Northumberland County was created on March 21, 1772, from parts of Lancaster, Cumberland, Berks, Bedford and Northampton Counties. It probably was named for the English county of the same name. Sunbury, the county seat, was laid out in 1772, incorporated as a borough on March 24, 1797, and became a city in 1921. It was named for an English village near London.

Northumberland County is located about an hour north of Harrisburg along the Susquehanna River in the heart of the Susquehanna Valley. Northumberland's most visible attributes are its waterways and forests. Streamside, anglers enjoy some of the best fishing on the East coast. The West Branch of the Susquehanna is recognized as a superb bass fishery while smaller streams, like White Deer and Penn's Creek as excellent trout streams.

Boating on the Susquehanna has become popular and the Fish Commission has developed access ramps at many locations along the river. The impoundment of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna at Sunbury is a busy boating area complete with marina and boat rentals.

Hunters flock to this region each fall to stalk whitetail deer, black bear and wild turkey. Increasingly more and more people are taking advantage of opportunities to stalk wildlife with cameras instead of rifles and shotguns.

More than two centuries ago the Susquehanna Valley's fertile lands and life-giving waterways first attracted settlers bent on discovering Eden in the wilds of "Penn's Woods". Today that same natural beauty - in combination with a host of attractions amusements and historical sites - continues to bring visitors to the heart of "Penn's Wood's"