Editing Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Wilkes-Barre with Susquehanna River.jpg|thumb|The [[Susquehanna River]] and Wilkes-Barre]]
[[File:Wilkes-BarreNight.JPG|thumb|Downtown Wilkes-Barre at night]]
[[File:Steigmier Brewery PA.jpg|thumb|The [[Lion Brewery, Inc.|Stegmaier Federal Building]]]]
[[File:Roth Residence Hall Wilkes Barre PA.JPG|thumb|[[River Street Historic District (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)|Roth Residence Hall]]]]
[[File:McClintock Hall Wilkes B PA.jpg|thumb|[[McClintock Hall]], built in 1841]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.2|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|6.8|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi}}, or 4.60%, is water. The city is bordered by the [[Susquehanna River]] to the west. Most of Downtown is located on a wide [[floodplain]]. [[Floodwall]]s were constructed to protect a large percentage of the city. The elevation of the downtown area is about {{convert|550|ft}} above sea level. As you travel inland, away from the river, the elevation rises. Wilkes-Barre Mountain is a physical barrier southeast of the city.

The contiguous network of 5 cities and more than 40 boroughs all built in a straight line in Northeastern Pennsylvania's urban area act culturally and logistically as one continuous city, so while the city of Wilkes-Barre itself is a smaller town, the larger unofficial city of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre contains nearly half a million residents in roughly 200 square miles.

Wilkes-Barre is located approximately {{convert|63|mi|km}} northwest of [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], and {{convert|113|mi|km}} northwest of [[Philadelphia]]. Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the [[Pocono Mountains]] to the east, the [[Endless Mountains]] to the north and west, and the [[Lehigh Valley]] to the south. The [[Susquehanna River]] flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of the city.

=== Neighborhoods ===
Wilkes-Barre houses over one dozen neighborhoods:
* '''Central City:''' It is also referred to as "[[Downtown]]." This section of the city is located between the Susquehanna River and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, and between South and North Streets. It is the original foundation of Wilkes-Barre (the 16 blocks claimed by the Connecticut settlers who founded the city). The neighborhood is home to most of the city's [[high-rise]]s and its one [[Town square|Public Square]]. Throughout the city's history, the area has remained a hub for all of Luzerne County. During the city's boom, this small area was home to the headquarters of more than 100 national corporations. Today, it still houses the NEPA Headquarters for Verizon, Citizen's Bank, Blue Cross, PNC Bank, Luzerne National Bank, Guard Insurance, and a number of other companies. Thousands of people live and/or work in Downtown Wilkes-Barre every day.
* '''North End:''' This is the area northeast of Downtown. It comprises a number of urban and suburban communities. North End is renowned for its architecture.
* '''Parsons:''' This neighborhood is also northeast of Downtown. This is a quiet part of the city (with a suburban atmosphere). It includes two city parks, a golf course, and a number of factories.
* '''Miners' Mills:''' This community was named after a prominent local family (who lived in the area). Miners' Mills is the last neighborhood on the northeastern border of the city.
* '''East End:''' This neighborhood is directly east of Downtown. East End, Heights, and Mayflower are fairly new areas compared to the rest of the city, having only been developed in the 20th century. Old pictures of the [[Lion Brewery, Inc.|Stegmaier Building]] indicate that everything east of Downtown was undeveloped until the 1900s.
* '''Heights:''' This section of the city is located southeast of Downtown. It is centered between East End and Mayflower.
* '''Mayflower:''' This area is located south of Downtown. It was once home to numerous mansions owned by various "bigwigs." Today it houses the OKT, Lincoln Plaza, and Park Avenue residential housing communities. The best view of Downtown can be seen from the high streets of Mayflower.
* '''South Wilkes-Barre:''' This neighborhood is located directly southwest of Downtown. It was home to the national headquarters of Planter's Peanuts and the Bell Telephone Company (in the 20th century). One of the tallest churches in Luzerne County, St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, dominates the south end skyline (standing at nearly 200 feet).
* '''Goose Island:''' This area is located in the southwestern section of the city between South Wilkes-Barre and Rolling Mill Hill.
* '''Rolling Mill Hill:''' This neighborhood is also located in the southwestern part of the city.
* '''Iron Triangle:''' This is another community southwest of Downtown.
* '''Other neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods:''' There are other smaller neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods in Wilkes-Barre City (e.g., Brookside, Upper Miners' Mills, Lower Miners' Mills, and Barney Farms).

=== Adjacent municipalities ===
* [[Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre Township]] (southeast)
* [[Plains Township, Pennsylvania|Plains Township]] (east and northeast)
* [[Kingston, Pennsylvania|Kingston]] (north)
* [[Edwardsville, Pennsylvania|Edwardsville]] (northwest)
* [[Larksville, Pennsylvania|Larksville]] (west)
* [[Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Hanover Township]] (southwest)
* [[Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania|Bear Creek Township]] (southwest)

=== Climate ===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Wilkes-Barre falls within either a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') if the {{convert|0|°C}} isotherm is used or a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') if the {{convert|-3|°C}} isotherm is used. Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Winters are cold with a January average of {{convert|28.0|°F|1}}.<ref name="NCDC txt KAVP" /> The surrounding mountains have an influence on the climate (including both precipitation and temperatures), leading to wide variations within a short distance.<ref name = NOAALCD>{{cite web |url= ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/lcd/annual/2014/01201413AVP.pdf |title= Local Climatological Data–Annual Summary with Comparative Data: Wilkes–Barre/Scranton |publisher= [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = September 30, 2015}}</ref> On average, temperatures below {{convert|0|°F|1}} are infrequent, occurring 2.5 days per year, and there are 34.9 days where the maximum temperature remains below {{convert|32|°F|1}}.<ref name="NCDC txt KAVP" /> The average annual snowfall is {{convert|45.1|in|cm|0}} during the winter (in which severe snowstorms are rare).<ref name=NOAALCD /><ref name="NCDC txt KAVP" /> However, when snowstorms do occur, they can disrupt normal routines for several days.<ref name=NOAALCD />

Summers are warm with a July average of {{convert|73.7|°F|1}}.<ref name="NCDC txt KAVP" /> In an average summer, temperatures exceeding {{convert|90|°F|1}} occur on 11.7 days and but rarely exceed {{convert|100|°F|1}}.<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 {{convert|38.72|in|sigfig=3}} 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 {{convert|-21|°F|1}} on January 21, 1994, to {{convert|103|°F|1}} on July 9, 1936.<ref name="NWS Binghamton, NY (BGM)" /> 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).<ref name="WMO KAVP" />

The [[hardiness zone]] is 6b except in downtown and other areas near the river which are 7a.<ref>[https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map]</ref> The city is significantly warmer than the W-B/Scranton Airport due to the airport's higher latitude and elevation.

{{Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania weatherbox}}