Created in 1850, Montour County is geographically Pennsylvania's smallest county. It took its name from Madame Montour, a woman of Native American and French descent prominent in area Native American affairs. During the nineteenth century, Montour County was rich in iron ore and limestone, two critical minerals for producing iron. Montour Ironworks utilized the resources to create the iron used in the nation’s first T-rail in 1845, with a rail design now commonplace on railroads worldwide. Montour iron was part of the T-rails used to connect the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869 as well. Delve into Montour County’s rich history here.
The county is also the birthplace of Geisinger, a medical hub for central Pennsylvania, with the opening of Geisinger Medical Center in 1915. Founder Abigail Geisinger was in her late 80s when construction was completed. Learn more about the health system’s origins.
Find fantastic family fun, cultural activities, refreshing outdoor recreation in Montour Preserve and more in Montour County with the Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau.
As of 2025 the population of Montour County is 17,960. The population is expected to shrink to 17,848 by 2030 - a growth rate of -0.13%.
The median age of Montour County residents is 43.
The diversity index of Montour County is 25.7, meaning that there is a 26% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Montour County is $110,391 and projected to be $126,143 in 2030. Per capita income is $46,729, projected to be $54,050 in 2030. 4.65% of households – 835 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $1,366,100 and the average disposable income is $82,754.
There are 8,178 housing units in Montour County; 5,468 are owner-occupied, 2,126 are rented, and 584 are vacant. The average home value is $359,163, with 524 homes built in 2010 or later, and 1,643 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 673 businesses in Montour County, employing 11,024 workers and pulling from a labor force of 8,443 age 16 and above. 3,264 workers commute into Montour County from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
5,092 residents both live and work in/around Montour County. The average travel time is 19.4 minutes. 6.13% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 2.12% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 6,303 drive alone, 517 carpool, and 14 take public transportation. 660 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 944 residents work from home.
4,431 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 1,312 have associates degrees, 2,331 have bachelor’s degrees, and 2,654 hold a graduate or professional degree.
