Susquehanna River and several tributaries. Ricketts Glen, one of the several nearby state parks, is a Registered National Natural Landmark with more than 22 waterfalls. Almost 20,000 acres of state game land in the area are used for hunting, boating, hiking, bird watching and nature study, while there is an abundance of lakes and streams for fishing.

In addition to the wide range of outdoor recreation choices, the county seat – Danville – has a wealth of eclectic gift shops, diverse restaurants, historic sites, and architecturally significant homes and buildings. It still evokes a small town atmosphere with its friendly, nearby neighborhoods, quaint shops, busy restaurants, historic buildings, and the riverfront along which to stroll. Large crowds attend its annual festivals and events, and its William Montgomery House is well-known and admired for its collection of 18th and 19th century American artifacts. For those who occasionally yearn for more urban settings, Montour County is centrally located in the mid-Atlantic region, only 3 hours from New York City and Baltimore, and 2½ hours from Philadelphia.

For much of the first half of Danville’s history, water and iron dominated its development through the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and numerous iron foundries. Remnants of both still exist, but today’s diverse economy responds to 21st century demands, as Danville and Montour County have become nationally recognized leaders in health care, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. In the center of the educational triangle formed by Bucknell University, Susquehanna University, and Bloomsburg University, Danville, PA is becoming the focus of the area’s creative class. Buoyed by its economic vibrancy and diverse offerings of music, art and theater, it is creating a dynamic downtown.