NORTHUMBERLAND, a county of Pennsylvania; bounded by Schuylkill, south-east ; Dauphin, south ; Sus quehanna h river, or Union, west ; Lycoming, north, and Columbia north-east ; length, 55; mean width, 13 ; and area, 455 square miles. This is one of the mountain coun ties of Pennsylvania, and very much diversified in surface. Having so much river land, it possesses, notwithstand ing its general mountainous aspect, a large proportion of good, and considerable first-rate soil. Washed by the main Susquehanna, 20 miles below, and by the west branch, 20 miles above Sunbury and Northumberland, produces a range of river soil of 40 miles in length. To this may be added 10 miles of the east branch, be tween Sunbury and Danville ; the whole, including- both banks of the latter section, yielding a river line of 60 miles. This alluvial range contains the mass of the population.
Contrary to the ordinary course of the Appalachian ridges, the mountains of Northumberland extcnd nearly cast and west. The principal ridges are, advancing from south to north, Line Mountain, Little Mahanoy, Mahanoy, and Shamokin, below the junction of the two great branches of Susquehanna : above their confluence, :Mon tours :Mountain, and the Limestone Ridge.
- Beside the two fine rivers we have noticed, Northum berland is drained by some large creeks, the principal of which arc, Maliantango, Alahanoy, and Shamokin, entei Mg Suscpiehanna, below Sunbury ; and Chilisquaque, Limestone, and Warrior creeks, above Northumberland. Some of those creeks meaoder through narrow valleys, with much goocl soil.
'file staple productions of Northumberland, ale grain, flour, salted provisions, Mother, whiskey, and many other articles.
Its principal towns are, Sunbury, Northumberland, 'Aliltoo, and Watsonburg.
Sunbury, a post town, borough, and seat of justice, stands on the left bank of Susquehanna river, immedi ately below the main fork, and above the mouth of Sha mokin creek.
Northumberland, a post town, stands on the point above, thc junction of thc two main branches of Sus quehanna, and opposite to Sunbury.
Milton, a post town and borough, is situated on the west branch of Susquehanna, 12 miles above Northum berland.
There are some other villages in the county, but un deserving particular notice. The two following tables exhibit the aggregate, and relative population of this county.