That portion of what is now Lycoming County in the vicinity of Muncy was one of the earliest settlements made by the white man in the West Branch of the Susquehanna Valley. It was ordered surveyed by John Penn in 1769 and was held in reserve in accordance with the policy of the proprietaries.

Muncy took its name from the tribe of Monsey Indians who occupied the valley and were subsequently driven out and removed to Indiana and settled near the present town of Muncie in that state.

The town was laid out by Benjamin McCarty in 1797, ten years after he had settled in the valley with his brothers, Silas, William and Isaac. He laid it out in lots and was followed by his brother, William, and Isaac Walton.

It had a struggling existence for many years and was known as "Hardscrable." March 15, 1826, it was incorporated as a borough with the name of Pennsborough. The next year, January 19, 1827, the name was changed to Muncy because of its historic associations with the tribe of Indians who had occupied that section of the state. By act of April 1, 1867, the borough was considerably enlarged.

A postoffice was established in April, 1801 and Henry Shoemaker was the first postmaster. The first hotel was opened about the year 1812 and was conducted by Jacob Merrill.

Since then Muncy has progressed slowly but substantially and is today one of the most delightful towns in which to live to be found anywhere. It possesses a delightful social atmosphere and its people are noted far and wide for their culture and refinement. It is located on the Susquehanna Trail about fourteen miles east of Williamsport, and thousands of tourists pass through it in a single day. It is also on the Reading railroad line and the Pennsylvania is on the other side of the river, two miles away, but a bus connects with all trains. There is also a bus line to Williamsport, one to Milton, one to Hughesville and Picture Rocks and, during the summer season, one to Eagles Mere.

It has a number of important industries, among them Sprout, Waldron Company, employing about 300 men and women, and the Robinson Manufacturing Company, employing about two hundred, both of them engaged in the manufacture of milling machinery.

The Muncy Woolen Mills, employing about fifty persons, has a reputation which is only bounded by the two coasts. Until very recently it had been in the hands of two members of the same families for more than seventy years. The company devotes itself entirely to the manufacture of all-wool blankets and its reputation for good workmanship and the high quality of its output extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and even to Europe. It is in almost continuous operation.

The Muncy Furniture Company is another live concern which employs about fifty men and the Maxwell Throwing Company employs about forty. Both of them are prosperous and have a large output.

Muncy has two banks, the Citizen’s National and the Muncy Banking Company and both are in a prosperous condition. Both of them have recently erected new buildings. There is one good weekly newspaper, the Muncy Luminary, which has been in the Painter family for nearly a century and is still owned by one of them, T. B. Painter. It is one of the oldest papers in the country.

The town has an excellent borough government and a modern, motorized fire apparatus of the latest design. It also has a fully equipped hospital ambulance which is used in connection with the Muncy Valley Hospital, which is located just outside the borough limits. The Muncy Valley Hospital is a modern and well equipped institution in every way and is doing a good work throughout the entire valley. It is self-sustaining and receives no help from the state or county. Its only revenue is derived from its patients and from individual contributions.

Taxes in Muncy are reasonable and most of its citizens are home owners. It is no disparagement to other towns to say that there is perhaps no other place in the county where there are more beautiful homes and the owners take a pardonable pride in keeping them in excellent condition. There are no unsightly edges in Muncy.

The town is the home of the Muncy Normal School, the only one of its kind that is not under state supervision, and it has always possessed an enviable reputation for the high character of its teacher-training.

Muncy has an excellent water system, getting its supply from the White Deer Mountain, and a modern lighting system. Its streets are well paved and well kept. The Susquehanna Trail passes along the entire length of its main street. The health of the town is of the best and epidemics of sickness are of rare occurrence. There are practically no dependents as there is work for all who are willing to work.

The State Industrial Home for Women is located at the base of the mountain on the other side of the river from Muncy and, under its capable management and supervision, is doing a good work in the reformation of women who have gone wrong.

There is an attractive community house and Y. W. C. A. building which was bought and remodeled with money raised by popular subscription.

Muncy has produced some remarkable men and women, some of whom have become known beyond the limits of the town and others have shone only at home. Hon. Henry Johnson was largely responsible for the second election of Abraham Lincoln because of his authorship of the amendment to the state constitution which permitted Civil war soldiers to vote in the field. George A. Boal was an able lawyer, Robert Hawley was a poet of no mean ability, William Cox Ellis, General William A. Petrikin, Henry W. Petrikin, and rare Dr. Ben Langdon were all men of high intellectual attainments.

From the time of its first settlement Muncy has been noted for its delightful social atmosphere. Today there are few better towns in the state in which to make a home. By the census of 1920 it had a population of 2,054.