Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Sunbury, Pennsylvania, located in the center of the lovely Susquehanna Valley Region, is a small city still rich in family values and with a strong sense of community.  Found in the rural Central Pennsylvania region, a land where Amish and Mennonite horse and buggies still travel the roads and covered bridges, Sunbury stands as one of the largest cities in the area, with a 2000 Census population count of almost 11,000.

The winding Susquehanna River meanders throughout the district of gently sloping mountain ridges and fertile valleys.  Deeply forested areas and tranquil brooks and streams lie just outside Sunbury's city limits, providing excellent opportunities for hunters and fishermen, or simply outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy the wonders of nature.

Sunbury is the county seat of Northumberland County, which stretches over 460 square miles, containing a population of almost 95,000.  Both agriculture and industry are prominent in the northern portion of the County, while an anthracite coal region extends through the south end. 

Sunbury, founded in 1772, became incorporated as a city in 1921.  Nestled where the West Branch and the Main Branch of the Susquehanna River meet, Sunbury is home to the rather unique Fabridam, an inflatable dam that stretches across the river each spring to form a reservoir for fishing and water sports.  In the fall, it is lowered again to allow for fish migration as well as to prevent flooding from spring thaws.

Rich in local history, Sunbury is the site of Fort Augusta, which played a key role in the French and Indian wars in the mid 1700's.  The site is now home to the Hunter Museum, which preserves the area's historical and genealogical library.  The Edison Hotel is a monument to modern-day electricity, as the first building Thomas Edison ever wired in 1833.

Sunbury residents enjoy numerous parks and recreational facilities throughout the city.  The lovely Kiethan Gardens began as a hobby of Charles Keithan in the 1920's, and today is maintained by the city, a wondrous 1.5-acre tract of exotic landscaping.  One of the few communities in the region to offer an ice-skating rink, Sunbury also provides four parks and several sport fields and playgrounds.  One is a true monument to community spirit, named Fort Discovery, it was built entirely by local volunteers, and is a child's dream come true.

Sunbury, Pennsylvannia is an exquisite place to raise a family or build a business while enjoying a slower pace of life.

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