Porter Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,633 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Porter Township is bordered by Watson Township to the north and west, Clinton County to the west, the West Branch Susquehanna River to the south and east and Piatt Township to the east. Porter Township nearly surrounds the borough of Jersey Shore.
Porter Township, named for David R. Porter Pennsylvania governor (1839-1845), was formed from part of Mifflin Township on 6 May 1840.
Dr. James Davidson, a veteran of the American Revolution, served as a doctor for General Anthony Wayne's army, was one of the first and most successful settlers in the Porter Township area. He settled in the Sunbury just after the Revolution. After several years in that vicinity he bought a farm along the West Branch Susquehanna River in what is now western Lycoming County. Here he farmed and also served as the only doctor in the area for many years. Dr. Davidson built one of the first brick houses in the West Branch Susquehanna Valley. He also served as a judge for Lycoming County after it was formed in 1795.
