Wysox Township

Geography, Topography, and History

Wysox Township is located within the central region of the County. It is bound in the north by Rome Township to the northeast by Orwell and Herrick Township, to the east by Standing Stone Township, to the south by Asylum Township, to the southwest by Towanda Township and Borough, and to the northwest by Sheshequin Township. The Susquehanna River serves as the Townships south boundary between Asylum Township. There are several other streams that flow through the Township which include: Wysox Creek, Laning Creek, Hollow Run, Dry Run, and Vought Creek. The major thoroughfares in the Township include: State Route 187, US Route 6, and Mercur Hill Road.

The Township of Wysox was established in 1795 from Tioga Township. The name is derived from old Native American words that include: “Wisachgimi” meaning, “place of grapes” and “Wy-sauk” meaning, “canoe harbor.” The Township saw its first settler arrive in 1776, by the name of Sebastian Strope. Isaac Strope taught the first school in 1790. One decade later Theopolis Moyer built the first framed house. The Township went through a series of land divisions between 1801 and 1841 that split to form the following townships: Rush, Burlington, Athens, Ulster, Towanda, Rome, and Standing Stone.

Local Government and Current Data

The Township of Wysox has a governing board that consists of three elected supervisors. The Township also employs a secretary. The Township has five members on its planning commission. In 1982, the Township adopted a comprehensive plan that is still in existence today. There are three members that serve on the zoning hearing board that enforces the Township’s regulations that were passed in 1995.

Wysox has a comparatively large economic source of retail shops, restaurants and other services in the area, making it a heavily traveled and busy town. The Wysox Magistrates Office is a County owned office located along Route 6. The Wysox Presbyterian Church is also located in the Township. A few designated recreation areas in the Township include the Eastside Riverfront Park, Wilbur Beers Family Nature Area, and Wysox Boat Launch and Park. The municipality has proposed water services to addresses along Route 6 as well as the Lake Wesauking Area, and will be one upcoming development to occur in the area.

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