Northumberland is a quiet and historical Susquehanna River town
Northumberland is a small borough located at the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River. Called “Norry” by locals, the community was founded as a trading post in 1828, and is best known to science history buffs as the final residence of chemist Joseph Priestley, who discovered oxygen and the carbon cycle. Today, the borough mostly serves as a commuter hub for larger nearby towns like Sunbury, Selinsgrove and Lewisburg. “It’s a pretty typical Susquehanna River town,” says associate broker and area resident Christopher Arnold of Bowen Agency Realtors. “A lot of historic turn-of-the-century homes near the town center, pretty good access to outdoor areas outside of town, that sort of thing.”
A variety of classic home styles
Most homes in Northumberland were built between the late-19th and mid-20th centuries. Row houses, ranch-style homes, bungalows, cottages and Craftsman homes can all be found around town. The borough’s sizable historical district, located just north of the intersection of the Susquehanna River branches, contains a wide variety of well-preserved homes and commercial buildings. Nearly all properties in Northumberland are on a grid. Homes generally sell for between $115,000 and $330,000. Flood risk is an issue for parts of town, which can affect home insurance prices.
River access and proximity to Shikellamy State Park
The Susquehanna River itself plays a large role in the local recreation scene; fishing and boating are both very popular pastimes in the area. Shikellamy State Park borders Northumberland to the south, just across the river. This unique state park is split into two sections: the scenic bluffs on the west bank of the Susquehanna offer short trails and great views, while the marina section on Packers Island is home to a playground, boat launch and marina. Both sections feature pavilions and picnic tables. The town itself is home to a few well-maintained public parks. The largest of these is Pineknotter Park, which has a baseball field and a boat launch, and serves as a gathering spot for community events. Packers Island, located on the Susquehanna between Northumberland and Sunbury, is home to multiple campgrounds, as well as the extremely low-tech Sunbury Airport — basically just a large field popular with recreational flyers.
A small but highly rated restaurant scene
Retail and dining are concentrated on Front and Duke streets in the historical district. The small, walkable downtown area is home to a selection of local shops, as well as a CVS and most local government offices. It also hosts a small but vibrant restaurant scene, which includes the historic Front Street Station Railroad Eatery, which has a banquet room in decommissioned train cars, and the highly rated Pineknotter Brewing Company, which serves craft brews and pub food. A few larger shops, including the Surplus Outlet Supermarket, can be found in the northeast part of town. Locals looking for larger retailers usually head south to Selinsgrove, which has the nearest big-box stores and shopping centers.
Shikellamy public schools
Northumberland is part of the Shikellamy School District, along with the nearby town of Sunbury. Priestley Elementary School has a B rating on Niche, while Shikellamy Middle School and Shikellamy High School both have C-plus ratings. The high school offers dual enrollment programs through partnerships with local colleges, including the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.
The Sunbury River Festival draws crowds to the area
Northumberland itself doesn’t regularly host any major events or festivals. However, there are a number of annual events held in nearby Susquehanna cities. Sunbury, only 3 miles south, hosts the Sunbury River Festival every August, along with the Lake Augusta Wine & Brew Festival in September.
Easy to get to nearby river towns
The borough is connected to other cities in the Susquehanna River Valley by U.S. routes 11 and 15. There is no regular public transportation in the area, so locals typically rely on cars to get around. It’s a roughly 8-mile drive from Northumberland to both Lewisburg to the north and Selinsgrove to the south, and about 12 miles east to Danville, which is home to the Geisinger Medical Center hospital as well as a children's hospital. “The location is great for getting around the valley,” says Arnold. “You’re basically in the center of a network of small-to-midsize river towns.” It’s a little over 60 miles to the nearest regional airports in Harrisburg and State College.
