Nicholson, Pennsylvania
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Nicholson is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. The population was 698 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
[edit]The borough of Nicholson was incorporated on August 23, 1875 and was named after John Nicholson, who had been Pennsylvania's comptroller general in the late 1700s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The town of Nicholson attracted national attention during the final week of July 1986, when an escaped Bengal tiger was hunted in the area for several days.<ref>Daily Herald (Chicago) "Bengal tiger on the loose," (July 28, 1986, p7); "Tiger loose in Pennsylvania mountains?" (July 29, 1986, p3)</ref> Despite air and ground searches by state police and zoo officials, the animal was never found.<ref>The Indiana (Pa.) Gazette "Tiger may be stray pet, caller says," (July 30, 1986, p29) "Calls, leads in Gibson tiger hunt die down," (July 31, 1986, p3)</ref><ref>Tyrone (Pa.) Daily Herald (UPI) "Was The Loose Tiger A Pet Which Finally Went Home?" (August 1, 1986, p1).</ref>
Geography
[edit]Nicholson is located at Template:Coord (41.624983, -75.783054).<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.83%) is water.
Demographics
[edit]Template:US Census population As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 767 people, 302 households, and 195 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 343 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 97% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 302 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25% under the age of 18, 58.3% from 18 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.
The median income for a household in the borough was $38,650, and the median income for a family was $40,833. Males had a median income of $38,889 versus $27,813 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,449. About 24% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
[edit]The town has a weak mayor - strong council form of government.
Mayor
[edit]| Charles Litwin Jr. | Republican |
Council
[edit]| Council Member | Term Expires | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Harpster | 2025 | Democratic |
| John Kiryluk | 2025 | Republican |
| John Decker | 2025 | Republican |
| Albert Olive | 2023 | Republican |
| Joan Irion Jenkins | 2025 | Republican |
| David Noakes | 2023 | Republican |
| John Bower | 2023 | Republican |
Tunkhannock Viaduct
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A local landmark, the Tunkhannock Viaduct, Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct or "Nicholson Bridge" has been a focal point of the Nicholson community since its completion in 1915.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad between 1912 and 1915, the bridge has served many owners: DL&W, Erie Lackawanna, Conrail, Delaware & Hudson [also operated by Guilford Transportation, and New York Susquehanna & Western] before the current owner, Norfolk Southern Railway. Norfolk Southern trains operate over it daily between Binghamton and several other New York state locations, along with rail yards in Pennsylvania such as Scranton, Allentown and Harrisburg. Each year the town organizes a festival in honor of the bridge called Nicholson Bridge Day. The entire main street of the town is shut down and filled with vendors, entertainment, and more.
Notable people
[edit]- Jim Saxton, former Representative, New Jersey 3rd Congressional District
- Don Sherwood, former Representative, Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District