Northern Tier (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
The Northern Tier is a special area in north-central Pennsylvania. It is made up of five counties that are mostly rural, meaning they have lots of countryside and small towns.
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Geography of the Northern Tier
This region shares a border to the north with the Southern Tier of New York state. Together, these two areas are often called the Twin Tiers.
Here are the counties in the Northern Tier and some of their important towns:
The Northern Tier is also next to Northern Pennsylvania on its west side. To the east, it borders Northeastern Pennsylvania.
People and Towns
About 180,000 people live in the five counties of the Northern Tier. These people live in many small towns and in the countryside.
The biggest town in the region is Sayre. It is located on the east bank of the North Branch Susquehanna River. Sayre is also very close to the New York state line, right where Interstate 86 briefly enters Pennsylvania.
Getting Around
Several important roads cross through the Northern Tier. These include U.S. Route 220, U.S. Route 15, and U.S. Route 6.
The Sayre Yard is a very large railyard. It is used by the Norfolk Southern Railroad. This railyard stretches across the state line into Waverly, New York. It helps connect train centers like Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to other freight yards. These connections reach cities like Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Baltimore. They also connect to Buffalo and other cities in Upstate New York, as well as cities near the Great Lakes.
Special Places
The Endless Mountains are a major natural feature in the eastern parts of these counties. They are known for their beautiful, rolling hills.
Learning and Education
The region is home to Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. This university is located in the town of Mansfield.
How People Make a Living
For a while, the Northern Tier region faced some economic challenges. However, when natural gas was discovered in the Marcellus Formation, it helped the economy grow in the 2000s and 2010s. Many new jobs were created. The two biggest employers in the region are government-funded services. These include jobs in health care and education.
Farming is a very important activity here. Even though the growing season is short and the land is hilly, many people farm. Small farms often raise beef cattle and dairy cows. The region is also known for its many small farms that produce delicious maple syrup.
Producing oil and natural gas is also a big part of the local economy. The oil found here, called Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil, is special and used for high-quality products.
Logging and wood product industries are also important. This includes cutting down trees and making things from wood, like paper products.
Besides these, other jobs are found in farming and light manufacturing.
