Williamsport is an old lumber town still noted for production of hardwood lumber, particularly furniture-grade cherry. It’s better known as the birthplace of Little League Baseball and the location of the Little League World Series every August—attracting considerable international attention at this time. The setting is attractive and the area has some well-preserved historic districts but is otherwise nondescript. The economy generally has high unemployment and relatively low job growth. The area is isolated geographically from major transportation links, a fact that doesn’t help the economy. There are two small colleges but nearby amenities are thin and residents may have to travel to upstate New York to find what they need.

The town, in a narrow valley junction where the Lycoming River flows into the Susquehanna River, is surrounded by wooded hills and low mountains on all sides. The climate is influenced by the lower elevation compared to the surrounding terrain. In the summer, warm and humid air can be trapped in the valley and create periods of discomfort. Winter extremes are moderated somewhat by the valley location and occasionally by warmer coastal weather, although deep fogs can occur. Snowfall varies and is much higher in the hills. First freeze is late October, last is late April.