A County Blessed With Unparalleled Beauty
Where History and Innovation Meet to Ensure Long-Term Growth
Surrounded by the lush forests and winding waters of northeastern Pennsylvania, Wyoming County is known as “The Gateway to the Endless Mountains.” Both Historic Route 6 and the North Branch of the Susquehanna River pass through its scenic landscape, connecting rural communities that are rich in heritage and character.
Reflecting on the high quality of life in the region, Commissioner Rick Wilbur shares, “Wyoming County is a relatively small, rural county. We have all kinds of recreational opportunities. Hunting, fishing, and kayaking are very big here. We have a river that runs right through the middle of us, a number of creeks, lakes, and a ton of different things that we have to offer people.”
Industry and Innovation
Small businesses are a vital part of the county’s fabric, creating the friendly character that makes it a welcoming place to visit, and a convenient place to call home. The community also benefits from the presence of major corporations like Procter & Gamble who have anchored the local economy since 1967 and currently employ more than 2000 people.
Over the decades, the company has embraced innovation and expansion, while still maintaining a deep connection to the region and its workforce. “They’ve been here for a long time, and they keep growing and growing,” describes Wilbur. “They have two gas wells on their property that they own, and they are now energy efficient. They do not buy energy, they have their own power plant that is run by gas, and they also sell some of that.”
The gas industry has also provided a stable foundation, attracting related businesses and new investment without compromising the area’s tranquility. “The nice thing about the gas industry, it is mostly not intrusive,” Wilbur emphasizes. “They sit back and don’t take away from that quality of life that we have here.”
Rural Character and Recreation
Along with its economic assets, Wyoming County’s landscape offers a wealth of opportunities. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the Vosburg Neck State Park, a recent addition and well visited attraction. Spanning 667 acres, the park is located along the scenic Susquehanna River, offering miles of trails and beautiful views.
Another new feature is Miller Mountain, a county landmark, and a popular destination, situated in the Pinchot State forest. “That added many acres of land. There’s no homes, there’s no businesses, it’s wide open land. They have trails and that sort of thing for people to use,” Wilbur details.
Along with endless outdoor adventure, Wyoming County offers a thriving cultural scene. “We have wonderful arts and arts history here,” touts Vice Chairman, Tom Henry. “We have art trails all throughout Wyoming County. We also have clubs for the kids at the theater. They do film festivals. We have an artist in house. We display art in the courthouse. But on the other side of that, we have trails and hiking and camping. Our Endless Mountains Heritage Region has just done a bike trail that has gotten national recognition. There are some really great things in Wyoming County to do, in all the seasons.”
Tourism and Community
Wyoming County’s municipalities may be small, but they overflow with heritage and community spirit. Tunkhannock Borough, home to close to 1800 people, is the largest community, offering a historic main street brimming with small shops and restaurants. The 1844 courthouse is a source of pride, and county officials are happy to show it off. “It’s going through a huge renovation right now,” Wilbur says. “We’re repairing any stucco damage and putting on a new dome. It’s about a half million dollar project that we’re in the midst of right now. We’re trying to get it all done for America 250.”
Other boroughs, such as Nicholson are investing in revitalization. “They just replaced all of their sidewalks, which doesn’t sound like much, but if you saw the sidewalks before, you’d realize how important that is,” Wilbur relays. “They also just opened up a historic train station that dates back well into the 1800s. And now that’s a tourist attraction, which is great.”
Opportunities to showcase the unique heritage are on display across Wyoming County. Laceyville is home to the county’s oldest house, dating back to the 1700’s. “We are trying to do a lot of those things that would draw people to our area,” says Wilbur. “Factoryville is the home of Keystone College, which came about in 1867,” he continues. “Another interesting thing about Factoryville is that it’s the birthplace of Christy Matthewson. He was one of the first five inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame when that came into being. They have a big painting on the side of a building, and they have signs along the road. So that’s kind of cool.”
The county’s calendar is also full of community celebrations, from Founders Day to Bridge Day. “Nicholson has a very historic bridge,” Wilbur says. “They have Bridge Day there every year. They close down the streets, they have vendors and entertainment. Laceyville had their very first festival this year. They had Laceyville Day. We celebrate Christmas in our hometown. That gets a lot of recognition.”
Henry adds, “We’re a small town. We try to have lots of festivals and do things. And it’s a very supportive, helpful community where everyone works together to make these things happen.”
Infrastructure and Growth
In Wyoming County, infrastructure remains both a challenge and a focus. “We have a number of small municipalities, and they don’t have centralized sewer and water,” Wilbur acknowledges. “That is an impediment to bringing in economic development. The areas where that’s available are not nonexistent, but not nearly as much as we need it to be. We’re blessed to have gas, that’s a good thing.” He notes that the communities of Factoryville and Tunkhannock do have municipal water and sewer service, and there are some private systems in Mehoopany.
The county’s bridges are in good shape, thanks in part to infrastructure funding and careful stewardship. “We have one that we’re replacing and one that we’re going to be doing a major repair on, but most are owned by municipalities,” Wilbur says. “They’ve received a lot of money from the infrastructure program that came through, and that’s helped.” As for Highway maintenance, he says that it is largely managed by PennDOT. “They’re doing okay,” he affirms. “Right now they’re doing a lot of tarring and chipping, which there’s controversy over, but it extends the life of the road dramatically. And it’s a fraction of the cost of paving.”
The county also benefits from gas related revenue through Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale impact fees, meant to help with road repairs resulting from the use of heavy equipment. “All of our townships and the county itself get funds from Marcellus Shale,” Wilbur outlines. “The majority of the funds are based on how many wells they drill and the production out of those wells. So the rural counties are getting extra money and that can be used on our roads. We have wells in Wyoming County. We aren’t the biggest producer in Pennsylvania, but we do okay.”
Current housing developments are aligned with infrastructure availability. “Right now the only place we’re seeing developments coming in is if it’s a private development, in areas where there is existing water and sewer available,” he conveys. “A perfect example is a 34-unit low income elderly housing project coming into Tunkhannock Borough. Construction of the project is well underway and expected to be completed in Spring.”
Health Care and Resilience
Like many rural communities, Wyoming County has faced barriers in maintaining healthcare services. “About three years ago, we lost our only hospital, and included in that was the emergency room,” Wilbur recounts. “Now the building has finally been reopened. It’s been bought by a foundation, but we still do not have an emergency department. We’ve got 30 miles to the nearest hospital. So it’s taxing our EMS system with transporting patients. I’m hopeful that someday we have an emergency room again.”
Henry underscores that even without a full-service hospital in Wyoming County, residents still have access to important healthcare services. Both Guthrie and Geisinger have established convenient care facilities in the area, allowing patients to be stabilized locally before being transferred if needed. “The hospital is doing tremendous things,” he highlights. “They’re doing medically assisted treatments. Their programs are endless with children, crises, and stuff like that. So hopefully we’ll get up to the same status as before, but they’re doing a lot of new, creative things and that is great.”
A County with a High Quality of Life
From major industries like Proctor and Gamble, to the breathtaking trails that wind through the Endless Mountains, Wyoming County offers an ideal blend of opportunity, resilience, and legacy, proving that rural life can be both peaceful and progressive.
AT A GLANCE
Who: Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
What: A rural county bringing the best of history and progress to residents
Where: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Website: www.wyomingcountypa.gov
PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS
Community Bank N.A.: www.cbna.com
A subsidiary of Community Financial System, Inc., Community Bank is among the country’s 100 largest banking institutions with over $16 billion in assets and a branch network of more than 200 locations across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts.
The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau: www.endlessmountains.org
The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau is the designated tourism promotion agency for Sullivan and Wyoming counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Since 1962, this non-profit organization has marketed the region through regional, state, and national publications; newspapers; broadcast media; trade shows; online publications; and more.
