The NTRPDC Region
The Northern Tier region is a 4,000-square-mile rural area located in northcentral Pennsylvania. Bordering New York state to the north, the region includes five PA counties - Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming. Four cities outside the Northern Tier serve as supporting service centers - Elmira and Binghamton, NY to the north; Williamsport, PA to the west; and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA to the Southeast. Primary highway access includes US Route 15 in the western portion of the region, US Route 220 in the central portion and I-81 in the east.
With 177,000 residents, Northern Tier has a relatively low population density. The area's residents live in small communities and spread over large tracts of agricultural land and forests. Historically, the region's unemployment rates have been higher than many other Pennsylvania counties, and per capita incomes are among the lowest. Historically, the agriculture and timber industries dominated the area. Today, a variety of major industries maintain operation in the Northern Tier. Health services, education services, and paper allied products are the region's top three employers.
Over the past several years, Northern Tier has become proactive in the economic development marketplace. The region offers distinct opportunities for new, expanding or relocating businesses.