Towanda is a borough in, and the county seat of, Bradford County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is located 66 mi northwest of Wilkes-Barre, on the Susquehanna River. The name means "burial ground" in the Algonquian language. As of the 2020 census, the population of Towanda was 2,833.

History

Towanda was settled in 1784 and became the county seat in 1812. It was variously known for some years as Meansville, Overton, Williamson, Monmouth, and Towanda, and incorporated in 1828. Towanda was once known primarily for its industrial interests, which included flour, planing and silk mills, a foundry and machine shop, dye works, and manufacturers of talking machines, cut glass, toys and furniture. The population in 1900 was 4,663 and 4,281 in 1910. The Towanda Historic District and Bradford County Courthouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pennsylvania Guide, compiled by the Writers' Program of the Works Progress Administration, described Towanda in 1940 as: "an attractive town of wide brick-paved streets, [occupying] a slope on the west shore of the Susquehanna, at the convergence of three valleys. On the upper and lower reaches of the hill are elaborate residences. A well-developed shopping center serves neighborhood farmers and visitors to surrounding hill and lake resorts. There is a large textile mill in addition to several small industrial plants. The town's early name, Meansville, for William Means who laid it out in 1812, occasioned 'considerable animosity,' and the present one was adopted in 1828."

Geography

Towanda is located near the center of Bradford County at 41.77028°N, -76.44667°W (41.770251, −76.446545), at approximately 730 ft. above sea level, on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. It is bordered to the north and west by North Towanda Township, to the south and west by Towanda Township, and to the east, across the river, by Wysox Township. U.S. Route 6 passes through the center of the borough, leading southeast 39 mi to Tunkhannock and 60 mi to the Scranton area, and west 37 mi to Mansfield. U.S. Route 220 bypasses the borough to the west and leads north 18 mi to its terminus at Waverly, New York and southwest 67 mi to Williamsport. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.0 km2, of which 0.08 sqkm, or 2.55%, is water.

Climate

Towanda has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm to hot summers.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,024 people, 1,279 households and 795 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,674.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,459 housing units at an average density of 1,290.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.36% White, 0.86% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population. There were 1,279 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92. Age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males. The median household income was $35,814, and the median family income was $41,884. Males had a median income of $35,663 versus $23,796 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,438. About 9.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Towanda is home to Lackawanna College Towanda Center, a private, accredited two-year college serving Northeastern Pennsylvania and its satellite campus of Lackawanna College in Scranton.

Government

Towanda has a council–manager form of government.

Notable people