Lancaster County PA Realty Check: The Susquehanna River at Columbia, PA

The Susquehanna River at Columbia, PA

The Susquehanna River has always been a landmark of Central Pennsylvania.  The river's name is said to have come from a native American word meaning "muddy current". 

Susquehanna River

200 years ago, trees shipped down from the virgin forests around Williamsport, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna in North Central PA,  helped to fuel a thriving lumber and building industry along the river towns in Lancaster County.

Susquehanna River

In the 1820s, canals were built along the Susquehanna, further enabling river towns like Columbia and Marietta to grow.

                          Susquehanna River

In the second half of the 1800s, railroads continued the progress of the river towns, but the river remained a central part of the economy.

Susquehanna River

Columbia today is the largest borough between the state capitol at Harrisburg and the end of the Susquehanna at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

Susquehanna River

In recent times, the Susquehanna Valley River Towns of Columbia and Marietta have become increasingly popular destinations for tourists seeking antiques, art, historic architecture, and beautiful scenery!

Susquehanna River

Copyright2007BrianSchulman©

Brian Schulman offers expert real estate consultation and services in Lancaster County, PA.  To contact him, visit http://www.FindLancasterHomes.com/

Copyright2010BrianSchulman© 

Brian Schulman offers expert real estate representation for buyers and sellers of homes in Lancaster County, PA.  To learn more, visit http://www.FindLancasterHomes.com/

  

 

Comments

Brian,  It's so strange to read this post....I was just thinking this morning when I was commenting on your post about the fair on the bridge, that I have so many questions about the river (the name itself was going to be my first question and I was about to look it up online when a friend called)...and also I was hoping to see more pictures of it and the bridge and.....here's your post on it that answered all of my questions and was accompanied by the pictures I was hoping to see !! 

These pictures and the history are wonderful, thanks so much for posting about this....such a beautiful river. I'm wondering about all of the little islands that look almost identical and are all lined up in a row in the river..was there a bridge that used those little islands for supports at one time?

Jo 

Posted by Jo-Anne Smith- Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Region Real Estate, Ont (Brekland Realty Group) over 2 years ago
Jo, glad to be of service (LOL)!  The small "islands" are the bases of a former railroad bridge.  There was also once a covered bridge that crossed at about this point.  It was burned by the Union Army to prevent General Lee's army from crossing to Lancaster County during the Civil War - hence the name taken by Burning Bridge Antiques...
Posted by Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Professional (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, Lancaster PA) over 2 years ago
Nice photos, Brian. You should insert some links to other pages that have info on the various bridges that have spanned this point in the river.
Posted by Jeff Geoghan MBA, Green - Lancaster PA Real Estate Expert (The Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA) over 2 years ago
Jeff, perhaps I'll do a future post on the subject of bridges and earlier crossings at Columbia and Marietta...
Posted by Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Professional (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, Lancaster PA) over 2 years ago

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