A rural community tucked between the mountains
Washington is an agricultural township where cows join costumed kids at the local trunk-or-treat and hunters practice with dinosaur-shaped targets at the archery range. The community of farms, stables and countryside homes occupies a large area about 5 miles south of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mountains run along the north and south sides, with most people living in the valley in between. The mountains and foothills provide thousands of acres of space for hunting, hiking and other outdoor recreation.
Near Bald Eagle State Forest, State Game Lands
Bald Eagle State Forest spans nearly 200,000 acres of woodlands, streams and caves directly south of Washington. Visitors can spend the day exploring the 300 miles of trails by foot, mountain bike or ATV. Plus, campers can reserve sites to stay overnight. On the east side of Washington, State Game Lands No. 252 conserves more than 3,000 acres. Hunters come looking for pheasants, turkeys and deer, but people also enjoy hiking the preserve’s wild grape- and berry-filled forests. Bowhunters can practice at National Archery & Outdoors, a store and indoor archery range in the township. Farther east, golfers have played the tree-lined fairways of White Deer Golf Course since the ‘60s. The public facility features two 18-hole courses.
Village and countryside living
Colonial Revivals cluster together on small lots in Elimsport, Washington’s central village. Further from Elimsport, neocolonials and ranch homes are spaced out on big chunks of land. The median lot measures nearly 2 acres, but some properties are much larger, covered in cornfields or cow pastures. Prices typically range from $200,000 to $350,000. Creeks and streams snake throughout Washington, creating flood zones. Mortgage lenders may require homeowners in these areas to buy flood insurance. Crime is of less concern, as the township’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10; that’s the lowest score possible and below the national average of 4.
Fall festivities at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co.
Washington’s few community events typically happen at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co. In September, the Elimsport Fall Festival parade marches a fifth of a mile from Elimsport United Methodist Church to the firehouse, where locals spend the afternoon pitching dimes and listening to live rock music. The fire company also hosts an annual trunk-or-treat, where cows sometimes wander the grounds in addition to costumed kids.
New campus for Montgomery Junior/Senior High
Montgomery Elementary School 6 miles east of Washington gets a Niche grade of B. In the same building, B-minus-rated Montgomery Junior/Senior High School handles seventh through 12th graders, offering six Advanced Placement courses. Montgomery Area School District plans to open a new campus for junior and senior high students in 2026. It’ll be built a mile north of the current building, replacing the Montgomery Area Sports Complex. Property taxes in the school district were raised to cover the costs. As a result, a homeowner with a $200,000 house pays $670 more annually.
Dining out in Allenwood
Elimsport Supply in the middle of the township is one of the only nearby stores, but it carries a variety of items including hardware, boots pet supplies and diapers. Down the road, First Baptist Church of Elimsport traces its history to the 1830s. Meanwhile, the congregations of Elimsport United Methodist Church and St. John’s United Methodist Church often work together to collect donations for Footprints of Montgomery food pantry or local nursing homes.
Most shopping trips may take residents 5 miles west of Washington to Oval, a village with a Dollar General and Oval Country Store. The latter is a gas station that serves as a small grocery store and popular early-morning coffee hangout. A handful of eateries line Route 15 in the small community of Allenwood, 4 miles east of the township. Wagging Tail Coffee Co. makes espresso and plant-based energy drinks, while The Allenwood Cafe serves ham breakfasts and pot pies to countertops and tables inside a tiny diner. Weis Markets 10 miles away in Montgomery is the closest grocery store, and a trip to the hospital requires at least an 8-mile drive to UPMC Williamsport.
Quick access to I-80
Pennsylvania Route 44 is the primary roadway through the car-dependent township. The highway eventually leads to Interstate 80, located 8 miles from Washington. That interstate stretches east to west across the state, putting drivers on the paths to New York City, 175 miles away, and Pittsburgh, 200 miles away. Williamsport Regional Airport 10 miles north of Washington provides nonstop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport.
