The Central Susquehanna Valley is located in an area between Harrisburg, about an hour south, and Williamsport, about 45 minutes north and takes its name from the mighty Susquehanna River, which combines the Main Branch and the West Branch at Sunbury, near the center of the region. Parts of Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties make up the area. Besides Sunbury, the only City in the region, other municipalities in the service area are Beavertown, Freeburg, Herndon, Lewisburg, McClure, Middleburg, Mifflinburg, New Berlin, Northumberland, Selinsgrove, Shamokin Dam and Snydertown Boroughs. Also, many of the Townships near other Boroughs are of significant size, such as Monroe (Hummels Wharf) and Penn in Snyder County, East Buffalo and Kelly in Union County and Augusta, Upper Augusta and Point in Northumberland County.
The population of the Chamber's service area is thought to be 60,000 to 75,000, though no one municipality is as large as 15,000. The principal retail markets are in the downtowns: Lewisburg, Middleburg, Mifflinburg, Northumberland, Selinsgrove and Sunbury; and on the "golden strip" section of Routes 11 & 15 in Hummels Wharf and Shamokin Dam in Snyder County.
The economy is very mixed with Agriculture and Agri-Business being significant. Our broad based manufacturing industry includes food processing and baking, manufactured housing and building products, furniture and cabinets, textiles and clothing, castings, electrical and machinery and others. Distribution is also important, with one of the largest super market chains on the east coast headquartered in Sunbury and distributing from various facilities in the region as the largest of many similar type businesses. The area is well connected to shipping destinations by east - west Routes I-80 and U.S. 11 and north - south Routes U.S. 15, State 147 and I-81 (just to the east.). Penn Valley Airport in Selinsgrove and Northumberland County Airport provide full services for business and recreational flyers. Commercial passenger flights and shipping are available from Harrisburg and Williamsport.
The area benefits from major high learning institutions in the region. Susquehanna University (Selinsgrove) is rated among the best value and educational quality private colleges in the nation and Bucknell University's (Lewisburg) reputation in engineering and its other disciplines is world-wide. Bloomsburg University (Bloomsburg), a part of the Pennsylvania State University system is one of the most competitive public colleges in the State.
The region's six School Districts are Lewisburg Area, Line Mountain, Midd-West (Middleburg, and West Snyder High Schools), Mifflinburg, Selinsgrove Area and Shikellamy. All except Line Mountain are affiliated with the SUN Area Technical School for specific vocational curriculum choices.
Hunting, fishing, camping, water sports, a popular amusement park, visits to quaint craft and specialty shops museums, historical sites, and even a ride on an old train are starters for the thousands of tourists and visitors that come to the Valley each year. People who enjoy a quiet, peaceful lifestyle, come to spend a few days. a week or more enjoying a relaxed feeling that those of us who live here, have year around.
Call the Central Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce at (717) 743-4100 for more information about the area or the Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau at (717) 534-7234 for tourist information.
If you have any questions or comments, drop us some e-mail.
