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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

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Luzerne County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water. It is Northeastern Pennsylvania's second-largest county by total area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 325,594, making it the most populous county in the northeastern part of the state. The county seat and most populous city is Wilkes-Barre.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Other populous communities include Hazleton, Kingston, Nanticoke, and Pittston. Luzerne County is included in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a total population of 555,426 as of 2017. The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state.Template:Efn

On September 25, 1786, Luzerne County was formed from part of Northumberland County. It was named after Chevalier de la Luzerne, a French soldier and diplomat during the 18th century. When it was founded, Luzerne County occupied a large portion of Northeastern Pennsylvania. From 1810 to 1878, it was divided into several smaller counties. The counties of Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wyoming were all formed from parts of Luzerne County.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="pawchs.org">Template:Cite web</ref>

The county gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining region, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. At its peak in 1930, the county's population was 445,109. Many factories and coal mines closed by the early 21st century. Like most regions in the Rust Belt, Luzerne County witnessed population loss and urban decay. However, in recent years, the economy has grown moderately; warehousing has replaced manufacturing as the main industry.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

History

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The Luzerne County Historical Society maintains the storehouse for the collective memory of Luzerne County and its environs. It records and interprets the history, traditions, events, people, and cultures that have directed and molded life within the region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

18th century

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File:Early Localization Native Americans NY.svg
Map of Native American tribes in the region before the arrival of European settlers
File:Penncolony.png
A 1776 map of the Province of Pennsylvania and competing land claims at the time
File:ChappelWyomingMassacre.jpg
The July 3, 1778 Battle of Wyoming depicted in an 1858 painting by Alonzo Chappel
File:A Map Of The State Of Pennsylvania by Reading Howell, 1792.jpg
A 1792 map of Pennsylvania when Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wyoming were still part of Luzerne County

Long an area occupied by indigenous peoples, by the 1700s the Wyoming Valley was inhabited by several Native American tribes including the Susquehannock, who spoke an Iroquoian language, and the Delaware (Lenape), who spoke an Algonquian language. In the mid-18th century, Connecticut settlers of primarily English ancestry ventured into the valley. These were the first recorded Europeans in the region. Some came as missionaries to the Native American peoples, while others came to farm the fertile land near the Susquehanna River. Ultimately, the violence of the French and Indian War (the North American front of the Seven Years' War between Great Britain and France) drove these Connecticut settlers away.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The British colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut both claimed the Wyoming Valley as their own. King Charles II of England had granted the land to the Connecticut Colony in 1662, but also to William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, in 1681. In 1769, Yankee settlers from Connecticut returned to the valley and founded the town of Wilkes-Barre. However, they were not alone. Pennsylvanian settlers (Pennamites) were also in the region.

Armed bands of Pennamites harassed the Connecticut settlers in what is known as the Pennamite-Yankee Wars. While the land dispute continued, a much larger conflict began. In 1775, the Thirteen Colonies began a war of independence against the colonial power of Great Britain. Residents of both Pennsylvania and Connecticut were largely loyal to the Patriot cause, which supported the American Revolution and independence.

On June 30, 1778, Loyalist forces, under the command of Major John Butler, arrived in the Wyoming Valley to attack the rebel American settlements. On July 1, Fort Wintermoot at the north end of the valley surrendered without a shot being fired. The next morning the smaller Fort Jenkins surrendered. Both forts were later burned to the ground.

The Patriot militia assembled at Forty Fort. On July 3, a column of roughly 375 men, including a company of soldiers from the Continental Army, marched from the fort under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Zebulon Butler and Colonel Nathan Denison. Butler's Rangers, with the assistance of about 500 Native American allies, mostly Seneca, ambushed the approaching Americans. In the end, nearly 300 Wyoming Valley Patriots were killed during the Battle of Wyoming.<ref name="Williams">Template:Cite book</ref> Today, in the Borough of Wyoming, a monument marks the gravesite of the victims from the battle.<ref name="Jenkins">Template:Cite speech</ref>

The next day, Colonel Denison surrendered Forty Fort along with several other posts. Widespread looting and burning of buildings occurred throughout the Wyoming Valley subsequent to this capitulation, but non-combatants were not harmed.<ref name="Williams" /> Most of the inhabitants, however, fled across the Pocono Mountains to Stroudsburg and Easton, or down the Susquehanna River to Sunbury.

In September 1778, American Colonel Thomas Hartley took partial revenge for the Wyoming defeat. He and his 200 soldiers burned a number of villages in Delaware along the Susquehanna River. The following year, Major General John Sullivan would lead several thousand men in a scorched-earth campaign against the Iroquois nations in central and western New York.<ref name="Williams" />

Two years later, in September 1780, reports of Iroquois and Loyalist activity in the region resulted in a detachment of 41 Patriot militia from Northampton County being sent to investigate. The detachment made it as far north as present-day Conyngham when they were ambushed by a party of Seneca and Loyalists. Ten men were killed in what is now known as the Sugarloaf Massacre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Post-Revolutionary War

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The American Revolutionary War ended three years later (in 1783) with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Great Britain finally recognized the sovereignty of the United States of America. The land dispute between Pennsylvania and Connecticut continued after the war. Connecticut established its own county (by the name of Westmoreland) in the Wyoming Valley. However, Pennsylvania insisted that they owned the land. The Congress of the Confederation was asked to resolve the matter. With the Trenton Decree, on December 30, 1782, the confederation government officially decided that the region belonged to Pennsylvania; the Wyoming Valley became part of Northumberland County.

Pennsylvania ruled that the Connecticut settlers, also known as the Yankees, were not citizens of the Commonwealth. They could not vote and were ordered to give up their property claims. In May 1784, armed men from Pennsylvania force-marched the Connecticut settlers away from the valley. By November, the Yankees returned with a greater force. They captured and destroyed Fort Dickinson in Wilkes-Barre. With that victory, a new state (which was separate from both Connecticut and Pennsylvania) was proposed. The new state was to be named Westmoreland.

To ensure that they didn't lose the land, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania worked out a compromise with the Connecticut (Yankee) settlers. The Yankee settlers would be allowed to become citizens of Pennsylvania and their property claims would be restored (as existing prior to the Decree of Trenton). As part of the compromise, Pennsylvania would establish a new county in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Yankees agreed to the terms.<ref name=luzernecounty>Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 25, 1786, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a resolution that created Luzerne County. It was formed from a section of Northumberland County and named after Chevalier de la Luzerne, a French soldier and diplomat to the American rebels and new government of the independent USA during the late 18th century. Wilkes-Barre was designated as the seat of government for the new territory. This resolution ended the idea of creating a new state. When it was founded, Luzerne County occupied a large portion of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The future counties of Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wyoming were all part of the original Luzerne County.<ref name="auto" /><ref name="pawchs.org" />

In the following years, elections were held, the courts were established, a courthouse was constructed, and a government was formed. In 1787, Lord Butler was elected the first sheriff of Luzerne County. A board of commissioners was also assembled to manage the county government. Some of the first county commissioners included Jesse Fell, Alexander Johnson, John Phillips, John Jenkins, and Thomas Wright (from 1794 to 1796).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The population of the new county grew rapidly with new migrants. In 1790, fewer than 2,000 people resided within the Wyoming Valley. By 1800, the number of residents increased to nearly 13,000.<ref name="luzernecounty.org">Template:Cite web</ref>

19th century

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File:Old Dodson Breaker.jpg
This coal breaker in Plymouth, built in 1869, was destroyed by fire 20 years later, in 1899.
File:Lattimer massacre.jpg
Photo taken just before the Lattimer massacre on September 10, 1897

The county gained prominence in the 19th century as an active anthracite coal mining region. In 1791, German immigrant Philip Ginder stumbled across anthracite (or "hard coal") near Summit Hill. This resulted in the creation of the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. The company had a slow start because of the difficulty in igniting anthracite coal and the inability to transfer it to urban markets. In 1807, Brothers Abijah and John Smith were the first to successfully transport anthracite down the Susquehanna River on an ark. In 1808, Judge Jesse Fell of Wilkes-Barre discovered a solution to ignite anthracite with the usage of an iron grate; it allowed for the coal to light and burn easier. This invention increased the popularity of anthracite as a fuel source. This led to the expansion of the coal industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Throughout the 1800s, canals and railroads were constructed to aid in the mining and transportation of coal.<ref name="luzernecounty.org"/>

As the mining industry grew, a large region north of the Wyoming Valley, close to the Pennsylvania border with New York state, sought independence from Luzerne County. On February 21, 1810, the counties of Bradford, originally called Ontario, and Susquehanna were created from parts of Luzerne County. The two counties were officially formed in 1812.<ref>Bradford County History Template:Webarchive, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Accessed August 21, 2007</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Thirty years later, on April 4, 1842, Wyoming County, the region in and around present-day Tunkhannock, was also formed from a section of Luzerne County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The County of Luzerne witnessed a population boom as a result of the growing coal mining industry. Carbondale, with a population of nearly 5,000 residents, was incorporated as a city on March 15, 1851.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Scranton, with a population of nearly 35,000, was incorporated as a city on April 23, 1866.<ref name="Craft1891">Template:Cite book</ref> And Wilkes-Barre, with a population of just over 10,000, was incorporated as a city in 1871.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By 1875, anthracite coal from Luzerne County alone represented half the anthracite produced in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.<ref name="luzernecounty.org"/>

Since 1839, the people in and around the cities of Scranton and Carbondale sought independence from Luzerne County. Wilkes-Barre was determined to preserve the integrity of the county; it did not want to lose its assets in the region. Decades later, in the 1870s, residents of the proposed territory were allowed to vote for independent status. Voters favored a new county by a proportion of 6 to 1, with Scranton residents providing considerable support. Lackawanna County was finally created from a portion of Luzerne County in 1878.<ref name="bradsby">Henry C. Bradsby, History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Volume 1, 1893, Pages 232–233</ref>

Even through Luzerne County lost a vital region (the coal mining cities of Scranton and Carbondale), its boroughs and townships continued to grow. Hazleton (in 1891)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Pittston (in 1894) were both incorporated as cities due to their expanding populations. Thousands of European immigrants poured into Luzerne County due to the booming coal industry. The growing population quickly attracted the attention of factory owners in New York City and Philadelphia. Dozens of factories throughout Luzerne County were established to take advantage of the ever-increasing pool of available labor.

With an increasing population and the build-up of industry in the region, tragedies became more frequent in the second half of the 19th century. Sixteen people were killed – largely in factories – when a devastating F3 tornado struck Wilkes-Barre on August 19, 1890.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was the deadliest tornado in the county's history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The region's first significant mining disaster occurred on September 6, 1869, when a massive fire at the Avondale Colliery in Plymouth Township killed 110 people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another consequential mining accident occurred on June 28, 1896, when the Newton Coal Company's Twin Shaft Mine in Pittston City caved-in and killed 58 miners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Towards the end of the 19th century, labor unrest and union activity intensified in the region. Miners protested poor working conditions and unfair pay. This revved up tensions throughout the county. One of the most notable and deadly confrontations occurred on September 10, 1897 (near Hazleton). Luzerne County Sheriff James Martin formed a posse and fired on a group of unarmed striking miners in what is now known as the Lattimer massacre. Roughly nineteen people were killed and dozens more were wounded. Luzerne is infamous for being the last county whose sheriff legally formed a posse to restore order in a time of civil unrest.<ref name="Novak">Novak, Michael. The Guns of Lattimer. Reprint ed. New York: Transaction Publishers, 1996; Template:ISBN</ref>

20th century

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File:Child Labor in United States, coal mines Pennsylvania.jpg
Children working in Wilkes-Barre coal mine in 1906
File:Group of Breaker boys. Smallest is Sam Belloma.jpg
Breaker boys in Pittston in January 1911
File:Baltimore Mine Tunnel Disaster marker.jpg
Historical marker of the June 5, 1919 Baltimore Mine Tunnel disaster in Wilkes-Barre
File:East Main Street, Nanticoke, Pa (79611).jpg
Nanticoke as depicted in a drawing from between 1930 and 1945

At the beginning of the 20th century, Luzerne County was in the midst of an economic boom. Industry, which included manufacturing and coal mining, drew thousands of immigrants (mostly from Europe) to the region. However, there were several drawbacks to the industrial boom. Labor unrest, mining accidents, and child labor were just a few problems facing the county. Labor disputes led to miners striking in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Great Strike of 1902 gained national attention when it threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply for major U.S. cities. At that time, residences were typically heated with anthracite (or "hard coal"). The United Mine Workers of America protested for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of their union. President Theodore Roosevelt became involved and set up a fact-finding commission that suspended the strike. The strike never resumed, as the miners received a ten percent wage increase and reduced workdays (from ten to nine hours). It was the first labor dispute in which the U.S. federal government intervened as a neutral arbitrator.<ref name="luzernecounty.org"/>

Also, in the early 1900s, the anthracite coal mining industry – and its extensive use of child labor – was one of the industries targeted by the National Child Labor Committee and its hired photographer, Lewis Hine. Many of Hine's subjects were photographed in the mines and coal fields in and around Pittston and Wilkes-Barre. The impact of the Hine photographs led to the enactment of child labor laws across the country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Despite the better working conditions, industrial accidents were still commonplace. On December 6, 1915, an underground mine fire started in the Red Ash Coal Mine near the communities of Laurel Run and Georgetown. Hundreds of residents living near the mine fire were later relocated. The fire continued to burn well into the 21st century.<ref name = "coal fires">Template:Citation</ref> On June 5, 1919, another major mining accident occurred nearby. An explosion killed 92 miners at the Baltimore Colliery in Wilkes-Barre.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Regardless of the industrial setbacks, the region continued to grow economically. In 1906, construction began on a new county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre.<ref name="arch">Template:Cite web Note: This includes Template:Cite web</ref> Twenty years later (in 1926), Nanticoke, with a population of just over 22,000, was incorporated as a city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was the last city established in the county. By 1930, the county's population peaked at 445,109. It was obvious that industry was the driving force behind the expanding population. From the 1930s to the 1980s, Pittston City emerged as a national center for clothing manufacturing. Thousands of workers, mainly women, labored in many factories throughout the Greater Pittston area. Most were members of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU). It advocated for higher wages, improvements in workplace health and safety, and employee rights. The ILGWU was active in civic and political life throughout Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Railroad accidents were common throughout the United States in the 1800s and 1900s. In 1934, the right arm of Hughestown resident Harry Tompkins was crushed by an Erie Railroad train. This resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court case Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, which laid the foundation for a large part of modern American civil procedure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As the United States entered the age of mass air transportation, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, the two largest cities in Northeast Pennsylvania, recognized the need for a large-scale airport. Despite the Great Depression and hard times affecting the local coal mining industry, a windfall multimillion-dollar opportunity to plan and build a regional airport was presented to the counties of Luzerne and Lackawanna through the federal government's Public Works Administration. It became apparent that a modern airport would be needed for the economic survival of the region. The site in and around Pittston Township was first surveyed in 1939 by the county commissioners of both counties.

In 1941, John B. McDade, president of the Heidelberg Coal Company and father of Congressman Joseph M. McDade, donated 122 acres on which part of the airport now sits. Most of the land was previously owned by various coal companies. By 1945, the two counties entered into a legal agreement to co-sponsor and operate the airport. Between 1945 and 1947, construction of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport took place in and around Pittston Township. Today, the airport is known as the "Gateway to Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains." It is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania.

By the mid-20th century, anthracite production was declining at a steady rate. Consumers were gradually switching from coal to other forms of energy (e.g., oil, natural gas, and electricity). The Knox Mine Disaster was the final blow to the industry. On January 22, 1959, the Susquehanna River broke through the River Slope Mine in Port Griffith, Jenkins Township; it claimed the lives of twelve people. In the following months, two of the area's largest coal companies announced a full withdrawal from the anthracite business. Thousands of jobs were lost and the mining industry never recovered in Luzerne County.<ref name="Times Leader">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Wyoming Valley witnessed historical flooding from the Susquehanna River in the past. In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes devastated much of the Eastern Seaboard (including Pennsylvania). The Susquehanna River rose to 40.9 feet and breached the levees of several communities in the Wyoming Valley. In Wilkes-Barre, hundreds were trapped in their homes; nearly nine feet of water inundated Public Square. At the historic cemetery in Forty Fort, 2,000 caskets were washed away, leaving body parts on porches, roofs, and in basements. In Luzerne County alone, 25,000 homes and businesses were either damaged or destroyed. Losses in the county totaled $1 billion.<ref name="TTL">Template:Cite news</ref>

Luzerne County's economy was hit hard with the collapse of the mining industry and the devastating Agnes flood. To make matters worse, factories throughout the county were shutting down. They could not compete with lower labor costs elsewhere. By the end of the 20th century, Luzerne County was in the midst of a recession.

Following the Agnes flood (from the 1980s to 2000), two notable tragedies occurred in Luzerne County. The first took place on September 25, 1982, when George Banks killed thirteen people in a shooting rampage in Wilkes-Barre and Jenkins Township.<ref name=AP82>Template:Cite news</ref> The second incident took place on May 21, 2000, when a plane crash in Bear Creek Township (near the intersection of Bear Creek Boulevard – PA Route 115 – and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike) killed the pilot as well as all nineteen passengers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

21st century

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File:Industry and Agriculture.jpg
Ashley's abandoned Huber coal breaker in May 2008
File:Flood Walls on Market Street in Wilkes-Barre.jpg
The levees and temporary flood walls that protected Wilkes-Barre from Tropical Storm Lee flooding in September 2011

Many factories and coal mines were long since closed by the turn of the 21st century. Like most regions in the Rust Belt, Luzerne County witnessed population loss and urban decay over many decades beginning in the mid-20th century. Luzerne County in particular had reached the apex of its population around 1930. However, despite continuing population loss in recent years, the economy has grown moderately; warehousing has replaced manufacturing as the main industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the late 2000s, several scandals related to public corruption, cronyism, patronage hiring, and wasteful spending affected the county.<ref name="standardspeaker.com">Voters say 'yes' to home rule – News. Standard Speaker (November 3, 2010). Retrieved on July 23, 2013.</ref> The "kids for cash" scandal unfolded in 2008 over judicial kickbacks at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre. Two judges, President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan, were convicted of accepting money from Robert Mericle, builder of two private, for-profit youth centers for the detention of juveniles, in return for contracting with the facilities and imposing harsh adjudications on juveniles brought before their courts to increase the number of residents in the centers.<ref name="wsj-frank">Template:Cite news</ref> In the following years, additional county officials faced criminal charges (e.g., a clerk of courts, a deputy chief clerk, a director of human resources). County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak resigned in 2009; he was ultimately sentenced to prison for accepting money from a developer who received government-backed financing.

In May 2009, voters approved the creation of a government study commission. The commission proposed and wrote a home rule charter for Luzerne County. On November 2, 2010, the voters of Luzerne County held a referendum on the question of home rule. A total of 51,413 (55.25%) voted in favor of home rule, while another 41,639 (44.75%) voted against the move.<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref> The home rule charter would eliminate the positions of the three county commissioners; they would be replaced by an eleven-member county council (who will appoint and work alongside a county manager). This referendum "starts a new chapter in Luzerne County history," remarked James Haggerty, the chairman of the commission that wrote and proposed the charter. The first election for the new government was scheduled for 2011 – which ended up becoming an eventful year for Luzerne County.

From March to June of that year, the Borough of Duryea received national attention for its role in the landmark Supreme Court case Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri, in which the court stated that "a government employer's allegedly retaliatory actions against an employee do not give rise to liability under the Petition Clause unless the employee's petition relates to a matter of public concern."<ref name="Cornell">Template:Cite web</ref>

The second major event occurred in September 2011, when Luzerne County witnessed historical flooding from Tropical Storm Lee. The Susquehanna River reached a record high of Template:Convert in Wilkes-Barre. The river topped the Template:Convert level in flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. However, unlike 1972, the levee system in Wilkes-Barre and several other communities held. Those municipalities without a levee system witnessed severe flooding.<ref>Mandatory Evacuation of Wyoming Valley by 4 p.m., Times-Leader, September 8, 2011</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Luzerne officials issue mandatory evacuation in footprint of Agnes flood, Times Tribune, September 8, 2011</ref>

The first general election for Luzerne County Council was held on November 8, making it the third and final consequential event of 2011. In the end, six Democrats, four Republicans, and one independent politician were elected.

The home rule charter took effect on January 2, 2012. The Luzerne County Board of Commissioners was abolished and replaced with the new form of government (council–manager government). The last three commissioners were Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla, Stephen A. Urban, and Thomas Cooney. The first eleven council members were sworn in that same day. According to the charter, the council chair is "recognized as head of the county government for ceremonial purposes."<ref name="luzernecounty1">Template:Cite web</ref> The first council chair was Jim Bobeck.<ref name="youtube1">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> During the first council meeting, Tom Pribula was appointed interim county manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Several weeks later, the council officially appointed the first permanent manager (Robert Lawton).<ref name="pahomepage.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 2019 county council election, Republicans secured a majority on the county's governing board for the first time since 1989.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

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File:West-central Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.JPG
The Susquehanna River from the Mocanaqua Loop Trail in Conyngham Township in February 2008
File:Scenery of Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.jpg
Dallas Township in August 2016
File:View of Nuremberg, Pennsylvania from the south.JPG
Nuremberg in October 2014
File:Boats on Harveys Lake.JPG
Harveys Lake in June 2015
Photo of two red canoes on a sandy lake shore lined with trees. There are other canoes, kayaks and boats in the background, with a blue sky above.
Canoes on the shores of Lake Jean in Ricketts Glen State Park, July 2010

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert, or 1.8%, is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The highest point in the county is Cherry Ridge in Fairmount Township. The ridge is Template:Convert above sea level.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The lowest point, of about Template:Convert, can be found near Shickshinny.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Luzerne County consists of 76 independently governing municipalities (which includes 4 cities, 36 boroughs, and 36 townships). Wilkes-Barre is the largest city; it has a total area of Template:Convert. Pittston, with a total area of Template:Convert, is the smallest city. Harveys Lake is the largest borough; it has a total area of Template:Convert. Jeddo, with a total area of Template:Convert, is the smallest borough. Bear Creek is the largest township; it has a total area of Template:Convert. Wilkes-Barre Township, with a total area of Template:Convert, is the smallest.

The Wyoming Valley, also referred to as the Anthracite Valley Section of Pennsylvania, runs directly through Luzerne County. It extends from the northeastern border (with Lackawanna County) to the western border (with Columbia County). The valley is flat (at the Susquehanna Basin) and rises from Template:Convert in some places. Bear Creek, on the eastern side of the valley, has a mean elevation of about Template:Convert, while Shickshinny, on the Susquehanna Basin, is about Template:Convert. The county is crossed by a series of east-to-west mountains (e.g., Buck Mountain, Nescopeck Mountain, Penobscot Knob, and Red Rock Mountain). They are all part of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

The Susquehanna River is the largest river in the county. There are several islands located within the river; for example, Scovell Island (near Pittston), Monocanock Island (near Wyoming), and Richard Island (near Wilkes-Barre). The Susquehanna drains most of the county (including Bowman Creek, Huntington Creek, the Lackawanna River, Nescopeck Creek, Solomon Creek, and many other streams). The Lehigh River, which forms part of Luzerne County's southeastern border, drains the easternmost region. Dozens of lakes and ponds are also scattered throughout the county (e.g., Harveys Lake, Lake Jean, Lake Louise, and Long Pond).

Luzerne County consists of several urban areas. The first is a contiguous quilt-work of former anthracite coal mining communities (including the cities of Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, and Nanticoke). It is located in the northeastern and central part of the county (in the Wyoming Valley). The second is Greater Hazleton and it is located in the southern portion of the county. Other urban areas include the Back Mountain (in northern Luzerne County) and Mountain Top (between Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton). Thick forests and small farming communities are located just outside the urban centers.

State parks and forests

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Adjacent counties

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Climate

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File:Ricketts Glen State Park Beach 2.jpg
A beach on Lake Jean in July 2010

Luzerne County has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa/mostly Dfb) with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold with a January average of Template:Convert.<ref name="NCDC txt KAVP" /> The surrounding mountains have an influence on the climate (which includes both precipitation and temperature). This results in a wide array of weather conditions throughout the county.<ref name = NOAALCD>Template:Cite web</ref> On average, temperatures below Template:Convert are infrequent, occurring three days per year, and there are 36 days where the maximum temperature remains below Template:Convert.<ref name=NOAALCD /> In the Wilkes-Barre area, the average annual snowfall is Template:Convert during the winter (in which severe snowstorms are rare).<ref name=NOAALCD /> However, when snowstorms do occur, they can disrupt normal routines for several days.<ref name=NOAALCD />

Summers are warm with a July average of Template:Convert.<ref name="NCDC txt KAVP" /> In an average summer, temperatures exceeding Template:Convert occur on nine days and can occasionally exceed Template:Convert.<ref name="NWS Binghamton, NY (BGM)" /> Spring and fall are unpredictable, with temperatures ranging from cold to warm (although they are usually mild). On average, Wilkes-Barre receives Template:Convert of precipitation each year, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year (though the summer months receive more precipitation).<ref name="NWS Binghamton, NY (BGM)" />

Extreme temperatures range from Template:Convert on January 21, 1994, to Template:Convert on July 9, 1936.<ref name="NWS Binghamton, NY (BGM)" /> The hardiness zone is 6b in most lower areas except near the Susquehanna and Lackawanna Rivers where it is 7a, and it is 6a in higher areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wilkes-Barre averages 2,303 hours of sunshine per year, ranging from a low of 96 hours in December (or 33% of possible sunshine) to 286 hours in July (or 62% of possible sunshine). Despite being at the south end of the county, Hazleton's temperatures average lower than those of the Wyoming Valley due to its elevation.

Template:Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania weatherbox Template:Weather box

Ecology

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Sceptridium dissectum is a common fern in the county.<ref name = "Ferns" >

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Demographics

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File:Geo Map of Income by Location in Pennsylvania.png
Average household income by county in Pennsylvania. Data shown is from the 2014 American Community Survey (a 5-year estimate). Luzerne County can be seen in the northeast.

Template:US Census population

As of the 2020 census, the county was 89.3% White, 6.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and 2.0% were of two or more races. 13.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% other race, and 1.5% were of two or more races. 6.7% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>Census data, USA Today</ref>

According to the census of 2000, there were 319,250 people, 130,687 households, and 84,293 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 144,686 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 96.63% White, 1.69% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% other race, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. 22.2% were of Polish ancestry, 15.6% of Italian ancestry, 13.8% of Irish ancestry, 12.1% of German ancestry, and 5.3% of Slovak ancestry. Luzerne County is the only county in the United States with a plurality of citizens reporting Polish as their primary ancestry;<ref>US Census Bureau. "Template:Cite webTemplate:Cite webhttp://factfinder.census.gov Template:Webarchive>.</ref> the plurality of Pennsylvanians report German or Pennsylvania Dutch.

There were 130,687 households, out of which 48.80% were married couples living together. 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present. 35.50% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals. 16% of those age 65 years and older lived alone. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population consisted of 21% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 24% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93 males. For every 100 females (age 18 and over), there were 89.50 males.

The median household income (in 2015 dollars) was $45,897. 15.1% of the population lives in poverty. 60.4% of those 16 years of age or older are in the civilian labor force. There are more white collar jobs in Luzerne County than blue collar jobs. In total, there are 91,801 white collar jobs and 62,813 blue collar jobs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The mean travel time to work (for those 16 years of age or older) was 22.1 minutes. In terms of education, 88.9% (of those 25 years of age or older) are high school graduates or higher. 21.4% (of those 25 years of age or older) have a bachelor's degree or higher. In terms of healthcare, 10.8% (for those under the age of 65) are living with a disability. As of 2015, 25,317 veterans are living in Luzerne County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020 census

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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2000 % 2010 Template:Partial
White alone (NH) 306,528 283,058 250,304 96.02% 88.20% 76.88%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,202 9,539 14,031 1.63% 2.97% 4.31%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 248 280 295 0.08% 0.09% 0.09%
Asian alone (NH) 1,856 3,079 3,960 0.58% 0.96% 1.22%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 42 41 65 0.01% 0.01% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 140 234 985 0.04% 0.07% 0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1,521 3,196 9,056 0.48% 1.00% 2.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,713 21,491 46,898 1.16% 6.70% 14.40%
Total 319,250 320,918 325,594 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Languages

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The two major languages spoken in Luzerne County are English and Spanish. 5.8% of the population speaks Spanish at home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Religion

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59.27% of the people in Luzerne County are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 43.77% are Catholic; 0.28% are LDS (or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); 0.51% are Baptist; 0.55% are Episcopalian; 1.05% are Pentecostal; 3.11% are Lutheran; 4.40% are Methodist; 1.95% are Presbyterian; 2.33% are of some other Christian faith; 0.78% are Jewish; 0.00% are of an eastern faith; and 0.51% practice Islam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

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Penn State runs the Extensions in the state, including Template:Visible anchor.<ref name="Ext" /> The office here is in West Pittston.<ref name="Ext">

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</ref>

Grains, seeds, beans, and peas make up about one third of the county's farm revenues.<ref name="2017-census">Template:Cite web</ref> Due to its position as a somewhat less populated area near much larger metropolises, Luzerne's agritourism business is one of the larger in the state.<ref name="census-2017">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Rp

Through 2019 the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was quarantined in neighboring counties, and there was tremendous concern that it would spread here.<ref name=potentialimpact/> This was considered to be inevitable.<ref name=potentialimpact/> In 2020 the state Ag Department added the county to the SLF quarantine zone.<ref name="SLF" /> In October a homeowner noticed an adult on his house siding and recognized it from Penn State Extension's education campaign.<ref name="SLF" /> He reported it and the state began efforts in Luzerne.<ref name="SLF">Template:Cite web</ref> An economic analysis for the General Assembly shows the effects on the county's economy will be severe.<ref name=potentialimpact>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Luzerne is both a productive farming county and a commuter location for nearby large cities.<ref name = "Preservation-Program" /> As such farmland is often converted to other real estate uses, and the county has created the Template:Visible anchor to encourage conservation.<ref name = "Preservation-Program" /> The Luzerne CD runs the Template:Visible anchor to encourage farmland to be set aside instead of turning it into construction and development.<ref name = "Preservation-Program" >

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</ref>

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive weed here,<ref name = "GM" /> first known from 2001.<ref name = "USF-ISA-PA" >

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</ref> Kunkel & Chen 2022 find that, contrary to what has been found elsewhere, here it thrives in shaded habitats and is not helped by light exposure.<ref name = "GM" > Determinants of the invasion of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae) in northeastern Pennsylvania David M. Kunkel; Grace F. Chen Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (2020) 94 (1-2): 73–90. https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.94.1-2.0073

Where Is Garlic Mustard? Understanding the Ecological Context for Invasions of Alliaria petiolata Vikki L Rodgers, Sara E Scanga, Mary Beth Kolozsvary, Danielle E Garneau, Jason S Kilgore, Laurel J Anderson, Kristine N Hopfensperger, Anna G Aguilera, Rebecca A Urban, Kevyn J Juneau BioScience, Volume 72, Issue 6, June 2022, Pages 521–537, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biac012 </ref>

Government

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File:Luzerne County Courthouse flickr.jpg
Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre
File:Kings College Campus.jpg
The courthouse dome amid the Wilkes-Barre skyline

Background

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Luzerne County voters rejected home rule proposals in the past (once in 1974 and again in 2003). However, from 2008 to 2010, corruption plagued the county government. Three county judges, a county commissioner, a clerk of courts, a deputy chief clerk, and a director of human resources faced criminal charges. These events persuaded the voters of Luzerne County to adopt a new form of government. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, a home rule charter was adopted by a margin of 51,413 to 41,639.<ref name="standardspeaker.com"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The following year (in 2011), the first election for the new government was held. On Monday, January 2, 2012, the previous government (the board of county commissioners) was abolished and replaced with the new form of government (council–manager government). The first members of the Luzerne County Council were sworn in that same day. The council's highest-ranking officer is the chair, who is also the head of county government for ceremonial purposes. The first council chair was Jim Bobeck.<ref name="youtube1" /> The assembly consists of eleven elected members. They appoint and work alongside a full-time manager. The manager oversees the county's day-to-day operations. The first manager was Robert Lawton.<ref name="pahomepage.com" />

County Council

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Template:Main Luzerne County Council is the governing body of the county. The council meets at the Luzerne County Courthouse. There are eleven members on the assembly – seven Republicans and four Democrats. Each member is duly elected by the voters of the county. The chair is appointed by their fellow council members. The chair is both the highest-ranking officer on the council and the head of county government for ceremonial purposes and sets the agenda for the council and administers the meetings.<ref name="luzernecounty1"/> When the group is not in session, the officer's duties often include acting as its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson. The current chair is John Lombardo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Current council members<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Council member Tenure Party Position
John Lombardo 2022–present Republican Chair
Brian Thornton 2022–present Republican Vice Chair
Patty Krushnowski 2024–present Democratic
Kevin Lescavage 2022–present Republican
Lee Ann McDermott 2020–present Republican
Joanna Bryn Smith 2024–present Democratic
Jimmy Sabatino 2024–present Democratic
Chris R. Perry 2018–present Republican
Brittany Stephenson 2024–present Democratic
Harry Haas 2012–2022,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2024–present Republican
Gregory S. Wolovich 2022–present Republican
List of chairs
Chair Tenure Party Notes
1 Jim Bobeck 2012 Democratic
2 Tim McGinley 2012–2014 Democratic
3 Rick Morelli 2014–2015 Republican
4 Linda McClosky Houck 2015–2018 Democratic First female chair
5 Tim McGinley 2018–2022 Democratic
6 Kendra Vough 2022–2024 Republican
7 John Lombardo 2024–present Republican

County Manager

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Template:Main The executive branch is headed by the Luzerne County Manager. The manager supervises the county's day-to-day operations. According to the home rule charter, the manager "shall serve at the pleasure of county council."<ref name="luzernecounty1"/> In other words, the council has the power to appoint and remove the manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Each ordinance, resolution, and policy established by county council should be faithfully executed by the county manager. The manager may make recommendations to the council; however, the manager does not have the authority to vote on or veto any legislation originating from the assembly.<ref name="luzernecounty1"/> The current county manager is Romilda P. Crocamo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other county officials

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  • Controller: Walter L. Griffith, Jr.
  • Director of Human Resources: Angela Gavlick
  • District Attorney: Samuel Sanguedocle
  • Chief Public Defender: Steven M. Greenwald
  • Sheriff: Brian M. Szumski

Politics

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As of September 23, 2024, there were 203,321 registered voters in Luzerne County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Democratic Party has been historically dominant in county-level politics. However, during the 2019 Luzerne County Council election, Republicans – for the first time – secured a majority on the council, the county's governing body. Thomas Baldino, professor emeritus of political science at Wilkes University, suspected that the 2019 Luzerne County Council election results were due to the trending Republican preference in the county (mostly due to then-President Trump's popularity in the region).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, Republicans took the lead in county voter registration.<ref>https://www.timesleader.com/news/1668020/luzerne-county-voter-registration-majority-flipped-to-red</ref>

During presidential elections, the county was considered a bellwether of the state. Until 2020, it had voted for the presidential candidate who carried Pennsylvania in every election since 1936. Luzerne County has leaned Democratic in past presidential elections; however, that trend has changed in recent years. During the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Democrat Al Gore won 52% of the vote to Republican George W. Bush's 44%. In 2004, it was much closer, with Democrat John Kerry winning 51% to Republican George Bush's 48%. Democrat Barack Obama carried the county twice (once in 2008, and again in 2012). During the 2016 presidential election, the county swung dramatically to Republican Donald Trump, who won it with 58% of the vote, the largest margin since President Richard Nixon in 1972. It was the first time a Republican presidential candidate carried the county since 1988. Trump also won the county easily in 2020<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and 2024.

Luzerne County has generally voted Republican in U.S. Senate elections. In 2000, 2004, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024, the Republican candidates for the Senate won the county. However, Democratic Senate candidates carried the county in 2006 (with 60.6% of the vote), 2010, and 2012.

Democratic candidates for Pennsylvania governor won Luzerne County in 2002, 2006 (with 67.5% of the vote), 2014, 2018, and 2022. In recent years, the county voted for a Republican gubernatorial candidate only once (in 2010).

Near the end of the 2020 presidential election, nine mail-in ballots for the county were discovered in a trash can, several of which were cast for Trump. An investigation was started, and after several months it determined that the incident was accidental.<ref name="The Guardian Election Controversy">Template:Cite web</ref> Trump used this controversy to attack the legitimacy of the election.<ref name="CNN Ballot Incident">Template:Cite web</ref> Later, in the 2022 midterm elections, another controversy occurred when an error caused several voting machines in the county to run out of paper.<ref name="The Guardian Election Controversy"/>

United States Senate

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United States House of Representatives

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State Senate

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State House of Representatives

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Public safety

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File:Mocanaqua Vol Fire Dept LuzCo PA.jpg
A volunteer fire department in Mocanaqua in November 2016

There are many fire and police departments scattered throughout Luzerne County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Each individual community (city, borough, and township) determines the boundaries of each department. The firefighters provide fire protection for its citizens. Most fire departments are headed by a fire chief and are staffed by a combination of career and volunteer firefighters.

The police provide full-time protection to its citizens, visitors, businesses, and public property. Most departments are headed by a chief of police and operate out of their local municipal building. The Luzerne County Sheriff's Office operates out of Wilkes-Barre's Luzerne County Courthouse. The sheriff is an official who is responsible for keeping the peace and enforcing the law throughout the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After Luzerne County adopted a home rule charter, the office of sheriff became an appointed position (and was no longer an elected one). The Pennsylvania State Police also have a presence in the county. Troop P operates out of the northern half of Luzerne County and is headquartered in Hanover Township as PSP Wilkes-Barre. Troop P also has a barracks in Salem Township—PSP Shickshinny. Troop N operates out of the southern portion of the county and is headquartered in West Hazleton as PSP Hazleton.

Healthcare

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File:Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, Pa (73922).jpg
Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre as depicted in drawing made between 1930 and 1945

Hospitals

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Education

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File:Wyoming Seminary dorm LuzCo PA.JPG
Carpenter Hall at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, August 2013
File:Campus aerial new 2014.jpg
Administration Building at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, February 2013
File:Hazelton PA Library.JPG
Hazleton Area Public Library in Hazleton, August 2013

Public school districts

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School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Charter schools

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Public vocational technical schools

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Private schools

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Colleges and universities

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Libraries

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The Luzerne County Library System includes the following locations:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

  • Back Mountain Memorial Library, Back Mountain
  • Hazleton Area Public Library, Hazleton
  • Hoyt Library, Kingston
  • Marian Sutherland Kirby Library, Mountain Top
  • Mill Memorial Library, Nanticoke
  • Osterhout Free Library, Wilkes-Barre
  • Pittston Memorial Library, Pittston
  • Plymouth Public Library, Plymouth
  • West Pittston Library, West Pittston
  • Wyoming Free Library, Wyoming

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Culture

[edit]
File:WBArena.jpg
A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey game at Mohegan Sun Arena
File:Mohegan Poconos hotelLuzCo PA.jpg
Mohegan Poconos hotel near the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino
File:Wilkes-Barre.jpg
Wilkes-Barre's Public Square

Local attractions

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Template:Main

Media

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The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is the 55th-largest U.S. television market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Local television stations<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> include: WNEP-TV (ABC affiliate), WBRE-TV (NBC affiliate), WYOU-TV (CBS affiliate), WVIA-TV (PBS affiliate), WOLF-TV (FOX affiliate), WQMY (MyNetworkTV affiliate), WSWB (CW affiliate), WQPX (Ion Television affiliate), and WYLN-LP (Youtoo TV affiliate).

Times Leader and The Citizens' Voice are the two largest daily newspapers in the Wilkes-Barre area. Wilkes-Barre's radio market is ranked No. 69 by Arbitron's ranking system. There are news, adult alternative, and music radio stations which are receivable in the area.

Sports

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Team name League Sport Venue
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL Ice Hockey Mohegan Sun Arena
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders IL Baseball PNC Field

Transportation

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File:Pennsylvania Route 29 north in Lake Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.JPG
PA Route 29 in Lake Township
File:Pittston, Pennsylvania (4111301389).jpg
A train travels under Firefighters' Memorial Bridge in Pittston

Highways

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Railroads

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Airports

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Communities

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File:Wilkes Barre Panorama.jpg
Wilkes-Barre, the county seat and largest city of Luzerne County
File:Downtown hazleton pa.jpg
Hazleton, the second-largest city in Luzerne County
File:Nanticoke City.jpg
Nanticoke, the county's third-largest city
File:Pittston City Aerial.jpg
Pittston, the county's fourth-largest city
File:Map of Luzerne County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png
A map of Luzerne County with municipal labels showing cities and boroughs (in red), townships (in white), and census-designated places and regions (in blue)

Luzerne County contains the second highest number of independently governing municipalities in the state of Pennsylvania, with 76; only Allegheny County has more.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in the case of Bloomsburg, towns. The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Luzerne County:

Cities

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Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

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Other places

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Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Luzerne County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

county seat

Rank City/Borough/Township Municipal type Population (2010 census)
1 Wilkes-Barre City 41,498
2 Hazleton City 25,340
3 Kingston Borough 13,182
4 Hanover Township Township 11,076
5 Nanticoke City 10,465
6 Plains Township Township 9,961
7 Hazle Township Township 9,549
8 Butler Township Township 9,221
9 Dallas Township Township 8,994
10 Pittston City 7,739
11 Kingston Township Township 6,999
12 Plymouth Borough 5,951
13 Exeter Borough 5,652
14 Wright Township Township 5,651
15 Newport Township Township 5,374
16 Swoyersville Borough 5,062
17 Duryea Borough 4,917
18 West Pittston Borough 4,868
19 Edwardsville Borough 4,816
20 Jackson Township Township 4,646
21 West Hazleton Borough 4,594
22 Fairview Township Township 4,520
23 Larksville Borough 4,480
24 Jenkins Township Township 4,442
25 Salem Township Township 4,254
26 Forty Fort Borough 4,214
27 Sugarloaf Township Township 4,211
28 Freeland Borough 3,531
29 Lehman Township Township 3,508
30 Foster Township Township 3,467
31 Pittston Township Township 3,368
32 Rice Township Township 3,335
33 Wyoming Borough 3,073
34 Wilkes-Barre Township Township 2,967
35 Ross Township Township 2,937
36 Luzerne Borough 2,845
37 Dallas Borough 2,804
38 Harveys Lake Borough 2,791
39 Ashley Borough 2,790
40 Bear Creek Township Township 2,774
41 West Wyoming Borough 2,725
42 Dupont Borough 2,711
43 Avoca Borough 2,661
44 Hunlock Township Township 2,443
45 Exeter Township Township 2,378
46 Huntington Township Township 2,244
47 Dorrance Township Township 2,188
48 Lake Township Township 2,049
49 Union Township Township 2,042
50 Black Creek Township Township 2,016
51 Conyngham Borough 1,914
52 Plymouth Township Township 1,812
53 Franklin Township Township 1,757
54 Nescopeck Borough 1,583
55 Laflin Borough 1,487
56 Conyngham Township Township 1,453
57 Hughestown Borough 1,392
58 Fairmount Township Township 1,276
59 Hollenback Township Township 1,196
60 Nescopeck Township Township 1,155
61 Dennison Township Township 1,125
62 Slocum Township Township 1,115
63 White Haven Borough 1,097
64 Sugar Notch Borough 989
65 Pringle Borough 979
66 Shickshinny Borough 838
67 Courtdale Borough 732
68 Nuangola Borough 679
69 Yatesville Borough 607
70 Warrior Run Borough 584
71 Laurel Run Borough 500
72 Buck Township Township 435
73 Penn Lake Park Borough 308
74 Bear Creek Village Borough 257
75 New Columbus Borough 227
76 Jeddo Borough 98

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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Template:Notelist

References

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Template:Commons category Template:Wikivoyage

Template:Geographic Location Template:Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Template:Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Template:Wyoming Valley Template:Pennsylvania Template:Authority control

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