Shrewsbury Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

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Shrewsbury Township is a small rural township in Lycoming County, eastern Pennsylvania, and is part of the Williamsport metropolitan area. The population was 419 at the 2020 census, with an estimated 416 residents in 2021.

The township covers about 18.8 square miles (18.6 square miles of land and a small amount of water) and sits at roughly 965 feet above sea level. It is bordered by Sullivan County to the northeast, Penn Township to the southeast, the borough of Picture Rocks to the south, Wolf Township to the west, and Plunketts Creek Township to the northwest. U.S. Route 220 runs through the southeastern part of the township, following the Muncy Creek valley and connecting the communities of Tivoli (southwest) and Glen Mawr (east).

Shrewsbury Township was settled around 1794 and incorporated in 1804. It was formed from part of Muncy Township and once included a large area that is now Sullivan County. It was named after Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey. Early settlers from New Jersey, like the Little and Bennett families and Peter Corson, established homes here, and Corson’s descendants grew in number over the years.

In the late 1800s, Highland Lake in the northern part of the township was a popular summer vacation spot, with several hotels and many cottages. The area has always had limited industry and farming because of its mountainous terrain.

Historically, the township’s population declined over time—from about 570 people in 1890 to 409 in 2010—reflecting its rural, hillside setting.