Editing Plains Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Plains Township, Pennsylvania
|settlement_type = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
|image_skyline = Mohegan Poconos casino LuzCo PA.jpg
|imagesize = 
|image_caption = [[Mohegan Pennsylvania]] in Plains Township 
|image_flag = 
|image_seal = 
|nickname = ''Plains''
|motto = ''The Keystone of the [[Wyoming Valley]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.plainstownship.org/|title=Plains Township}}</ref>
|image_map = Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Plains Township.PNG
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Map of Luzerne County highlighting Plains Township
|image_map1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County.svg
|mapsize1 = 250x200px
|map_caption1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne]]
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1762
|established_title1 = Incorporated
|established_date1 = 1851
|government_footnotes = 
|government_type = 
|leader_title = 
|leader_name = 
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>
|area_magnitude = 
|area_total_km2 = 34.09
|area_total_sq_mi = 13.16
|area_land_km2 = 33.43
|area_land_sq_mi = 12.91
|area_water_km2 = 0.66
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.26
|population_total = 9861 {{decrease}}
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref>
|population_density_km2 = 290.98
|population_density_sq_mi = 753.62
|postal_code_type = 
|postal_code = 
|area_code = 
|footnotes = 
|leader_title2 = 
|leader_name2 = 
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|pop_est_as_of = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_est = 9807
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-079-61120
|website = {{URL|www.plainstownship.org}}
}}
'''Plains Township''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]], United States (on the outskirts of [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]]). The population was 9,816 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> The municipality is the birthplace of [[Chicago White Sox]] [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|hall of famer]] [[Ed Walsh]] and [[John J. Yeosock]], a United States Army general who commanded the 3rd U.S. Army during [[Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm]]. [[Mohegan Pennsylvania]] is a [[casino]] in Plains Township (located along [[Pennsylvania Route 315|PA 315]]).

==History==
[[File:Teedyuscung Mohegan leader plaque in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|left|A plaque marking the approximate location of [[Teedyuscung]]'s death]]

===Settlement===
Modern-day Plains Township was originally owned and occupied by the Wanami tribe of the [[Lenape|Delaware]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. [[Captain Jacobs|Jacob]] was the tribe’s leader; he lived on level ground adjacent to the [[Susquehanna River]] (near the modern-day City of [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]]). Early white settlers named the locality “Jacob’s Plains.” As time progressed, the settlers simply referred to it as “Plains.”<ref name="pagenweb1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/patk/plainstwp.htm|title=PLAINS TOWNSHIP|website=www.pagenweb.org}}</ref>

Roughly two hundred settlers from the Susquehanna Company of [[Colony of Connecticut|Connecticut]] arrived in Plains in August 1762; they established a small village of cabins just above the mouth of [[Mill Creek (Susquehanna River tributary)|Mill Creek]]. They returned to [[New England]] in November after planting a few acres of [[wheat]]. The Susquehanna Company returned with their families, [[livestock]], and provisions in the spring of 1763.<ref name="pagenweb1"/>

===Massacre of 1763===
During the summer of 1763, the [[Iroquois]] and Delaware came together in an attempt to form a relationship. This resulted in a deadly fire which claimed the life of the Delaware chieftain ([[Teedyuscung]]). The Iroquois charged the colonists with the crime, and the aggrieved Delaware were determined to resolve the matter. On October 15, 1763, the unsuspecting pioneers were attacked by the Delaware. Twenty or thirty were killed, several were taken prisoner, and those who were not captured fled to the mountains; they had no other choice but to return to New England. The Native Americans finally burned what was left of the English settlement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joycetice.com/articles/massacre.htm|title = The Massacre of Wyoming - Pennamite War}}</ref><ref name="pagenweb1"/>

===Pennamite-Yankee Wars===
{{main|Pennamite-Yankee Wars}}
In January 1769, a group of Pennamites (who represented [[Province of Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]) took possession of the land once occupied by the Susquehanna Land Company of Connecticut. They were known as the Ogden party; they established a fort in the region. The Connecticut settlers, who learned of the Pennamite occupation of the area, returned in the spring of 1769. This resulted in the [[Pennamite-Yankee Wars]] — a struggle between the Pennamites and the Yankees (from Connecticut). After a series of minor skirmishes, the conflict ended with the land being granted to Pennsylvania.<ref name="pagenweb1"/>

===Township status===
[[File:Mohegan Poconos hotelLuzCo PA.jpg|thumb|right|The [[casino]]’s [[hotel]]]]
Large amounts of [[anthracite coal]] rested underneath Plains. In 1808, Henry Stark of Plains succeeded in burning anthracite coal in a grate. This was the second successful attempt in the region (after Judge [[Jesse Fell]]). This resulted in the widespread use of anthracite coal as a fuel source. Throughout the 1800s, [[canals]] and [[railroads]] were constructed to aid in the [[coal mining|mining]] and transportation of coal. The mining industry in Luzerne County boomed. [[Farming]] was a major way of life in Plains prior to the mining industry. Farmland was replaced by great collieries, [[coal breaker|breakers]], canals, and railroads.<ref name="pagenweb1"/>

As a result of the growing population in Plains, it was officially made a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] on November 10, 1851. Plains Township was formed from sections of [[Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre Township]] and [[Pittston Township, Pennsylvania|Pittston Township]].<ref name="pagenweb1"/>

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. By the mid-20th century, anthracite production was declining at a fairly steady rate. Consumers were gradually switching from coal to other forms of energy (e.g., oil, 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, Pennsylvania|Port Griffith]], [[Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Jenkins Township]] (just north of Plains Township). The incident claimed twelve lives. 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.

In the early 21st century, [[Mohegan Pennsylvania]] (along [[Pennsylvania Route 315|PA 315]]) became one of Pennsylvania's first [[casino]]s. The casino features over 2,300 [[slot machine|slots]], and live tables for [[blackjack]], [[roulette]], and [[poker]]. The casino opened in November 2006. In November 2013, Mohegan Sun opened a hotel (which is connected to the casino floor).

==Geography==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Plains Township map.png|thumb|left|A map of [[Interstate 81|I-81]] (blue), [[Interstate 476|I-476]] (green), [[Pennsylvania Route 309|PA 309]] (yellow), and [[Pennsylvania Route 315|PA 315]] (red) passing through Plains Township and the surrounding communities.]] -->
[[File:North Cross Valley.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pennsylvania Route 309|PA 309]] as it crosses over the Susquehanna River and into Plains Township (in the background)]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|34.1|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|33.4|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.7|sqkm|disp=flip}}, or 1.95%, is water. It extends from the [[Susquehanna River]] in the northwest to the north slope of Wyoming Mountain in the southeast.

Its villages include [[Hilldale, Pennsylvania|Hilldale]], [[Hudson, Pennsylvania|Hudson]], Llewellyn Corners (also in [[Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania|Bear Creek Township]]), Midvale, [[Plains, Pennsylvania|Plains]], Plainsville, Port Bowkley, and Westminster.

Plains Township's numbered routes include [[Interstate 81 (Pennsylvania)|I-81]], [[Pennsylvania Route 115|PA 115]], [[Pennsylvania Route 309|PA 309]], and [[Pennsylvania Route 315|PA 315]]. [[Interstate 476|I-476]] crosses the eastern portion of Plains Township. Main Street and River Street cross the populous northwestern portion of the township between Wilkes-Barre and [[Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Jenkins Township]]. The southern and eastern sections of the municipality are scarcely populated. This region of the township is mostly made up of forested mountains.

===Tourist attractions===
*There are hotels, stores, restaurants and the [[Mohegan Pennsylvania]] [[Harness racing|racetrack]] and [[casino]] along PA 315. 
*[[Seven Tubs Recreation Area]] is located off  PA 115 (in southern Plains Township).

===Neighboring municipalities===
*[[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] (southwest)
*[[Kingston, Pennsylvania|Kingston]] (west)
*[[Forty Fort, Pennsylvania|Forty Fort]] (west)
*[[Wyoming, Pennsylvania|Wyoming]] (north)
*[[Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Jenkins Township]] (north and northeast)
*[[Laflin, Pennsylvania|Laflin]] (northeast)
*[[Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania|Bear Creek Township]] (southeast)
*[[Laurel Run, Pennsylvania|Laurel Run]] (south)
*[[Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre Township]] (south)
<gallery mode=packed heights=190>
Mohegan Poconos torch LuzCo PA.jpg|[[Torch]] near the entrance of the casino
SS Peter and Paul Church Plains PA.jpg|SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Plains TWP PA Wilkes-Barre Area CTC.jpg|Wilkes-Barre Area CTC
Seven Tubs Recreation Area.jpg|[[Seven Tubs Recreation Area]]
</gallery>

===Climate===
The township has a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa''/''Dfb'') and average monthly temperatures in the village of Plains range from 26.6&nbsp;°F in January to 72.4&nbsp;°F in July. [http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 10906
|2010= 9961
|2020= 9816
|estyear=2021
|estimate=9807
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 10,906 people, 4,556 households, and 2,870 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|822.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 5,007 housing units at an average density of {{convert|377.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 98.33% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.48% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.03% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.80% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 4,556 households, out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the township the population was spread out, with 17.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $36,603, and the median income for a family was $46,549. Males had a median income of $34,076 versus $25,880 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $19,712.  About 6.9% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The Plains Township Board of Commissioners is the municipality's governing body.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.plainstownship.org/departments/commissioners/|title=Board of Commissioners « Plains Township}}</ref> 
*Gerald Yozwiak, [[chairman]]
*Thomas Shubilla, [[vice chairman]]
*Ciro Cinti
*Robert Sax
*Peter J. Biscontini
*Attorney Stephen Menn, [[solicitor]]
*Patricia Sluhocki, [[secretary]]
*Kathleen O’Boyle, assistant secretary

==Notable people==
*[[Ed Walsh]], [[Chicago White Sox]] [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|hall of famer]] 
*[[John J. Yeosock]], a [[United States Army]] general

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|www.plainstownship.org}}

{{Luzerne County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Wyoming Valley}}

{{coord|41|16|00|N|75|44|29|W|type:city_region:US-PA_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1762]]
[[Category:Townships in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Townships in Pennsylvania]]