Montour is a county in Pennsylvania, United States, in the Ridge-and-Valley section of the Appalachians along the Susquehanna River. It had a population of 18,136 at the 2020 census and covers 132 square miles (342 km2) centred near 41°02′N 76°40′W — the smallest county in the state by land area.
Danville is the county seat, and its postal code is 17821. The county has 2 boroughs, roughly two dozen small unincorporated communities, and 9 townships. It sits in the Eastern time zone and anchors the Bloomsburg–Berwick, PA metropolitan statistical area.
Towns & Villages in Montour County
Montour County has only two incorporated municipalities — Danville and Washingtonville — plus a long list of small unincorporated hamlets and crossroads scattered across its nine townships. The Census Bureau does not tabulate separate population figures for the unincorporated places, so most rows below carry no population count.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danville | Borough · seat | — | 4,239 | 17821 |
| Washingtonville | Borough | — | 200 | 17884 |
| California | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Columbia Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Comly | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Dieffenbach | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Exchange | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Franklin Furnace | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Kaseville | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Limestoneville | Unincorp. | Liberty | — | 17821 |
| Mausdale | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Mechanicsville | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Mexico | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Mooresburg | Unincorp. | Anthony | — | 17821 |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Ottawa | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Ridgeville | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Roaring Creek | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Schuyler | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| Strawberry Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
| White Hall | Unincorp. | — | — | 17821 |
Most of these hamlets sit within a few miles of Danville and share its 17821 ZIP code; only Washingtonville, at the county’s eastern edge, has its own separate postal code.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony | — | Mooresburg |
| Cooper | — | — |
| Derry | — | — |
| Liberty | — | Limestoneville |
| Limestone | — | — |
| Mahoning | — | — |
| Mayberry | — | — |
| Valley | — | — |
| West Hemlock | — | — |
Montour County’s nine townships ring Danville borough on all sides; most are rural and lightly populated, with the county’s growth concentrated in and around the Danville-Geisinger corridor.
ZIP Codes
- 17821 — Danville (standard delivery; also serves nearly all of the county’s unincorporated communities)
- 17822 — Danville (single-entity code assigned to Geisinger Medical Center)
- 17884 — Washingtonville (PO Box service)
Because Danville’s 17821 code covers the great majority of the county, most rural hamlets do not carry a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Montour County lies within the Ridge-and-Valley Province of the Appalachian Mountains, with elevations ranging from about 440 to 1,425 feet. The entire county drains into the Susquehanna River watershed, and the river itself forms part of the county’s southern boundary near Danville. At 132 square miles it is the smallest county in Pennsylvania by land area.
Montour County borders Lycoming County to the northwest, Columbia County to the east, and Northumberland County to the south and west.
Demographics
Montour County had 18,136 residents at the 2020 census, with a population density of roughly 137 people per square mile. Danville, the county seat, is by far the largest community with 4,239 residents; Washingtonville, the county’s only other borough, has just 200. Montour County’s median household income runs above the Pennsylvania median of $73,824, reflecting the presence of Geisinger Medical Center, one of the region’s largest employers.
Economy & Local Life
Healthcare dominates the local economy: Geisinger Medical Center, headquartered in Danville, is the county’s largest employer and draws patients and staff from across central Pennsylvania. Away from Danville, the county remains agricultural, with roughly 350 working farms, along with limestone quarrying in the western townships. Danville’s Iron Heritage Festival, held each September, marks the borough’s 19th-century ironmaking history.
History
Montour County was formed on May 3, 1850, from part of Columbia County, making it one of Pennsylvania’s youngest counties. It is named for Andrew Montour, a Métis interpreter and diplomat who served alongside George Washington during the French and Indian War. Danville grew rapidly in the 19th century as an iron and rail center before the county’s economy shifted toward healthcare in the 20th century with the growth of the Geisinger hospital system.
Getting There
Interstate 80 crosses the northern part of the county, and US Route 11 and Pennsylvania Routes 44, 45, 54, 254, and 642 provide local connections.
- Bloomsburg — 8 miles east
- Sunbury — 12 miles southwest
- Williamsport — 30 miles northwest
- Wilkes-Barre — 45 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Montour County?
It is in central Pennsylvania, along the Susquehanna River between Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre.
What is the population of Montour County?
18,136 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Montour County?
132 square miles (342 km2), the smallest county in Pennsylvania by land area.
What is the county seat of Montour County?
Danville is the county seat and the county’s only sizable town.
How many towns are in Montour County?
Two boroughs, Danville and Washingtonville, plus about twenty small unincorporated communities spread across nine townships.
What ZIP codes are in Montour County?
17821 and 17822 (both Danville) and 17884 (Washingtonville).
Why is it called Montour County?
It is named for Andrew Montour, an 18th-century Métis interpreter who worked with George Washington during the French and Indian War.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Pennsylvania.