[3] It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is located 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Wilkes-Barre, on the Susquehanna River.

It was variously known for some years as Meansville, Overton, Williamson, Monmouth, and Towanda, and incorporated in 1828.

[6] 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.

[7] The Pennsylvania Guide, compiled by the Writers' Program of the Works Progress Administration, described Towanda in 1940 as:[8]an attractive town of wide brick-paved streets, [occupying] a slope on the west shore of the Susquehanna, at the convergence of three valleys.

A well-developed shopping center serves neighborhood farmers and visitors to surrounding hill and lake resorts.

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.Towanda is located near the center of Bradford County at 41°46′13″N 76°26′48″W / 41.77028°N 76.44667°W / 41.77028; -76.44667 (41.770251, −76.446545),[9] at approximately 730 ft. above sea level,[6] on the west bank of the Susquehanna River.

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