Williamsport is the larger principal city of the Williamsport-Lock Haven Combined Statistical Area, which includes Lycoming and Clinton counties.

Williamsport was settled by Americans in the late 18th century, and began to prosper due to its lumber industry.

Other points of interest include the Hiawatha riverboat, Millionaires' Row, Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum, the Community Arts Center, the Genetti Hotel, the Susquehanna Riverwalk, and The Gallery at Penn College.

It encompassed all the lands of Northumberland County situated west of Muncy Hills and was a domain of 12,500 square miles (32,000 km2), comprising most of north central Pennsylvania.

[10] In 1798 the first brick house in Williamsport was erected on Front Street, between Market and Mulberry, by Andrew Tulloh, a lawyer.

[9] The same year the enactment of the common school law by Pennsylvania Legislature led to public education here.

[11] From 1830 until 1865, the underground railroad, a system of safe houses and routes for slaves escaping to freedom, operated in Lycoming County; many local abolitionists, including Daniel Hughes, served as conductors and agents.

[12] During his trips transporting logs to Maryland, he brought escaped slaves back on foot from Baltimore, over Bald Eagle Mountain and hid them at his home and in the caves on Freedom Road.

[13] Mamie's grandfather, Robert, helped his father, Daniel Hughes, hide escaped slaves in the caves behind their home on Freedom Road.

They fed them, nursed the sick back to health and delivered them safely to the next "station", The Apker House in Trout Run.

The railroad ran through his property where escaped slaves were hidden in the barn and house and then loaded into railway baggage cars for the trip to Elmira, NY, the next "station.

Marion tended the family homestead, maintained Freedom Road Cemetery (where nine black Civil War vets are buried) and passed Daniel's stories down to her children.

[10] In 1875, the first tower clock in the United States to sound the Cambridge Quarters (Westminster Chime) was installed at Trinity Episcopal Church, a gift of Peter Herdic with bells given by judge J. W. Maynard.

[9] In 1895, Harry Houdini appeared in one of his earliest performances, at the Old Fair Grounds with The Welch Brothers Circus.

Carl Stotz conceived the idea of a Little League, and he and Bert and George Bebble managed the first three teams.

Williamsport native Joe Lockard, stationed on Oahu, gave warning of the impending attack based on radar readings.

[19] Winters are cold and comparatively dry but typically bring a mix of rain, sleet, and snow with occasional heavy snowfall and icing.

Williamsport operates on a "Strong Mayor" form of government, meaning the mayor is given almost total administrative authority and a clear, wide range of political independence with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads without council approval and little need for public input.

[30] Williamsport's top ten employers are UPMC Susquehanna, the Pennsylvania State Government, the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport Area School District, Brodart Company, Springs Window Fashions, Weis Markets, West Pharmaceuticals, and Textron Lycoming Engines.

[citation needed] Williamsport is noted for the Lycoming aircraft engines which is a division of Avco Corporation and a subsidiary of Textron.

[33] Lonza Group, a Swiss biotechnology and pharmaceutical company, has a large manufacturing site on the western fringes of the city, where a number of specialty chemicals are made that go into a wide array of oilfield, nutritional, personal care, and industrial applications.

[36] The construction on the Carl E. Stotz Memorial Little League Bridge, the first of many projects, began in June 2004 and was completed in 2008.

The library has a staff of nearly 50 full and part-time employees, and offers volunteer opportunities for youth and adults.

[40] The James V. Brown offers preschool and early learning opportunities, as well as programs for teens and adults.

The library, led by local retired physician Dr. William R. Somers, constructed a children's wing in 2009 to target educational and social resources to young people from birth through the second grade.

[41] Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT), located several miles east of the city in the borough of Montoursville, currently lacks commercial flights after American Eagle exited the market in 2021.

[43] Local bus service within Williamsport and to other places in Lycoming County is offered by River Valley Transit.

[51] The Williamsport Crosscutters, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League, play their home games at Bowman Field.

The Susquehanna 500 Mini Indy Gokart Racing Series was held annually in Brandon Park.

During the 2014 race, a fatal crash involving one of the go-kart operators marked the end to the yearly tradition.