Editing Shickshinny, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Shickshinny, Pennsylvania
|other_name = 
|native_name = 
|nickname = 
|settlement_type = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
|motto = 
|image_skyline = View of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania from the Mocanaqua Loop Trail.JPG
|imagesize = 
|image_caption = View of Shickshinny from the Mocanaqua Loop Trail
|image_flag = 
|flag_size = 
|image_seal = 
|seal_size = 
|image_shield = 
|shield_size = 
|image_blank_emblem = 
|blank_emblem_size = 
|pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA
|pushpin_label = Shickshinny
|pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption = 
|pushpin_mapsize = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne]]
|government_footnotes = 
|government_type = Borough Council
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Beverly Moore
|leader_title1 = President
|leader_name1 = Rosalie Whitebread
|leader_title2 = 
|leader_name2 = 
|leader_title3 = 
|leader_name3 = 
|leader_title4 = 
|leader_name4 = 
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1782
|established_title1 = Incorporated
|established_date1 = 1861
|area_magnitude = 
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 1.27
|area_land_km2 = 1.23
|area_water_km2 = 0.03
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.49
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.48
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
|area_water_percent = 
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
|population_note = 
|population_total = 632
|population_density_km2 = 512.14
|population_density_sq_mi = 1327.73
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|coordinates   = {{coord|41|09|15|N|76|09|04|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes = 
|elevation_m = 156
|elevation_ft = 512
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code = 18655
|area_code = [[Area code 570|570]]
|website = {{URL|www.shickshinny.org}}
|footnotes = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-70224
|image_map = File:Luzerne County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Shickshinny Highlighted.svg
|map_caption = Location of Shickshinny in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
}}
'''Shickshinny''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 630 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<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 5, 2022}}</ref>

The borough is named after [[Shickshinny Creek]], which runs through the municipality and the surrounding area. According to the book ''Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania'' (by Dr. George P. Donehoo), the community's name likely means "Fine Stream" in a local Native American language.<ref>Donehoo, George P.  ''Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania''.  Baltimore: Gateway, 1995, 202.</ref> However, according to the Shickshinny Historical Society, the name ''Shickshinny'' means "Five Mountains" in a Native American language.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} Five mountains — Newport, [[Knob Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Knob]], Lee, River, and Rocky — encircle the creek and borough.<ref name="SHS" />

==History==
===Early history===
[[File:Bird's-eye view from river, Schickshinny, Pa (68645).jpg|thumb|left|250px|Shickshinny along the Susquehanna River]]
In 1782, the families of Austin and Crossley were the first white settlers in Shickshinny. The first permanent settler in the area was Lizzie James.<ref name="founding"/> At this time, Shickshinny was under the jurisdiction of [[Connecticut]].<ref name="founding">"The Founding of the Shickshinny Borough",  undated. ''Suburban News'' article posted on the website of the Historical and Preservation Society of the Greater Shickshinny Area</ref><ref name="rootsweb1" /> In 1801, Shadrick Austin bought the {{convert|256|acre}} of land.<ref name="rootsweb4" />

Another known settler in the area was William Koons (in the 1850s).<ref name="rootsweb1" /> Koons settled one mile outside of Shickshinny (where the Shickshinny Creek Bridge was later erected). The name of the area was changed to [[Koonsville, Pennsylvania|Koonsville]] (where the post office was later built). In 1773, Nathan Beach, also from Connecticut, settled outside of modern-day Shickshinny. The area was named Beach Haven after him.<ref name="rootsweb3" />

A farm, which encompassed nearly the entire current-day borough, was established by [[Matthias Hollenback]]. By this time, it was under the [[Pennsylvania]] claim. The land was later inherited by his daughter, Cist Hollenback, who married Chester Butler. In 1857, upon C. Hollenbeck's death, the land was divided and sold to the proprietors of the Shickshinny Company:<ref name="rootsweb2" /> [[George W. Search House|George W. Search]], Lot Search, Nathan Beach Crary, and Nathan Garrison. Walter Garrison bought the corner where the modern-day bank is located. Lot Search held the position of [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]] [[treasurer]] in 1855 and maintained it for two years.<ref name="rootsweb4" />

N. Garrison and Andrew J. Eldon built the first store, located outside the old storehouse, in June 1857. But a few months after the store opened, Eldon fled to [[China]] with $3,000 of Garrison's money. It was reported that Eldon was lost in a storm at sea and drowned from the weight of gold in his pockets. The business soon closed and was bought by Nathan B. Crary.<ref name="rootsweb1" /> A drug store opened at the same time. It was run and managed by Stephen Bond.<ref name="rootsweb2" />

===Borough===
[[File:Union Street, Shickshinny, Pa (68647).jpg|thumb|left|250px|Union Street in Shickshinny]]
Shickshinny was incorporated as a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] on November 30, 1861. It gained its independence from [[Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Salem Township]] and [[Union Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Union Township]], the majority (two-thirds) being from Union. The first officers were Burgess and Enke. The council was composed of Search, Koons, Crary, Nicely, and Davenport. G. W. Search became the secretary, while Slippy became supervisor. Second was Burgess, third Knor, fourth Youlls, fifth Bear, sixth Post, seventh Hughes, eighth Hartman, and ninth Bulkley.<ref name="rootsweb2" />

Many businesses sprung up in the next decade, including a [[gristmill|flour mill]] (set up by G. W. and Lot Search in 1865), a [[foundry]] (set up by Jesse Beadle, L. T. Hartman, and Frederick Beach in 1866), and a [[planing mill]] (set up by Amos Hess in 1874). Two [[blacksmith]] shops were also built and run by Miner Brown and Henry Wagner. The first [[newspaper]] in the area, ''The Mountain Echo'', was first issued in 1873, established by C. A. Boone and M. E. Walker.<ref name="rootsweb1" /><ref name="rootsweb2" />

Shickshinny became a central hub for many farmers and businesses. A toll bridge was built in 1865 to [[Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania|Mocanaqua]], the first of three up to 1920. An 1877 [[Toll roads in the United States#History, funding through toll|turnpike]] was built along the creek, heading towards [[Huntington Mills, Pennsylvania|Huntington Mills]] (modern-day [[Pennsylvania Route 239|Route 239]]).<ref name="rootsweb4" /><ref name="rootsweb2" />

===Coal mining===
[[File:River bridge, across the Susquehanna River, Schickshinny, Pa (68646).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Bridge across the Susquehanna River (Shickshinny, Luzerne County)]]
Shickshinny is located at the lower end of the [[Wyoming Valley]] Coal Deposit, near a Red Ash vein that runs across the [[Susquehanna River]].<ref name="rootsweb2" />

Humphrey Davenport was employed in 1830 to prospect Nathan Beach's land. He soon discovered coal on Rocky Mountain. For the next decade, coal was extracted from the mountain by teams of men.<ref name="rootsweb1" /> Finally in 1840, Beach's grandson, Dr. Darwin Crary, invented the first inclined chute, which was used by the coal industry. It sent coal to the canal down the mountain.<ref name="rootsweb4" /> Two years later, in 1842, James A. Gordon built a [[inclined plane|plane]] for Beach and Crary. It ran for several successful years.<ref name="rootsweb1" />

The mines were passed over to Truman H. Clark. In 1865, during the last year of the [[American Civil War]], John M. Stackhouse and Matthew Wier purchased the mines. Cyrus Stackhouse bought out Wier's stock the following year. Again, in 1869, the mines exchanged hands and were bought by the Paxton Coal Company. The Salem Coal Company was formed four years later. Under their guidance, the mines produced 65,000 tons and employed just short of 200 men and boys.

A nearby mountain — Newport — provided coal as well. It sits on the opposite side of the Susquehanna River and was found to possess superior coal. In 1857, roads and bridges were built to connect the [[Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad]], which lay on opposite sides of the river, so as to be able to mine Newport Mountain. Neither the Shickshinny nor Mocanaqua mines are in service today.<ref name="rootsweb2" />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1045
|1880= 1058
|1890= 1448
|1900= 1456
|1910= 1917
|1920= 2289
|1930= 2451
|1940= 2354
|1950= 2156
|1960= 1843
|1970= 1685
|1980= 1192
|1990= 1108
|2000= 959
|2010= 838
|2020= 630
|estyear=2021
|estimate=629
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

===2000 U.S. Census===
According to the [[2000 United States Census]], Shickshinny had a population of 959 people, who made up 415 households and 241 families. The borough was 99% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|white]], the remaining 1% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|were multiracial or unlisted.]] The population was approximately 47% male and 53% female, with 21% of the population below the age of 18, and 23% over the age of 65. The median age was 40.

The households occupied 415 of the 478 housing units in the borough, of these 60% were owned and 40% were rented. Out of the 415 households, 30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41% had elders over 65. About 41% of households were [[Marriage|married]], 10% had a female householder with no husband, and 42% were non-family households. 37% of householders lived alone, of which 24% were over the age of 65. The average household contained 2.3 people, while the average family contained 3 people.

A sampling of the population shows that the majority of enrolled students, 63%, were in elementary school (K-8), while 27% were in high school (9-12) and 4% in college or graduate school. The remaining were in preschool. 47% of the population, over 25 years of age, had a high school diploma while 32% did not. Out of the remaining population 21% had attended college while 9% had an associate degree or greater.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,594, while the median family income was $36,333. The male median income was $27,273 compared to the female median income of $21,250.The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $14,880. About 9% of families and 10% of individuals incomes were below the [[Poverty Line|poverty line]].

==Education==
{{main|Northwest Area School District}}

[[Northwest Area School District]]<!--UNI 17790--> serves Shickshinny, as well as the borough of New Columbus and the townships of Fairmont, Huntington, Hunlock, and Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42079_luzerne/DC20SD_C42079.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Luzerne County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42079_luzerne/DC20SD_C42079_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> The student body is separated into primary, intermediate, and junior/senior high schools. Northwest Area School District formerly contained three elementary schools. These schools were: Huntington Mills Elementary School, Hunlock Creek Elementary School, and Garrison Elementary School. Garrison Elementary was located in downtown Shickshinny, next to Shickshinny Creek, while Hunlock Creek Elementary and Huntington Mills Elementary were located in their namesake communities.<ref>[http://www.city-data.com/city/Shickshinny-Pennsylvania.html City-Data.com] Revised 2009-03-13</ref> At the end of the 2009–2010 school year, Garrison Elementary was closed.<ref name="NArb">[http://citizensvoice.com/news/northwest-area-reroutes-buses-1.898247 Citizens Voice: Northwest Area reroutes buses] Retrieved 2010-07-30</ref>

==Geography==
Shickshinny is located at {{coord|41|9|15|N|76|9|4|W|type:city}} (41.154044, -76.151182)<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along [[U.S. Route 11 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 11]], midway between [[Nanticoke, Pennsylvania|Nanticoke]] and [[Berwick, Pennsylvania|Berwick]].<ref name="SHS" /> It is situated along the western bank of the  [[Susquehanna River]] at the mouth of [[Shickshinny Creek]]. [[Little Shickshinny Creek]], a tributary of Shickshinny Creek, meets Shickshinny Creek in the borough.<ref name = "Maps">{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Shckshinny,+Luzerne,+PA|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.3|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|1.2|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|disp=flip|2}}, or 9.34%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Shickshinny borough, Pennsylvania| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=April 13, 2012}}</ref> Shickshinny's terrain is flat in the east; the elevation increases as you move westward. Shickshinny is made up of homes and businesses; the borough is surrounded by thick [[forests]].<ref name = "Maps"/> The [[Susquehanna Warrior Trail]] passes through Shickshinny.

===Major roads===
[[U.S. Route 11|US-11]] runs through Shickshinny in a south-north direction. [[Pennsylvania Route 239]] enters Shickshinny in the northwest. It exits the borough in the southeast and crosses over the Susquehanna River (in the direction of [[Mocanaqua]]).<ref>{{cite web|url = https://maps.google.com|title = Google Maps|year = 2012|access-date = 17 August 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Humid continental climate|Dfb]]" (Warm Summer Continental Climate).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=750863&cityname=Shickshinny,+Pennsylvania,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Shickshinny, Pennsylvania Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

===Gallery===
<gallery mode=packed heights=135>
File:Pennsylvania Route 239 bridge over the Susquehanna River.JPG|The [[Pennsylvania Route 239|PA 239]] bridge linking Shickshinny to [[Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania|Mocanaqua]]
Shickshinny Creek and Garrison Elementary.JPG|Shickshinny Creek
Shickshinny PA Presby.jpg|Presbyterian Church in Shickshinny
Shickshinny, Pennsylvania (8484160092).jpg|Houses in Shickshinny
Shickshinny.jpg|Road in Shickshinny
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[Ryan McGlynn]], racing driver
* [[Krysten Ritter]], actress
* [[Carl Sawatski]], [[Major League Baseball]] player and president of the [[Texas League]] (1976 to 1991)

==References==
<references>
<ref name="SHS">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pashs/index.htm Shickshinny Historical Society] Retrieved 2010-05-06</ref>
<ref name="rootsweb1">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pashs/shickshinnyboroughFrame1Source1.htm SHICKSHINNY BOROUGH] from the Shickshinny Historical Society. Retrieved 2010-06-06</ref>
<ref name="rootsweb2">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pashs/shickshinnyboroFrame1Source1.htm Shickshinny Boro] from the Shickshinny Historical Society. Retrieved 2010-06-06</ref>
<ref name="rootsweb3">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pashs/townhistoriesFrame1Source1.htm Town Histories] from the Shickshinny Historical Society. Retrieved 2010-06-06</ref>
<ref name="rootsweb4">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pashs/foundingofshickshinnyboroFrame1Source1.htm The Founding of Shickshinny Borough] Retrieved 2010-06-07</ref>
</references>

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Shickshinny}}
* [http://www.shickshinny.org Shickshinny.org], Business Association of the Greater Shickshinny Area

{{Luzerne County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Pennsylvania populated places on the Susquehanna River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1782]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1782 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania placenames of Native American origin]]