The Susquehanna River at Columbia, PA
The Susquehanna River has always been a landmark of Central Pennsylvania. The river's name is said to have come from a native American word meaning "muddy current".
200 years ago, trees shipped down from the virgin forests around Williamsport, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna in North Central PA, helped to fuel a thriving lumber and building industry along the river towns in Lancaster County.
In the 1820s, canals were built along the Susquehanna, further enabling river towns like Columbia and Marietta to grow.
In the second half of the 1800s, railroads continued the progress of the river towns, but the river remained a central part of the economy.
Columbia today is the largest borough between the state capitol at Harrisburg and the end of the Susquehanna at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
In recent times, the Susquehanna Valley River Towns of Columbia and Marietta have become increasingly popular destinations for tourists seeking antiques, art, historic architecture, and beautiful scenery!
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Brian, It's so strange to read this post....I was just thinking this morning when I was commenting on your post about the fair on the bridge, that I have so many questions about the river (the name itself was going to be my first question and I was about to look it up online when a friend called)...and also I was hoping to see more pictures of it and the bridge and.....here's your post on it that answered all of my questions and was accompanied by the pictures I was hoping to see !!
These pictures and the history are wonderful, thanks so much for posting about this....such a beautiful river. I'm wondering about all of the little islands that look almost identical and are all lined up in a row in the river..was there a bridge that used those little islands for supports at one time?
Jo