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 2026 the population of Montour County is 18,035. The population is expected to shrink to 17,995 by 2031 - a growth rate of -0.04%.
The median age of Montour County residents is 44.
The diversity index of Montour County is 26.1, 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 $110,904 and projected to be $132,824 in 2031. Per capita income is $47,341, projected to be $57,368 in 2031. 5.64% of households – 1,018 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $1,328,670 and the average disposable income is $83,458.
There are 8,230 housing units in Montour County; 5,465 are owner-occupied, 2,190 are rented, and 575 are vacant. The average home value is $369,466, with 565 homes built in 2010 or later, and 1,752 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 671 businesses in Montour County, employing 10,833 workers and pulling from a labor force of 8,444 age 16 and above. 3,103 workers commute into Montour County from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
5,271 residents both live and work in/around Montour County. The average travel time is 19.4 minutes. 10.04% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 2.5% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 6,199 drive alone, 412 carpool, and 18 take public transportation. 708 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,087 residents work from home.
4,433 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 1,081 have associates degrees, 2,400 have bachelor’s degrees, and 2,876 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
