Montour offers rural living within reach of Bloomsburg
After passing through the urban area of Bloomsburg, U.S. Route 11 curves through the valley of Montour Township. Montour is perhaps best known for Rupert Covered Bridge No. 56, one of Columbia County’s historic covered bridges. Spanning 185 feet across Fishing Creek since 1847 and restored in 2001, the bridge remains a landmark and symbol of the enclave and its beginnings as a settlement called Rupert. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and is the oldest existing covered bridge in the county.
Today, the Columbia County township combines the relaxed pace of country living with the views and outdoorsy spirit of a small mountain town. Home to around 1,200 people, the community attracts those seeking space and a slower pace of life without having to drive long distances to shop, dine or spend a night out.
Single-family homes surrounded by natural beauty
Homes in Montour line two-lane country roads that rise and fall with the township’s terrain. Common architectural styles include midcentury ranch-style homes, split-levels and historic farmhouses. Some properties sit close together in rows, while others are spread out with swaths of pasture in between. Lots of higher elevations often have views of mountains in the distance.
The median price for a single-family home in Montour is around $200,000, roughly half the national median. Prices range from about $155,000 to around $375,000. According to FEMA flood maps, properties along the township’s creeks and the Susquehanna River have a potential for flood risk.
B-rated public schools and a public university are close by
The Bloomsburg Area School District serves Montour and earns a B overall rating from Niche. The district has three elementary schools. Montour students can attend W.W. Evans Elementary, which receives a B-plus. The B-minus-rated Bloomsburg Middle now offers STEM classes. Students can continue their coursework at Bloomsburg Area High, which gets a B. Regional private options include the C-plus-rated Columbia County Christian. Higher education is close by in downtown Bloomsburg, which has a Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania campus with undergraduate, graduate and workforce training programs.
Public parks and golf courses are a short drive from Montour
Montour has a privately owned campground along Fishing Creek, but the closest public parks are a few miles away in Bloomsburg. Recreational soccer leagues play matches at Streater Field, which sits across the historic Rupert Covered Bridge from Montour. The park also offers access to the Susquehanna River for kayaking and fishing. The more comprehensive Bloomsburg Town Park offers courts and fields for sports as well as a playground, a skatepark and a public pool, among other things. The public 18-hole golf course at the Links at Hemlock Creek is one of two golf clubs in the area. The surrounding region features state game lands that are popular for hiking and mountain biking.
Shopping and dining options in the Bloomsburg area
U.S. Route 11 serves as Montour’s commercial corridor, with a few local shops and restaurants situated between manufacturers, dealerships and services. Morris Family Restaurant is a no-frills spot for homestyle breakfast and lunch, while the long-running May’s Drive-In Restaurant takes pride in its fast food-style American fare. More diverse dining options, as well as boutique shops, supermarkets and the closest hospital, are available in neighboring Bloomsburg, about 3 miles east. The town is home to the annual Bloomsburg Fair, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors over a week each September. National retailers, including Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement, are less than 10 miles away in Hemlock.
Commuters have close access to Interstate 80
Country roads branch off U.S. Route 11, the main highway through Montour, connecting the community to Bloomsburg to the east and Danville to the west. State Route 42 heads south to Catawissa and north to Interstate 80, which crosses the entire state. The capital city of Harrisburg, where commercial flights take off from Harrisburg International Airport, is less than 80 miles away. Philadelphia is around a 140-mile drive.
