Pennsylvania Wilds

The Pennsylvania Wilds, or the Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape, is a predominantly rural and forested region in northern central Pennsylvania, mostly within the Allegheny Plateau. It covers about a quarter of the state's territory, but is home to only 4% of its population. It is one of 11 Pennsylvania's tourist regions designated by the state.[1][2]

The view from Hyner View State Park towards the West Branch Susquehanna River in Bucktail State Park Natural Area. The bridge across the river carries Pennsylvania Route 120

The Pennsylvania Wilds comprises all of the following 12 counties: Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, Clinton, Elk, Cameron, Forest, Clearfield, Clarion, Jefferson, and the northwestern part of Centre county.[3]

The region includes several state parks and other tourist destinations, including Hyner View State Park, Cherry Springs State Park, Kinzua Bridge State Park, Leonard Harrison State Park, Colton Point State Park, Susquehannock State Forest, Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, and Pine Creek Rail Trail.[4] Two rivers in the Pennsylvania Wilds - Allegheny and Clarion - are designated as parts of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The West Branch Susquehanna River flows through the region.

History

The abundance of hardwood forests in the region lead to harvesting of lumber becoming the main economic driver in the area in the second half of the 19th century, when Williamsport, the county seat of Lycoming County, was known as "The Lumber Capital of the World".[5] By the beginning of the 20th century, the extensive harvesting led to deforestation and subsequent decline of lumber industry in the region. By the 21st century, the forests in the Pennsylvania Wilds have been mostly regrown. Williamsport, population 28,437, remains the most populous settlement in the region.[6]

The notion of the Pennsylvania Wilds was not in widespread use until the Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative was launched in 2003 to promote the region’s nature tourism industry.[7] However, the musical artist Mirah refers to “the wilds of Pennsylvania” in her 2000 song, Gone Sugaring.[8]

References
  1. "Regions". VisitPA.
  2. Rada, James, Jr. "Pennsylvania Tourism Regions". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "About the Pennsylvania Wilds".
  4. "Pennsylvania Wilds". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.
  5. "Lumbering Heritage". Taber Museum.
  6. "Pennsylvania Cities by Population". www.pennsylvania-demographics.com.
  7. "History of the PA Wilds".
  8. "GONE SUGARING Lyrics - MIRAH | eLyrics.net". www.elyrics.net. Retrieved 2023-06-27.

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