About the South Mountain Region

South Mountain lies within south-central Pennsylvania and is the northern terminus of the impressive end of a landscape known as the Blue Ridge Mountains. Communities surrounding South Mountain have thrived off the fertile limestone agricultural lands, the timber that fed the iron furnaces, the plentiful game and wildlife, and off the abundance of pure spring water that is captured by the mountains permeable soils and released into the valleys.

A rich cultural heritage has developed in communities such as Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Carlisle, and many smaller quaint villages largely because of the plentiful resources surrounding them. Pastoral scenes of barns and fields, acres of orchards in blossom, and rolling mountains of broad-leafed deciduous and coniferous forests typify the landscape. It is partly this scenic quality that has brought intense growth pressure surrounding the mountain. Major metropolitan areas like Baltimore and Washington D.C. are within commuting distance of the mountain's foothills. South Mountain's land and heritage have brought us together to preserve its sense of place. This has become the mission of a partnership formed around the South Mountain Landscape Initiative (CLI). The CLI is a model for partnering that is effectively working in areas across the state.