Misplaced Pages

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193-532: Little Black Creek begins at the confluence of two unnamed tributaries on the border between Hazle Township and Lattimer. It flows west and slightly south for more than a mile before turning south-southwest for some distance. By this point, the creek has begun to flow along the border between Hazle Township and Harleigh. After several tenths of a mile, the creek fully enters Hazle Township and crosses Pennsylvania Route 309 . A short distance further downstream, it reaches its confluence with Black Creek. The elevation near

386-468: A Jersey barrier and several intersections controlled by jughandles . The route comes to a junction with PA 63 , at which point it enters Horsham Township . There, the road narrows to four lanes and passes between two shopping centers, crossing into Montgomery Township and heading into the North Penn Valley region. The route bends to the northwest and continues through commercial areas, running to

579-420: A Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway line and comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard that provides access to downtown Wilkes-Barre. The route leaves Wilkes-Barre for Plains Township again and crosses over Mill Creek and Norfolk Southern's Sunbury Line before heading near woods and reaching a diamond interchange serving South River Street to the southwest of Plains . Past here,

772-680: A turnpike called Bethlehem Pike that was built in the 1800s. With the creation of the U.S. Highway System in 1926, U.S. Route 309 ( US 309 ) was designated to run from US 120 (later renamed US 422 ) in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia north to US 11 in Wilkes-Barre. When first designated, US 309 followed the present corridor of PA 309 to Allentown before heading further east through Slatington , Palmerton , Lehighton , Jim Thorpe , and Nesquehoning and then following present-day PA 309 between Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre. In 1930, US 309

965-981: A Farmer in Pennsylvania, To the Inhabitants of the British Colonies , which were published in the Pennsylvania Chronicle between December 2, 1767, and February 15, 1768. When the Founding Fathers convened in Philadelphia in 1774, 12 colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress . The Second Continental Congress , which began in May 1775, authored and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, but when Philadelphia fell to

1158-449: A Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway line and entering Luzerne . The freeway reaches a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Union Street, where it narrows to four lanes and crosses into Pringle , heading across Toby Creek . PA 309 continues northwest and passes through Courtdale before it comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Main Street on the border between Courtdale to

1351-544: A Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line and entering McAdoo . Here, the route becomes South Kennedy Drive and narrows to a two-lane undivided road, running past homes and a few businesses. The road crosses Blaine Street in the center of McAdoo, where its name changes to North Kennedy Drive, passing more residences. PA 309 leaves McAdoo and heads through a small section of Kline Township. The route enters Banks Township in Carbon County and becomes unnamed, heading to

1544-694: A bridge over SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line before it bends north and passes under Norfolk Southern 's Morrisville Line . PA 309 enters Upper Dublin Township and comes to a modified cloverleaf interchange connecting to the Fort Washington interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike ( I-276 ) and Pennsylvania Avenue in Fort Washington . From here, the freeway runs near business parks before heading north-northwest through wooded residential areas to

1737-444: A center left-turn lane coming to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 924 . The route runs through more of Hazelton and passes businesses as it reaches a junction with the western terminus of PA 940 on the northern border of Hazelton. At this point, PA 309 crosses back into Hazle Township and runs through commercial areas as an unnamed road, passing to the west of Church Hill Mall and widening to five lanes. The road runs to

1930-587: A center turn lane, heading into Dallas . PA 309 comes to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 415 , which provides access to PA 118 , and turns northwest onto Tunkhannock Highway, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane. The road runs through wooded residential areas and heads back into Dallas Township, curving to the north. The route bends northwest and passes near businesses. PA 309 curves north and narrows to two lanes, passing through wooded areas with some fields and development. The road turns northwest and continues through rural land, heading back to

2123-723: A century, the Pennsylvania General Assembly met at various places in the Philadelphia area before it began meeting regularly in Independence Hall in Philadelphia for 63 years. However, events such as the Paxton Boys massacres of 1763 had made the legislature aware of the need for a central capital. In 1799, the General Assembly moved to the Lancaster Courthouse. The Pennsylvania General Assembly met in

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2316-685: A cloverleaf interchange at Tilghman Street . The freeway runs northwest near more homes and commercial establishments and reaches a cloverleaf interchange with the US 22 freeway a short distance east of that route's interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension , also known as I-476 . Past the US 22 interchange, the freeway ends and PA 309 continues northwest as an unnamed four-lane divided highway with at-grade intersections, passing near commercial development. The road curves to

2509-467: A concurrency with PA 309. The two routes pass through wooded areas with some homes and reach South Tamaqua , where PA 443 splits to the southwest. PA 309 heads northwest near a coal mine before curving north into forested areas and running along the east bank of the Little Schuylkill River , passing between Second Mountain to the west and Mauch Chunk Mountain to the east. The road passes near

2702-402: A diamond interchange at Paper Mill Road, where it makes a turn to the northwest as it passes northeast of Springfield Township High School . PA 309 reaches a diamond interchange with PA 73 near Oreland and continues through suburban areas, entering Whitemarsh Township . The freeway heads north as it passes near business parks, crossing Sandy Run . The route heads north-northeast and comes to

2895-486: A diamond interchange serving Norristown Road to the east of Spring House . The route runs near business parks and curves northwest, heading near residential development before it comes to the north end of the Fort Washington Expressway and merges onto Bethlehem Pike , with a southbound exit and northbound entrance for Bethlehem Pike. PA 309 continues north on Bethlehem Pike, a four-lane divided highway with

3088-565: A diamond interchange with PA 113 northeast of Souderton . PA 309 turns north and runs through woodland and farmland with some nearby development, curving northwest and crossing into West Rockhill Township . The route passes over the Bethlehem Line , a railroad line that is owned by SEPTA and operated by the East Penn Railroad , and reaches a diamond interchange with the northern terminus of PA 152 that provides access to Sellersville to

3281-441: A divided highway again as it crosses West Pumping Station Road and heads to the east of a shopping center. PA 309 continues north past wooded areas and businesses as a five-lane road with a center turn lane, passing to the west of Shelly . The road crosses into Springfield Township and becomes Bethlehem Pike, running north-northwest through more forested areas with some commercial development. PA 309 enters Lehigh County , which

3474-439: A divided highway. Past this intersection, the route becomes undivided again and crosses Norfolk Southern's Sheppton Industrial Track at-grade, heading past homes and commercial buildings and curving northeast into Hazleton . PA 309 runs through commercial areas and woodland, narrowing to two lanes. The road passes under Norfolk Southern's Hazleton Running Track and runs through residential areas before passing businesses and becoming

3667-554: A few commercial establishments and enters Tamaqua , continuing through forests and running between Sharp Mountain to the west and Pisgah Mountain to the east. The route becomes two-lane Center Street and runs past businesses, crossing the Little Schuylkill River and a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line at-grade. PA 309 runs past homes and businesses and comes to the Five Points intersection with US 209 in

3860-485: A four-lane divided highway and comes to a junction with the western terminus of PA 313 and the northern terminus of PA 663 . From this junction, the road becomes North West End Boulevard and runs past shopping centers, becoming the border between Richland Township to the west and Quakertown to the east. PA 309 fully enters Richland Township again and becomes a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane, passing commercial development and woodland. The route briefly turns into

4053-619: A four-lane freeway and comes to an interchange with I-78 and the southern terminus of PA 145 in Lanark . At this point, PA 309 heads west concurrent with I-78 westbound on a six-lane freeway, while PA 145 northbound provides access to Allentown . The highway comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Rock Road that provides a connection to PA 145 in Summit Lawn , at which point it crosses into Salisbury Township . Following this, I-78/PA 309 descends forested South Mountain . After crossing

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4246-549: A four-lane freeway called the Sellersville Bypass, coming to a partial interchange with Bethlehem Pike that has a northbound exit and a southbound exit and entrance in addition to a southbound right-in/right-out with Bergey Road. At this point, the route curves north-northwest to fully enter Hilltown Township in Bucks County. The freeway runs through wooded areas with nearby residential and commercial development and comes to

4439-512: A grant that incorporated all lands included in the original Virginia Company of Plymouth Grant and other lands. This grant was in conflict with the Dutch claim for New Netherland , which included parts of today's Pennsylvania. On June 24, 1664, the Duke of York sold the portion of his large grant that included present-day New Jersey to John Berkeley and George Carteret for a proprietary colony. The land

4632-451: A heavy snowstorm, presumably because of a faulty flue . The General Assembly met at a nearby Methodist Church until a new capitol could be built. Following an architectural selection contest, Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb was asked to design and build a replacement building. However, the legislature had little money to allocate to the project. When they dubbed the roughly finished, somewhat industrial Cobb Capitol building complete,

4825-457: A leader in technology and healthcare. Similarly, Philadelphia has a concentration of university expertise. Healthcare, retail, transportation, and tourism are some of the state's growing industries of the postindustrial era. As in the rest of the nation, most residential population growth has occurred in suburban rather than central city areas, although both major cities have had significant revitalization in their downtown areas. Philadelphia anchors

5018-516: A mix of farm fields and woodland with some commercial development, soon gaining a center left-turn lane and crossing Morgan Creek . The road briefly becomes a divided highway at the Tollgate Road intersection before it continues past businesses as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane, with another divided highway stretch at the entrance to the Richland Plaza shopping center located east of

5211-786: A multilane road between PA 895 in Snyders and PA 443, between US 209 in Tamaqua and Ginther, and between McAdoo and Audenried. In the 1950s, US 309 was moved to a different alignment between Allentown and Hazleton. The route followed 7th Street and MacArthur Road before heading west along with US 22 on the Lehigh Valley Thruway to Fogelsville . From Fogelsville, US 309 turned north and replaced PA 100 between Fogelsville and Pleasant Corners and PA 29 between Pleasant Corners and Hazleton. The former alignment of US 309 between Allentown and Hazleton became an unnumbered road between Allentown and Walbert and

5404-602: A partial interchange with Highland Avenue consisting of a northbound exit and southbound entrance. The route heads north through more suburban development to the east of Ambler , passing west of Upper Dublin High School , and reaches a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Susquehanna Road. PA 309 curves northwest and comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance at Butler Pike a short distance later. The freeway runs through woodland and residential development, crossing into Lower Gwynedd Township and turning north to reach

5597-401: A realigned PA 29 between Walbert and Hazleton; PA 29 between Walbert and Hazleton is now PA 309 between Walbert and Schnecksville, PA 873 between Schnecksville and Lehigh Gap , PA 248 between Lehigh Gap and Weissport, US 209 between Weissport and Nesquehoning, and PA 93 between Nesquehoning and Hazleton. The section of PA 29 between Schnecksville and Pleasant Corners became unnumbered following

5790-473: A rerouted PA 29, which previously followed present-day PA 309 between the two cities, and is now PA 873 , PA 248 , US 209 , and PA 93 . US 309 was realigned to Fort Washington Expressway in 1960 to head to a new southern terminus at US 611 ( Broad Street ) and Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia and was also realigned to bypass Allentown. US 309 was shifted to follow present-day PA 309 between Allentown and Pleasant Corners in 1962, with PA 100 extended north along

5983-582: A short distance in Mountain Top, between Ashley and Wilkes-Barre, between Wilkes-Barre and US 11 in Pittston, along the US 6 concurrency between PA 92 and PA 29 in Tunkhannock and a stretch to the northwest of Tunkhannock, and along the US 220 concurrency between Athens and Sayre. By this time, the entire length of PA 29 between Schnecksville and Hazleton was paved, with the route realigned to bypass New Tripoli along

Little Black Creek - Misplaced Pages Continue

6176-399: A small section of Salisbury Township before heading back into Allentown and crossing Little Lehigh Creek . The freeway heads back into Salisbury Township and runs between residential areas to the north and office buildings to the south before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with the northern terminus of the southern section of PA 29 at Cedar Crest Boulevard . Past this interchange,

6369-564: A stretch along the US 6 concurrency to the north of PA 87 in Russel Hill. Planning for the route began in the late 1950s. North of Philadelphia, the Fort Washington Expressway from the PA 73 interchange to US 309 (Bethlehem Pike) north of Spring House was built in 1958; the rest of that freeway from PA 73 south to PA 152 in Wyncote was built in 1960. Upon completion of Fort Washington Expressway, US 309

6562-498: A surface road called Bethlehem Pike and running through Montgomeryville . In Bucks County , the route has a freeway section bypassing Sellersville before passing through Quakertown as a surface road. PA 309 then enters the Lehigh Valley, where it joins Interstate 78 (I-78) on a freeway bypassing Allentown to the south before splitting to the north and running through rural areas as a surface road. The route continues north into

6755-692: A three-lane road with a center turn lane as it passes near wooded residential development and runs through Konns Corners. The road runs through forests with some commercial development, passing east of Crestwood High School and crossing Bow Creek before entering Fairview Township . The route heads near homes and businesses in Fairview Heights, becoming North Mountain Boulevard and widening to five lanes. PA 309 narrows back to three lanes and crosses Big Wapwallopen Creek before it heads through Mountain Top , curving to

6948-658: A three-lane road with a center turn lane. The route crosses the Hazleton Running Track at-grade and passes west of the Church Street Station serving HPT buses as it heads into the downtown area of Hazleton, where it reaches a junction with PA 93 . Past this junction, PA 309 becomes two-lane North Church Street and leaves the downtown to head past homes. The road curves to the north at the Diamond Avenue intersection and continues through residential areas, gaining

7141-637: A three-lane road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane and curving to the north away from the Little Schuylkill River. The road heads into Hometown and runs near homes and a few businesses, curving northwest and coming to an intersection with PA 54 . From here, PA 309 widens into a four-lane divided highway and heads past businesses. The route comes to a bridge over the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad's Reading Division line and runs through wooded areas and commercial development. The road runs through forests and curves north, passing to

7334-455: A two-lane road, gaining a second southbound lane as it descends the mountain. The route turns to the north and crosses Little Nescopeck Creek , running through a mix of fields, woods, and development as a two-lane road briefly before becoming four lanes. The road heads northeast and runs through forests to the west of Green Mountain, narrowing to two lanes before becoming three lanes with two southbound lanes and one northbound lane. PA 309 bends to

7527-827: Is in Duncannon in Perry County . According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report , there were an estimated 12,691 homeless people in Pennsylvania. Among Pennsylvania residents, as of 2020, nearly three out of four, 74.5%, are native to the state and were born in Pennsylvania, 18.4% were born in a different U.S. state, 1.5% were born in Puerto Rico , U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parent(s), and 5.6% were foreign born. Foreign-born Pennsylvanians are largely from Asia (36.0%), Europe (35.9%), and Latin America (30.6%) with

7720-540: Is in Luzerne County . U.S. Route 309 Truck ( US 309 Truck ) was a truck bypass of the section of US 309 that ran along Lincoln Drive in Philadelphia. US 309 Truck began at US 1 Byp./US 13 Byp. (Hunting Park Avenue) and headed northwest on Germantown Avenue. The truck route ended at US 309, US 422, and US 611 Alt. at the intersection of Germantown Avenue, Mt. Airy Avenue, and Chew Avenue, at which point Germantown Avenue continued northwest as US 309/US 422. US 309 Truck

7913-510: Is in the Lehigh Valley region, and forms the border between Coopersburg to the west and Upper Saucon Township to the east, heading north and fully entering Coopersburg. The route becomes South 3rd Street and passes commercial establishments before it turns into a four-lane divided highway and passes a mix of homes and businesses. Upon crossing State Street, the road name changes to North 3rd Street, running past more development. PA 309 becomes

Little Black Creek - Misplaced Pages Continue

8106-489: Is located in the upper reaches of the watershed. Little Black Creek does not perennially have any discharge . Instead, it has an intermittent or rare discharge. The runoff levels of the creek was measured six times between October 1997 and October 1998. The runoff was measured to be 0 all but two times. The remaining two times, the runoff was 1 cubic foot per second and 2.4 cubic feet per second. The Little Black Creek Coal Basin contributes 11.43 cubic feet per second of water to

8299-589: Is one of four surface streams that successfully exits the Jeddo Tunnel basin. It is the third-largest of the streams that do so. Little Black Creek has been described by Bloomsburg University professor Duane Braun as having "sharp, multiple crest hydrography". The stream bed of the creek changes course at least fairly regularly. The creek is near the Woodside Coal Basin, which is a natural sub-basin that has been reclaimed. Coal basins are under 30 percent of

8492-610: Is the 33rd-largest by area and has the ninth-highest population density among all states. The largest metropolitan statistical area is the southeastern Delaware Valley , which includes and surrounds Philadelphia, the state's largest and nation's sixth-most populous city. The second-largest metropolitan area, Greater Pittsburgh , is centered in and around Pittsburgh , the state's second-largest city. The state's subsequent five most populous cities are Allentown , Reading , Erie , Scranton , and Bethlehem . Pennsylvania's history of human habitation extends thousands of years before

8685-464: Is the fifth-most populated state in the U.S. after California , Texas , Florida , and New York . In 2019, net migration to other states resulted in a decrease of 27,718, and immigration from other countries resulted in an increase of 127,007. Net migration to Pennsylvania was 98,289. Migration of native Pennsylvanians resulted in a decrease of 100,000 people. 7.2% of the population was foreign-born as of 2021. Pennsylvania's center of population

8878-818: The British in the Philadelphia campaign , the Continental Congress moved west, where it met at the Lancaster courthouse on Saturday, September 27, 1777, and then to York . In York, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation , largely authored by Pennsylvania delegate John Dickinson, that formed 13 independent States into a new union. Later, the Constitution was written, and Philadelphia

9071-469: The Canadian province of Ontario to its northwest via Lake Erie . Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 through a royal land grant to William Penn , the son of the state's namesake . Prior to that, between 1638 and 1655, a southeast portion of the state was part of New Sweden , a Swedish Empire colony. Established as a haven for religious and political tolerance, the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania

9264-548: The Coal Region , passing through Tamaqua before it reaches Hazleton. PA 309 heads into Wyoming Valley and passes through the Wilkes-Barre area on a freeway alignment along I-81 and the North Cross Valley Expressway before turning into a surface road again, where it runs through Dallas before reaching its northern terminus. The surface road sections of the route between Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley follow

9457-714: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( Pennsylvania Dutch : Pennsilfaani ), is a U.S. state spanning the Mid-Atlantic , Northeastern , Appalachian , and Great Lakes regions of the United States . It borders Delaware to its southeast, Maryland to its south, West Virginia to its southwest, Ohio and the Ohio River to its west, Lake Erie and New York to its north, the Delaware River and New Jersey to its east, and

9650-524: The Declaration of Independence the following year. On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution . In July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg , fought over three days in and around Gettysburg , was the bloodiest and most decisive battle of the American Civil War , claiming over 50,000 Union and Confederate fatalities and repelling Robert E. Lee 's invasion of

9843-761: The Delaware River in the east and the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. The second tribe, the Susquehannock , spoke an Iroquoian language and were based in Western Pennsylvania from New York state in the north to West Virginia in the southwest, including the Susquehanna, Allegheny , and Monongahela rivers near present-day Pittsburgh . European disease and constant warfare with several neighboring tribes and groups of Europeans weakened these two tribes, and they were grossly outpaced financially as

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10036-482: The Delaware River to the east, 80°31' W to the west, and the 42° N to the north, except for a short segment on the western end where a triangle extends north to Lake Erie . The state has five geographical regions: Allegheny Plateau , Ridge and Valley , Atlantic Coastal Plain , Piedmont , and Erie Plain . Pennsylvania's diverse topography produces a variety of climates, though the entire state experiences cold winters and humid summers. Straddling two major zones,

10229-837: The Hurons and Iroquois blocked them from proceeding west into Ohio during the Beaver Wars . As they lost numbers and land, the Hurons abandoned much of their western territory and moved closer to the Susquehanna River, and the Iroquois and Mohawk tribes moved further north. Northwest of the Allegheny River was the Iroquoian Petun , who were fragmented into three groups during the Beaver Wars:

10422-613: The Lehigh Valley follows the routing of a Native American path now referred to as the "Minsi Trail" that dates back to the 18th century. This path, named after the Minsi Indians , connected the Blue Mountains to areas to the south. A highway called the King's Road was created between Philadelphia and Bethlehem in the 1760s along the route of the Minsi Trail; the first trip along this road

10615-636: The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza , where the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League play. I-81/PA 309 heads through more woodland with some nearby development to the northwest, crossing into Plains Township and curving north. PA 309 splits from I-81 at a partial cloverleaf interchange by heading northwest on the North Cross Valley Expressway, a six-lane freeway, while PA 115 heads east (south) along

10808-457: The Northeast megalopolis and is associated with the Northeastern United States . Pittsburgh is part of the Great Lakes megalopolis and is often associated with the Rust Belt . During the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States , the small town of Shanksville, Pennsylvania , received worldwide attention after United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township , located 1.75 miles (2.82 km) north of

11001-403: The Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln . Control of the machine was subsequently passed on to Cameron's son J. Donald Cameron , whose ineffectiveness resulted in a transfer of power to the more shrewd Matthew Quay and finally to Boies Penrose . The post-Civil War era, known as the Gilded Age , saw the continued rise of industry in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was home to some of

11194-485: The Spanish–American War . Pennsylvania was an important industrial center in World War I , and the state provided over 300,000 soldiers for the military. On May 31, 1918, the Pittsburgh Agreement was signed in Pittsburgh to declare the formation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia with future Czechoslovak president Tomáš Masaryk . In 1922, 310,000 Pennsylvania miners joined the UMW General coal strike , which lasted 163 days and shut down most coal mines within

11387-415: The United States . Pennsylvania has 51 miles (82 km) of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles (92 km) of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary . Of the original Thirteen Colonies , Pennsylvania is the only state that does not border the Atlantic Ocean . The boundaries of the state are the Mason–Dixon line (39°43' N) to the south, Twelve-Mile Circle on the Pennsylvania- Delaware border,

11580-445: The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia . The university, one of nine colonial colleges , was the first college established in Pennsylvania and one of the first in the nation. Today, it is an Ivy League university, which is routinely ranked among the world's best universities. Dickinson College in Carlisle , founded by Benjamin Rush and named after John Dickinson, was the first college founded after Revolutionary War and

11773-421: The West Branch Neshaminy Creek and passing through Trewigtown. The route becomes a four-lane divided highway and comes to an intersection with Line Lexington Road/County Line Road in Line Lexington , at which point it turns northwest and forms the border between Hatfield Township in Montgomery County to the southwest and New Britain Township in Bucks County to the northeast. After the Hilltown Pike junction,

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11966-431: The county commission and freedom of religion , which were subsequently replicated in many of the Thirteen Colonies . What had been Upland on the Pennsylvania side of the Pennsylvania-Delaware border was renamed Chester County when Pennsylvania instituted its colonial governments on March 4, 1681. Penn signed a peace treaty with Tamanend , leader of the Lenape, which began a long period of friendly relations between

12159-447: The seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, and Pittsburgh is the center of the nation's 27th-largest metropolitan areas. As of 2020, the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania is the nation's 69th-largest metropolitan area. Pennsylvania also has six additional metropolitan areas that rank among the nation's 200-most populous metropolitan areas. Philadelphia forms part of

12352-514: The 15th U.S. president and was the first president to be born in Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg , the major turning point of the American Civil War , took place near Gettysburg in July 1863. An estimated 350,000 Pennsylvanians served in the Union Army forces, including 8,600 African American military volunteers . The politics of Pennsylvania were for decades dominated by the financially conservative Republican -aligned Cameron machine , established by U.S. Senator Simon Cameron , later

12545-417: The 45th President of the United States Donald Trump occurred. Pennsylvania is 170 miles (274 km) north to south and 283 miles (455 km) east to west. Of a total 46,055 square miles (119,282 km ), 44,817 square miles (116,075 km ) are land, 490 square miles (1,269 km ) are inland waters, and 749 square miles (1,940 km ) are waters in Lake Erie . It is the 33rd-largest state in

12738-428: The 48 states. The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard served as an important naval base, and Pennsylvania produced important military leaders, including George C. Marshall , Hap Arnold , Jacob Devers , and Carl Spaatz . During the war, over a million Pennsylvanians served in the armed forces, and more Medals of Honor were awarded to Pennsylvanians than to individuals from any other state. The Three Mile Island accident

12931-408: The Americas began, at least two major Native American tribes inhabited Pennsylvania. The first, the Lenape , spoke an Algonquian language and inhabited the eastern region of the state, then known as Lenapehoking . It included most of present-day New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley and Delaware Valley regions in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. The Lenape's territory ended somewhere between

13124-543: The Dutch began settling the Delmarva Peninsula by establishing the Zwaanendael Colony on the site of present-day Lewes, Delaware . In 1638, Sweden established the New Sweden Colony in the region of Fort Christina on the site of present-day Wilmington, Delaware . New Sweden claimed and, for the most part, controlled the lower Delaware River region, including parts of present-day Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but settled few colonists there. On March 12, 1664, King Charles II of England gave James, Duke of York

13317-535: The Fort Washington Expressway and passes between a high-rise apartment complex to the west and Cheltenham High School to the east as it comes to a diamond interchange with the southern terminus of PA 152 at Easton Road southwest of Wyncote . From there, the route heads northwest and passes to the southwest of Arcadia University and to the northeast of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery before it runs near wooded areas and suburban residential development, crossing into Springfield Township . The freeway curves west and comes to

13510-430: The Fort Washington Expressway was never built due to rising construction costs and community opposition. On July 1, 1977, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) halted spending on proposed highway projects, and the Fort Washington Expressway extension was removed from plans by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. There were also plans to extend the Fort Washington Expressway northwest and connect to

13703-427: The General Assembly refused to occupy the building. In 1901, political and popular indignation prompted a second contest that was restricted to Pennsylvania architects; Joseph Miller Huston of Philadelphia was chosen to design the present Pennsylvania State Capitol that incorporated Cobb's building into a magnificent public work, finished and dedicated in 1907. James Buchanan , a Franklin County native, served as

13896-614: The Jeddo Tunnel watershed. Most of the watershed of Little Black Creek is in the Eastern Middle Anthracite Field , which is part of the Anthracite Upland Section of the Ridge and Valley Province . The watershed of Little Black Creek is adjacent to the watersheds of Black Creek and Nescopeck Creek . The headwaters of Little Black Creek are east of Pardeesville and the mouth of the creek is near Hazleton . A pond

14089-501: The Jeddo Tunnel's outflow. The Nescopeck Path historically crossed Little Black Creek. A concrete slab bridge carrying Pennsylvania Route 309 over Little Black Creek was built in 1928. It is 22.0 feet (6.7 m) long. There are plans to reestablish the channel of the creek or construct it from scratch in its upper reaches. There are ten mining permits in the Little Black Creek Coal Basin. The upper reaches of

14282-576: The Netherlands confirmed the English conquest on July 21, 1667, although there were temporary reversions. On September 12, 1672, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War , the Dutch reconquered New York Colony / New Amsterdam , establishing three County Courts, which went on to become original Counties in present-day Delaware and Pennsylvania. The one that later transferred to Pennsylvania was Upland. This

14475-470: The New York border, eliminating the concurrencies with US 6 and US 220. This truncation left the northern terminus of US 309 at US 6 in Tunkhannock. As a result of this, the route was entirely located in Pennsylvania and no longer met the U.S. Highway standards set forth by AASHO, which discourages routes within a single state. On October 14, 1967, AASHO approved the elimination of the US 309 designation. US 309

14668-738: The North Cross Valley Expressway to link the Back Mountain region to I-81 in Luzerne County. Construction on the highway began in 1964. The North Cross Valley Expressway was built in stages. The section of the highway from River Street in Plains Township across the Susquehanna River to Rutter Avenue in Kingston was constructed in 1976 and opened in 1977. The section of the North Cross Valley Expressway between Rutter Avenue in Kingston and PA 309 in Luzerne

14861-636: The North, leading to the Union's preservation . Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, the state's manufacturing-based economy contributed to the development of much of the nation's early infrastructure, including key bridges, skyscrapers , and military hardware used in U.S.-led victories in World War I , World War II , and the Cold War . Pennsylvania's geography is highly diverse. The Appalachian Mountains run through

15054-559: The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and Pennsylvania Avenue were completely reconstructed and reconfigured while a southbound exit and northbound entrance were added at the Norristown Road interchange. As part of the reconstruction of the interchange between PA 309 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and Pennsylvania Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue was extended as a two-way road between Fort Washington and Oreland, with traffic between

15247-551: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension before the freeway would continue northeast and connect to the southern terminus of the Sellersville Bypass. In 1983, a scaled-down proposal called for the Fort Washington Expressway to be extended north and end at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension near Lansdale . Interchanges along this proposed extension were to be located at Bethlehem Pike, North Wales Road, PA 63, and PA 463. A freeway bypass of to

15440-797: The Petun of New York, the Wyandot of Ohio, and the Tiontatecaga of the Kanawha River in southern West Virginia. South of the Allegheny River was a nation known as Calicua, which may have been part of the Monongahela culture . In the 17th century, the Dutch and the English each claimed both sides of the Delaware River as part of their colonial lands in America. The Dutch were the first to take possession. By June 3, 1631,

15633-779: The Quakers and the Indians. Additional treaties between Quakers and other tribes followed. The Treaty of Shackamaxon of William Penn was never violated. Between 1730 and when the Pennsylvania Colony was shut down by Parliament with the Currency Act in 1764, the Pennsylvania Colony made its own paper money to account for the shortage of actual gold and silver. The paper money was called Colonial Scrip . The Colony issued bills of credit, which were as good as gold or silver coins because of their legal tender status. Since they were issued by

15826-494: The Susquehanna River to Kingston, where the two routes followed US 11 along Wyoming Avenue and then Union Street before continuing to Luzerne. Past Luzerne, US 309 split from PA 115 and followed the former alignment of PA 92 to Bowman Creek and the former alignment of PA 29 to US 6 in Tunkhannock. The former alignment of US 309 between Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock became an unnumbered road between Wilkes-Barre and Pittston and PA 92 between West Pittston and Tunkhannock. In 1948, US 309

16019-407: The Wilkes-Barre area; the route replaced the PA 315 designation along Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard, Spring Street, and Scott Street and the PA 115 designation along Kidder Street. The remaining section of the North Cross Valley Expressway from Wilkes-Barre Boulevard to I-81 was completed on November 9, 1991, with Governor Robert P. Casey in attendance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Construction of

16212-542: The alignment of US 309 in Allentown was shifted to follow 7th Street and US 22 along Tilghman Street to 19th Street while the alignment in Wilkes-Barre was shifted at South Street to follow Washington Street, Butler Street, Main Street, and Courtright Street to River Street. By 1940, US 309 was widened to a multilane road between PA 73 in Whitemarsh and Allentown, along the US 209 concurrency between Lehighton and Packerton , for

16405-443: The border between Upper Saucon Township to the west and Coopersburg to the east and passes a couple shopping centers before fully entering Upper Saucon Township and running between woodland and commercial development to the west and farmland to the east as an unnamed road. The route curves to the northwest and heads through wooded areas, splitting into a one-way pair carrying two lanes in each direction and reaching an intersection with

16598-578: The border between the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County to the south and Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County to the north. From this interchange, the route heads northwest on four-lane divided Cheltenham Avenue along the border between Philadelphia and Cheltenham Township. A short distance past the PA 611 interchange, the road comes to an intersection with

16791-737: The border of Philadelphia and Cheltenham Township north to an intersection with PA 29 in Bowman Creek , a village in Monroe Township in Wyoming County . The highway connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown and the Lehigh Valley , and Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre in Wyoming Valley . PA 309 heads north from Philadelphia and becomes a freeway called Fort Washington Expressway through suburban areas in Montgomery County , passing through Fort Washington , before becoming

16984-569: The business route crosses into Hanover Township before entering Wilkes-Barre Township. The road runs past businesses and transitions into a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, with I-81/PA 309 parallel a short distance to the southeast. At the Casey Avenue intersection, the roadway passes northwest of a park and ride lot. PA 309 Bus. runs through woodland and development before it narrows to two lanes and comes to an interchange with East Northampton Street northwest of Georgetown. At this point,

17177-694: The business route forms the border between Wilkes-Barre to the northwest and Wilkes-Barre Township to the southeast, widening into a four-lane divided highway and running past businesses. The road becomes undivided and bends to the north, fully entering Wilkes-Barre and narrowing to two lanes. PA 309 Bus. turns into Spring Street and curves east, becoming lined with homes. The road heads northeast and widens to four lanes, running past commercial development. The business route becomes Scott Street before it turns east onto four-lane divided Kidder Street. The road runs past more businesses and briefly reenters Wilkes-Barre Township before heading back into Wilkes-Barre and passing to

17370-428: The center of Tamaqua. Past this intersection, the route splits into a one-way pair along Mauch Chunk Street northbound and North Railroad Street southbound, running to the east of the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad's Reading Division line and passing east of the former Tamaqua station along the railroad line. The one-way pair carries one lane in each direction. Northbound PA 309 shifts to Pine Street and

17563-531: The center of the state; the Allegheny and Pocono mountains span much of Northeastern Pennsylvania ; close to 60% of the state is forested . While it has no ocean shoreline, it has 140 miles (225 km) of waterfront along Lake Erie and the tidal Delaware River. Pennsylvania is the fifth-most populous state in the United States , with over 13 million residents as of the 2020 United States census . The state

17756-429: The city's population as of 2000. In the 20th century, as Pennsylvania's historical national and even global leadership in mining largely ceased and its steelmaking and other heavy manufacturing sectors slowed, the state sought to grow its service and other industries to replace the jobs and economic productivity lost from the downturn of these industries. Pittsburgh's concentration of universities has enabled it to be

17949-565: The creation of the U.S. Highway System in 1926, US 309, a spur of US 9 , was designated to run from US 120 / PA 13 in Philadelphia north to US 11/ PA 19 in Wilkes-Barre. From Philadelphia, the route followed Bethlehem Pike north through Spring House, Montgomeryville, Sellersville, and Quakertown to Center Valley. From here, US 309 continued northwest to Allentown and passed through the city along Jordan Street, 5th Street, Auburn Street, Lehigh Street , 7th Street, Hamilton Street , 17th Street, Liberty Street, and 19th Street. North of Allentown,

18142-662: The creek between Larksville Mountain to the west and Bunker Hill to the east. The route runs past residences and businesses in Trucksville , becoming a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane. PA 309 continues north-northwest through wooded areas of development on North Memorial Highway, turning into a divided highway in Shavertown and crossing Center Street. The route becomes a four-lane undivided road and heads into Dallas Township , passing under Overbrook Avenue. The road continues past commercial development as Memorial Highway and gains

18335-781: The creek has had its course altered by mining. Little Black Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1202231. Little Black Creek is mentioned in The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied . Pennsylvania Route 309 Pennsylvania Route 309 ( PA 309 ) is a state highway that runs for 134 miles (216 km) through eastern Pennsylvania . The route runs from an interchange between PA 611 and Cheltenham Avenue on

18528-515: The creek's drainage basin and the area in the vicinity of the creek has been heavily mined. The Little Black Creek Coal Basin has an area of 4.64 square miles (12.0 km). Most of the watershed is in Hazle Township and Butler Township , but a small portion of the northeastern part of the watershed is in the borough of Freeland . The entirety of the watershed is within the Jeddo Tunnel drainage basin. The creek's watershed makes up 14 percent of

18721-592: The development of labor unions helped them gain living wages. However, the rise of unions also led to a rise of union busting with several private police forces springing up. Pennsylvania was the location of the first documented organized strike in North America, and Pennsylvania was the location of two hugely prominent strikes, the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Coal Strike of 1902 . The eight-hour day

18914-480: The earliest known signs of human activity in Pennsylvania and perhaps all of North America, including the remains of a civilization that existed over 10,000 years ago and possibly pre-dated the Clovis culture . By 1000 CE, in contrast to their nomadic hunter-gatherer ancestors , the native population of Pennsylvania had developed agricultural techniques and a mixed food economy. By the time European colonization of

19107-616: The east of Hazleton Municipal Airport and heads past residences and businesses in Milnesville , briefly becoming a four-lane divided highway at the Airport Beltway/Louis Schiavo Drive intersection. The route turns into an undivided road again and runs through wooded areas with some homes, passing to the west of a coal mine and curving northeast. PA 309 enters Butler Township and becomes South Hunter Highway, heading through forested areas as it traverses Buck Mountain as

19300-469: The east of a coal mine before running past homes in Audenried . PA 309 heads into Hazle Township in Luzerne County , which is in the Wyoming Valley region, and becomes South Church Street. The route runs past coal mines and widens to four lanes, curving to the north. The road passes through wooded areas with some homes and businesses and comes to an intersection with PA 424 , where it briefly turns into

19493-456: The entire length of US 309 was paved while the state highway was under construction between Quakertown and Center Valley and for a distance to the north of Hazleton. In 1928, the present-day alignment of PA 309 between Schnecksville and Hazleton was designated as part of PA 29 while part of PA 92 was designated along the present-day section of PA 309 from southeast of Dallas north to Bowman Creek, replacing PA 62. At this time, this portion of PA 29

19686-540: The entrance of Sand Springs. The road curves to the north-northeast and traverses forested Nescopeck Mountain , widening to four lanes as it comes to the summit in Nescopeck Pass and bends north. The route heads into Dorrance Township and becomes South Mountain Boulevard, heading northeast to descend Nescopeck Mountain with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes. PA 309 switches to two northbound lanes and one southbound lane and heads into Wright Township , becoming

19879-417: The fifth and currently the sixth-largest city after decades of being among the top three. After 1990, as information-based industries became more important in the economy, state and local governments put more resources into the old, well-established public library system. Some localities, however, used new state funding to cut local taxes. New ethnic groups, especially Hispanics and Latinos , began entering

20072-567: The first. At the time, Pennsylvania was the most ethnically and religiously diverse of the thirteen colonies. Because a third of Pennsylvania's population spoke German , the Constitution was presented in German so those citizens could participate in the discussion about it. Reverend Frederick Muhlenberg , a Lutheran minister and the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives , acted as chairman of Pennsylvania's ratifying convention. For half

20265-480: The former alignment between Fogelsville and Pleasant Corners. In 1963, the northern terminus of US 309 was cut back to US 6 in Tunkhannock. US 309 was decommissioned in 1968 and replaced with PA 309. In the 1980s, the termini of PA 309 were moved to their present locations. PA 309 was realigned to follow I-81 and North Cross Valley Expressway through the Wilkes-Barre area in 1991. PA 309 begins at an interchange between PA 611 ( Old York Road ) and Cheltenham Avenue on

20458-419: The former alignment between Wilkes-Barre and Pittston becoming unnumbered and the portion between West Pittston and Tunkhannock designated as part of PA 92 . In the 1950s, US 309 was rerouted between Allentown and Hazleton to follow US 22 west to Fogelsville before turning north to Pleasant Corners and following present-day PA 309 to Hazleton. Most of the former US 309 between Allentown and Hazleton became

20651-427: The former alignment of US 309. The concurrent PA 29 designation was removed from US 309 between Allentown and Schnecksville in 1966. US 222 was also removed from US 309 in the 1960s. The north end of US 309 between Tunkhannock and Waverly, New York, had always been shared with other U.S. Highways (US 6 and US 220). On June 19, 1963, AASHO approved the removal of the US 309 designation between US 6 in Tunkhannock and

20844-483: The former portion of PA 309 along Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard, Spring Street, and Scott Street while an extended PA 115 was designated onto the former portion of PA 309 along Kidder Street, Butler Street, Main Street, Courtright Street, River Street, and Pierce Street. By 1989, the northern terminus of PA 309 was cut back from US 6 in Tunkhannock to its current location, eliminating the concurrency with PA 29 between Bowman Creek and Tunkhannock. Also by this time, PA 309

21037-675: The foundation of the colonial Province of Pennsylvania in 1681. Archaeologists believe the first settlement of the Americas occurred at least 15,000 years ago, during the Last Glacial Period , though it is unclear when humans first inhabited present-day Pennsylvania. Between 10,000 and 16,000 years ago, Native Americans crossed the two continents, arriving in North America . Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Jefferson Township includes

21230-518: The freeway enters Lower Macungie Township and runs past commercial development to the southwest of the Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom amusement park. PA 309 splits from I-78 at a partial interchange and continues north along a four-lane freeway, passing through a small corner of Upper Macungie Township before entering South Whitehall Township again. The route continues north past farmland with some residential and commercial development and comes to

21423-479: The freeway passes over a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line and the Susquehanna River , at which point it enters Forty Fort and comes to a northbound exit and southbound entrance at Rutter Avenue that provides indirect access to US 11 . PA 309 continues into Kingston and runs near residential and commercial development, reaching a southbound exit and northbound entrance at US 11. The route widens to six lanes and runs near more development, passing over

21616-486: The gap in the mountain east of the creek. The median narrows and PA 309 crosses Pine Creek as it continues northwest, passing southwest of a section of the Pinchot State Forest . PA 309 turns north and crosses into Ashley , where it comes to an interchange with I-81. At this point, PA 309 heads northeast concurrent with I-81 on a four-lane freeway while PA 309 Bus. continues north toward Wilkes-Barre . Within

21809-566: The government and not a banking institution, they were interest-free, largely defraying the expense of the government and therefore taxation of the people. It also promoted general employment and prosperity, since the government used discretion and did not issue excessive amounts that inflated the currency. Benjamin Franklin had a hand in creating this currency, whose utility, he said, was never to be disputed. The currency also met with "cautious approval" by Adam Smith . In 1740, Franklin also founded

22002-511: The highway between Cheltenham Avenue and PA 73 was rebuilt between March 2005 and November 2008. The section of PA 309 between Highland Avenue and PA 63 was reconstructed between July 2007 and early 2011. The new ramps at the Norristown Road interchange opened on December 20, 2010. On November 11, 2019, work began on a project to improve the section of PA 309 along the Sellersville Bypass in Bucks County by rehabilitating pavement and reconstructing structures. Construction on this improvement project

22195-419: The highway cost $ 100 million. Upon the completion of the final section of the North Cross Valley Expressway, PA 309 was rerouted to follow I-81 and the North Cross Valley Expressway through the Wilkes-Barre area, while PA 309 Bus. was designated onto the former alignment of PA 309 along Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard, Spring Street, and Scott Street and replaced PA 115 along Kidder Street between Scott Street and

22388-411: The highway heads north of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest and crosses into South Whitehall Township , passing between residential areas to the north and farm fields to the south and curving northwest to come to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the northern terminus of US 222 and the southern terminus of PA 222 at Hamilton Boulevard, which provides access to Allentown and Reading . From here,

22581-477: The interchange with the North Cross Valley Expressway. PennDOT undertook a $ 375 million project to reconstruct and improve the section of PA 309 running along the Fort Washington Expressway between Cheltenham Avenue and PA 63 in Montgomery County. The project rebuilt the roadway and shoulders, reconstructed bridges, improved ramps at interchanges, and constructed sound walls. The interchanges with PA 152 and

22774-409: The interchange's right-of-way. The route follows the North Cross Valley Expressway through wooded areas with adjacent development, coming to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the northern terminus of PA 309 Bus. and the southern terminus of PA 315 . At this point, the freeway enters the Wilkes-Barre and narrows to four lanes, running near homes and businesses and curving northwest. PA 309 passes over

22967-454: The interchange, the highway crosses back into Hanover Township before entering Wilkes-Barre Township . I-81/PA 309 runs near residential and commercial development, with PA 309 Bus. closely parallel to the northwest. The freeway bends farther from the business route and passes through Georgetown , running through wooded areas and coming to a trumpet interchange which provides access to Highland Park Boulevard, serving multiple shopping centers and

23160-483: The intersection of 19th Street and Main Boulevard. US 309 Byp. was designated by 1940. The bypass route was decommissioned in the 1950s. The entire route was in Allentown , Lehigh County . Pennsylvania This is an accepted version of this page Pennsylvania ( / ˌ p ɛ n s ɪ l ˈ v eɪ n i ə / PEN -sil- VAY -nee-ə , lit.   ' Penn's forest country ' ), officially

23353-480: The land be called New Wales, but there were objections to that name, so he recommended Sylvania (from the Latin silva : "forest, woods"). The King named it Pennsylvania (literally "Penn's Woods") in honor of Admiral Penn. The younger Penn was embarrassed at this name, fearing that people would think he had named it after himself, but King Charles would not rename the grant. Penn established a government with two innovations,

23546-567: The largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Heinz Company was also founded during this period. These huge companies exercised a large influence on the politics of Pennsylvania; as Henry Demarest Lloyd put it, oil baron John D. Rockefeller "had done everything with the Pennsylvania legislature except refine it". Pennsylvania created a Department of Highways and engaged in a vast program of road-building, while railroads continued to see heavy usage. The growth of industry eventually provided middle class incomes to working-class households after

23739-566: The largest steel companies in the world. Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Steel Company in Pittsburgh and Charles M. Schwab founded Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem . Other titans of industry, including John D. Rockefeller and Jay Gould , also operated in Pennsylvania. In the latter half of the 19th century, the U.S. oil industry was born in Western Pennsylvania , which supplied

23932-417: The majority of the state, except for the southeastern corner, has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ). The southern portion of the state has a humid subtropical climate. The largest city, Philadelphia , has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa ). Summers are generally hot and humid. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes colder,

24125-447: The mountain, the freeway heads into Allentown and passes near neighborhoods, coming to a northbound exit ramp serving Emaus Avenue. The highway runs near industrial areas and passes over Norfolk Southern's Reading Line before it comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange at Lehigh Street . I-78/PA 309 heads south of Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport and runs near residential areas before running through woodland, passing through

24318-518: The mouth of Little Black Creek is 1,492 feet (455 m) above sea level . The elevation of the creek's source is between 1,740 feet (530 m) and 1,760 feet (540 m) above sea level. Both the source and the mouth of the creek are in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Hazleton. The Jeddo Tunnel drains water from the Little Black Creek Coal Basin. Jeddo Tunnel A passes through this coal basin. Little Black Creek

24511-502: The north again and becomes four-lane undivided North Hunter Highway, running through wooded areas with some homes and businesses. The road crosses Nescopeck Creek and passes through Honey Hole and Edgewood. The route becomes a divided highway and comes to a diamond interchange with I-80 . Past this interchange, PA 309 becomes a three-lane undivided road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane and runs through wooded areas with some residences and commercial establishments, passing by

24704-512: The north near Kunkle and crossing Leonard Creek . The route enters Monroe Township in Wyoming County and continues through forests with some fields and homes to the west of Leonard Creek as an unnamed road, bending northwest and passing through Beaumont. PA 309 runs through more rural areas and comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 29 near Bowman Creek , where the road continues north as part of PA 29 toward Tunkhannock . The portion of PA 309 between Philadelphia and

24897-517: The north of Hazleton were completed by 1930 while the concurrent PA 12, PA 312, and PA 130 designations were removed from US 309 by 1930. In 1929, the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved extending US 309 north from Wilkes-Barre to South Waverly . In 1930, US 309 was extended north from Wilkes-Barre to NY 17 (Chemung Street) in Waverly, New York . From Wilkes-Barre,

25090-407: The north of a golf course before it comes to a junction with the northern terminus of PA 143 east of New Tripoli , where it briefly becomes a divided highway. At this point, the route turns to the northwest as an undivided road and passes through farmland with some trees, homes, and businesses, crossing Ontelaunee Creek . The road gains a second northbound lane further to the north. PA 309 curves to

25283-576: The north of the Wyoming Valley Mall . PA 309 Bus. comes to its northern terminus at a partial cloverleaf interchange with the PA 309 freeway, where the road continues northeast as PA 315. PA 309 Bus. was designated in 1991 after PA 309 was realigned to run through the Wilkes-Barre area on I-81 and the North Cross Valley Expressway. PA 309 Bus. replaced PA 309 along Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard, Spring Street, and Scott Street and PA 115 along Kidder Street. Major intersections The entire route

25476-442: The north-central region with York , Carlisle , and the state capital Harrisburg on the Susquehanna River in the east-central region of the state. Altoona and Johnstown are in the state's west-central region. The state's three-most populated cities, in order of size, are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. As of the 2020 U.S. census , Pennsylvania had a population of 13,011,844, up from 12,702,379 in 2010. Pennsylvania

25669-656: The north-northwest and continues into North Whitehall Township , where it passes more residences and a few businesses along with some rural land. The route briefly widens into a four-lane divided highway and runs through more developed areas as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane, passing to the east of Lehigh Carbon Community College and the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute . PA 309 becomes two lanes again and runs past homes and businesses in Schnecksville , where it curves northwest and comes to an intersection with

25862-491: The north. The truck route follows East Pumping Station Road, California Road, and West Pumping Station Road. Pennsylvania Route 309 Business ( PA 309 Bus. ) is a 4.6-mile (7.4 km) business route of PA 309 that runs through the Wilkes-Barre area in Luzerne County. PA 309 Bus. begins at an interchange with I-81 and PA 309 in Ashley, heading northeast on four-lane divided Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard. Within this interchange,

26055-480: The northeast and Telford to the southwest. Past this interchange, the freeway heads through wooded areas and crosses the East Branch Perkiomen Creek before it passes near farmland and curves north. PA 309 runs through woodland with some farm fields and comes to a diamond interchange at Lawn Avenue, which heads west to provide access to PA 563 west of Perkasie , before passing under PA 563. From here,

26248-506: The northern terminus of Broad Street . PA 309 continues northwest as a four-lane undivided road through urban residential and business areas, passing to the north of Northwood Cemetery . The road crosses Washington Lane and heads to the south of Greenleaf at Cheltenham shopping center before it comes to an intersection with Ogontz Avenue north of the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia, with SEPTA 's Cheltenham-Ogontz Bus Loop located on

26441-520: The northwest and coming to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 437 in Fairview. The road runs through forested areas as it passes through Solomon Gap in Penobscot Mountain , narrowing to two lanes before turning into a four-lane divided highway. The route curves north and crosses Solomon Creek as it enters Hanover Township , with the median widening as it continues to wind north through

26634-467: The northwest corner of the intersection. At this point, PA 309 turns north-northwest onto four-lane divided Ogontz Avenue and fully enters Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County, passing businesses as it heads to the west of the shopping center. The route intersects Limekiln Pike and assumes that name, running near suburban residential areas in Cedarbrook . PA 309 becomes a four-lane freeway called

26827-627: The number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Western areas of the state, particularly locations near Lake Erie , can receive over 100 inches (250 cm) of snowfall annually, and the entire state receives plentiful precipitation throughout the year. The state may be subject to severe weather from spring through summer into autumn. Tornadoes occur annually in the state, sometimes in large numbers, such as 30 recorded tornadoes in 2011; generally speaking, these tornadoes do not cause significant damage. Cities in Pennsylvania include Philadelphia , Reading , Lebanon , and Lancaster in

27020-635: The old Dauphin County Court House until December 1821 when the Federal -style Hills Capitol, named for Lancaster architect Stephen Hills , was constructed on a hilltop land grant of four acres set aside for a seat of state government in Harrisburg by the son and namesake of John Harris, Sr. , a Yorkshire native who founded a trading post and ferry on the east shore of the Susquehanna River in 1705. The Hills Capitol burned down on February 2, 1897, during

27213-519: The present-day alignment of PA 309 and the stretch across Blue Mountain and between PA 925 in South Tamaqua and US 209 in Tamaqua widened to a multilane road. The section of PA 115 between Wilkes-Barre and PA 92 near Luzerne that would later become part of US 309 was widened to a multilane road while the section of PA 92 between north of Dallas and PA 29 in Bowman Creek was paved. In the 1940s, US 309

27406-599: The realignment of PA 29. By 1960, US 309 was widened to a multilane road between Hazleton and Mountain Top, between PA 415 in Dallas and Kunkle, and along the US 6 concurrency between north of Tunkhannock and PA 87 in Russel Hill and was upgraded to a divided highway along the PA 443 concurrency south of Tamaqua, between PA 45 in Hometown and McAdoo, between Audenried and Hazleton, along multiple short stretches between Hazleton and Mountain Top, and between Mountain Top and Ashley, and for

27599-429: The remainder from Africa (5%), North America (3.1%), and Oceania (0.4%). The state's largest ancestry groups, expressed as a percentage of total people who responded with a particular ancestry for the 2010 census, were German 28.5%, Irish 18.2%, Italian 12.8%, African Americans 9.6%, English 8.5%, Polish 7.2%, and French 4.2%. As of 2018, the top countries of origin for Pennsylvania's immigrants were India ,

27792-725: The road passes between the Montgomery Mall to the west and the Airport Square shopping center to the east. The two routes head north past more businesses five-lane road with a center left-turn lane past the North Wales Road intersection. PA 309/US 202 Bus. turns into a four-lane divided highway again and continues into Montgomeryville . Here, the roadway comes to the Five Points intersection, where PA 463 crosses PA 309/US 202 Bus. and US 202 Bus. splits from PA 309 by heading northeast onto Doylestown Road. Past this intersection,

27985-482: The road runs along the border between Hatfield Township, Montgomery County, to the southwest and Hilltown Township , Bucks County, to the northeast and heads northwest through commercial development and some fields as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane. In Unionville , the route intersects Unionville Pike, which heads southwest toward Hatfield . PA 309 leaves the North Penn Valley region and becomes

28178-521: The road runs northwest through wooded areas with some farm fields. PA 309 narrows to two lanes and crosses Lizard Creek before it comes to an intersection with PA 895 in Snyders . The road continues northwest through forested areas with some fields and residential and commercial development, passing through Leibeyville. The route curves to the west and widens to four lanes before it comes to an intersection with PA 443 , at which point that route heads west for

28371-549: The road. PA 309 enters Quakertown upon crossing Beaver Run and runs past more businesses as a five-lane road containing a center turn lane. The route becomes a divided highway for a short distance to the south of the Trumbauersville Road intersection before turning into an undivided highway, briefly gaining a median at the Park Avenue intersection before the median transitions into a center left-turn lane. PA 309 turns into

28564-770: The route continued west along Walbert Avenue before turning north at Walbert and passing through Schnecksville, Neffs , and Slatington . US 309 crossed the Lehigh River and continued north along the east bank of the river through Palmerton and Bowmanstown to Weissport , where it intersected US 209. At this point, US 309 headed west concurrent with US 209 through Lehighton , Mauch Chunk, Nesquehoning, Lansford , and Coaldale to Tamaqua. At Tamaqua, US 309 split from US 209 and headed north through McAdoo, Hazleton, Mountain Top, and Ashley to Wilkes-Barre. In Wilkes-Barre, US 309 followed Hazle Avenue, Park Avenue, South Street, and River Street to its terminus at US 11/PA 19. In 1927, PA 12

28757-442: The route continues to follow the one-way streets past residences and a few businesses. Both directions of PA 309 rejoin along an unnamed three-lane road with a center left-turn lane and crosses the Little Schuylkill River, heading into forested areas to the east of the river and to the west of Nesquehoning Mountain and curving northwest. The route leaves Tamaqua for Rush Township and the name changes to Claremont Avenue, becoming

28950-663: The route followed the former alignment of US 11 along River Street and River Road to Pittston . US 309 ran northwest concurrent with US 11 to West Pittston , where it continued northwest along the former alignment of PA 29 parallel to the Susquehanna River to an intersection with US 6 in Osterhout. From here, US 309 ran northwest concurrent with US 6 through Tunkhannock and Wyalusing to Towanda . In Towanda, US 309 split from US 6 and headed north concurrent with US 220 through Athens , Sayre , and South Waverly before US 220/US 309 crossed into New York and ended at NY 17. By 1930, PA 29

29143-434: The route heads near more farms and woods and curves northwest, running through dense forests and bending north. PA 309 comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with Bethlehem Pike, at which point the Sellersville Bypass freeway ends. From this point, the route heads north-northwest through Rich Hill and crosses into Richland Township , where it becomes four-lane undivided South West End Boulevard and passes through

29336-402: The route transitions into a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane and runs north past more businesses with some wooded residential development, bending northwest. The road enters Hatfield Township and reaches Colmar , where it intersects Broad Street and crosses SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line at-grade to the west of Colmar station . PA 309 continues past commercial development, crossing

29529-401: The south end of the Sellersville Bypass, the north end of the Sellersville Bypass and the south end of the freeway bypass of Allentown in Lanark, and Luzerne and PA 415 in Dallas. By 1980, PA 309 was realigned through the Wilkes-Barre area to follow PA 315 along Blackman Street, Hazle Avenue, Park Avenue, South Street, River Street, Market Street, and US 11; an extended PA 315 was designated onto

29722-404: The southeast, Pittsburgh in the southwest, and the tri-cities of Allentown , Bethlehem , and Easton in the central east, known as the Lehigh Valley . The northeast includes the former anthracite coal mining cities of Scranton , Wilkes-Barre , Pittston , Nanticoke , and Hazleton . Erie is located in the northwest. State College is located in the central region. Williamsport is in

29915-700: The southern terminus of PA 378 in Center Valley . Past this intersection, the northbound direction of PA 309 passes homes as Main Street, heading south of Southern Lehigh High School , while the southbound direction runs through wooded areas with nearby residential subdivisions along an unnamed road. Both directions of the route rejoin and continue northwest through residential and commercial development and some woods as an unnamed four-lane divided highway. The road runs through farmland and residential subdivisions before it crosses Saucon Creek and reaches an intersection with jughandles at West Saucon Valley Road/Center Valley Parkway. Past this intersection, PA 309 becomes

30108-597: The southern terminus of PA 873 . Here, PA 309 turns to the west and heads northwest near residential developments. The road bends west and winds through a mix of farmland and woodland, heading into Heidelberg Township . The route runs through more rural land with occasional development and reaches Pleasant Corners , where it crosses Jordan Creek and comes to an intersection with the northern terminus of PA 100 . PA 309 continues west through agricultural areas with some woods and homes and passes south of Northwestern Lehigh High School as it enters Lynn Township . The road heads to

30301-464: The state to fill low-skill jobs in agriculture and service industries. For example, in Chester County , Mexican immigrants brought the Spanish language , increased Catholicism , high birth rates, and cuisine when they were hired as agricultural laborers; in some rural localities, they made up half or more of the population. Stateside Puerto Ricans built a large community in the state's third-largest city, Allentown , where they comprise over 40% of

30494-525: The state. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge established the Allegheny National Forest under the authority of the Weeks Act of 1911. The forest is located in the northwest part of the state in Elk , Forest , McKean , and Warren Counties for the purposes of timber production and watershed protection in the Allegheny River basin. The Allegheny is the state's only national forest. Pennsylvania manufactured 6.6 percent of total U.S. military armaments produced during World War II , ranking sixth among

30687-404: The state." The ensuing hostilities became known as Pontiac's War . After the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, delegate John Dickinson of Philadelphia wrote the Declaration of Rights and Grievances . The Congress was the first meeting of the Thirteen Colonies , which convened at the request of the Massachusetts assembly; nine of the 13 colonies sent delegates. Dickinson then wrote Letters from

30880-409: The town. All 40 civilians and 4 Al-Qaeda hijackers on board were killed. The hijackers had intended to crash the plane into either the United States Capitol or The White House . After learning from family members via air phone of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center , however, Flight 93's passengers revolted against the hijackers and fought for control of the plane, causing it to crash. It

31073-414: The two communities no longer having to travel along PA 309 between the two sections of Pennsylvania Avenue. The section of the highway between PA 73 and Highland Avenue was reconstructed between February 2004 and November 2006. The interchange between PA 309 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and Pennsylvania Avenue in Fort Washington was reconstructed between January 2005 and November 2008. The portion of

31266-426: The unification of the states. Established in 1773, it was ratified on September 9, 1783, five days after the Treaty of Paris . James Smith wrote that in 1763, "the Indians again commenced hostilities, and were busily engaged in killing and scalping the frontier inhabitants in various parts of Pennsylvania. This state was then a Quaker government, and at the first of this war the frontiers received no assistance from

31459-462: The vast majority of kerosene for years thereafter. As the Pennsylvania oil rush developed, Pennsylvania's oil boom towns, such as Titusville , rose and later fell. Coal mining, primarily in the state's Coal Region in the northeast region of the state, also was a major industry for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1903, Milton S. Hershey began construction on a chocolate factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania ; The Hershey Company grew to become

31652-478: The west and Luzerne to the east. At this interchange, the North Cross Valley Expressway ends and PA 309 becomes four-lane at-grade divided South Memorial Highway, crossing Toby Creek again and heading into the Back Mountain region of Luzerne County. The route runs through Kingston Township before heading across Toby Creek back into Courtdale and curving west. The road crosses the creek back into Kingston Township and heads northwest through forested areas alongside

31845-481: The west of Allentown from US 309 in Lanark to US 22 near Walbert was built in 1958. Upon completion of this bypass, US 309 was rerouted to follow it from Lanark north to US 22, PA 29 was designated onto the bypass north of Cedar Crest Boulevard and continued north as a divided highway to north of Walbert, and US 222 was designated onto the bypass from Hamilton Boulevard to its terminus at US 22. The former alignment of US 309 through Allentown became unnumbered until it

32038-502: The west of Broad Mountain. PA 309 bends to the north-northwest and passes through Still Creek and Ginther. The route heads back into wooded areas and crosses into Kline Township , curving to the northeast and north along Mile Hill Road. The road runs north-northeast and passes to the west of a large coal mine before it comes to a trumpet interchange with a ramp providing access to I-81 to the west. Past this interchange, PA 309 heads through forests with some development before passing under

32231-590: The west of a quarry past the Hartman Road intersection. PA 309 passes more businesses as it continues along the four-lane divided highway and comes to an interchange with the US 202 parkway consisting of a ramp from northbound PA 309 to northbound US 202 and a two-way quadrant ramp on the northwest side of the interchange providing all other movements; PA 309 also crosses under the US 202 Parkway Trail that follows US 202. The road intersects US 202 Bus. (Dekalb Pike) and Upper State Road in Montgomery Square . At this point, US 202 Bus. becomes concurrent with PA 309 and

32424-421: The west-northwest and heads through Walbert , where it crosses Norfolk Southern's C&F Secondary at-grade and narrows to two lanes. The route becomes a two-lane undivided road and runs near businesses, crossing under I-476. PA 309 curves north and heads through a mix of farm fields, woodland, and homes and businesses, passing through Guthsville, where it crosses Jordan Creek , and Orefield . The road bends to

32617-409: The west-southwest and ascends forested Blue Mountain . At the summit of Blue Mountain, PA 309 turns into a two-lane road and enters West Penn Township in Schuylkill County , where the name becomes West Penn Pike and it crosses the Appalachian Trail . The route heads west and descends the mountain as a three-lane road with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes. At the base of Blue Mountain,

32810-401: Was completed in 2023. There are plans to convert the intersection with West Saucon Valley Road/Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon Township into an interchange. Construction is planned to begin in the later part of 2026, with completion expected in 2030. Pennsylvania Route 309 Truck ( PA 309 Truck ) is a truck route that provides access from PA 212 to PA 309, bypassing Quakertown to

33003-432: Was constructed in 1980. During construction of this section in 1979, a coal vein was discovered. In 1982, construction began to complete the bridge linking the terminus of the expressway at River Street to Conyngham Avenue. By 1989, PA 309 was rerouted to follow Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard, Spring Street, Scott Street, Kidder Street, Conyngham Avenue, Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, and the North Cross Valley Expressway through

33196-506: Was decommissioned in February 1968 and was replaced by PA 309. Signs were changed by the end of the month. In 1967, work began on a freeway for US 309 to bypass Sellersville from just north of the border between Montgomery and Bucks counties to just south of Quakertown. This bypass opened in 1969 as part of PA 309. By 1970, PA 309 was upgraded to a divided highway between the north end of the Fort Washington Expressway and US 202 (Dekalb Pike) in Montgomeryville, US 202/PA 463 in Montgomeryville and

33389-409: Was dedicated as the Joseph W. Hunter Highway in honor of the first highway commissioner in Pennsylvania. By 1950, US 309 was widened to a multilane road for a short stretch north of Philadelphia, along its new alignment between Ashley and Wilkes-Barre, between Luzerne and PA 415 in Dallas, and along the US 6 concurrency between PA 87 in Russel Hill and PA 267 in Meshoppen while PA 29 was widened to

33582-551: Was designated as Legislative Route 153 between Philadelphia and Allentown, Legislative Route 163 between Allentown and Mauch Chunk (present-day Jim Thorpe ), part of Legislative Route 162 between Mauch Chunk and Nesquehoning , and Legislative Route 170 between Nesquehoning and Wilkes-Barre. Meanwhile, the present-day corridor of PA 309 between Schnecksville and Tamaqua was designated as Legislative Route 226, between Tamaqua and Hazleton as Legislative Route 185, and between Wilkes-Barre and Bowman Creek as part of Legislative Route 11. With

33775-436: Was designated as a southern extension of PA 145 in 1991. On June 18, 1962, AASHO approved the realignment of US 309 to the modern-day alignment of PA 309 between US 22 near Allentown and Pleasant Corners, following PA 29 between Allentown and the intersection with present-day PA 873 in Schnecksville before heading west between Schnecksville and Pleasant Corners. PA 100 was extended north from Fogelsville to Pleasant Corners along

33968-481: Was designated by 1950. The truck route was decommissioned in the 1950s, being replaced with US 422 Alt. north of Washington Lane. The entire route was in Philadelphia , Philadelphia County . U.S. Route 309 Bypass ( US 309 Byp. ) was a bypass of a portion of US 309 in the northern section of Allentown The route began at US 22/US 309 (Tilghman Street), heading north of 12th Street briefly before turning northwest onto Roth Avenue. US 309 Byp. ended at US 309 at

34161-446: Was designated concurrent with US 309 between Philadelphia and Center Valley while PA 22 was designated concurrent with US 309 between US 22/ PA 3 in Allentown and US 11/PA 19 in Wilkes-Barre. The section of present-day PA 309 between southeast of Dallas and Bowman Creek was designated as part of the northern section of PA 62 in 1927. By 1928, US 309 was shifted to a more direct alignment between Nesquehoning and Hazleton. By this time,

34354-550: Was eventually adopted, and the coal and iron police were banned. At the beginning of the 20th century, Pennsylvania's economy centered on steel production, logging , coal mining , textile production, and other forms of industrial manufacturing . A surge in immigration to the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries provided a steady flow of cheap labor for these industries, which often employed children and people who could not speak English from Southern and Eastern Europe . Thousands of Pennsylvanians volunteered during

34547-485: Was extended north to New York State Route 17 (NY 17) in Waverly, New York , heading north to Pittston and Tunkhannock before following US 6 between Tunkhannock and Towanda and US 220 between Towanda and Waverly. By 1940, US 309 was extended south to US 1 Bypass (US 1 Byp.)/ US 13 Byp. /US 422 at Ridge Avenue and City Line Avenue in Philadelphia. In the 1940s, US 309 was realigned between Ashley and Tunkhannock to Wilkes-Barre, Dallas, and Bowman Creek, with

34740-477: Was known for its relatively peaceful relations with native tribes, innovative government system , and religious pluralism . Pennsylvania played a vital and historic role in the American Revolution and the ultimately successful quest for independence from the British Empire , hosting the First and Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia , which formed the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander in 1775, and unanimously adopted

34933-399: Was made by stage wagon in 1763. In 1804, a turnpike called the Bethlehem Turnpike was created to run between Philadelphia and Bethlehem. The turnpike was authorized to collect tolls in 1834, with many of its tollgates erected. The Bethlehem Pike became a free road in 1904 and tolls were removed in 1910. Following the passage of the Sproul Road Bill in 1911, what would become US 309

35126-476: Was not yet in British possession, but the sale boxed in the portion of New Netherland on the West side of the Delaware River. The British conquest of New Netherland began on August 29, 1664, when New Amsterdam was coerced to surrender while facing cannons on British ships in New York Harbor . The conquest was completed in October 1664, when the British captured Fort Casimir in what today is New Castle, Delaware . The Treaty of Breda between England, France, and

35319-407: Was once again chosen to be cradle to the new nation. The Constitution was drafted and signed at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall , the same building where the Declaration of Independence was previously adopted and signed in 1776. On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution , five days after Delaware became

35512-419: Was partially reversed on February 9, 1674, when the Treaty of Westminster ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War and reverted all political situations to the status quo ante bellum . The British retained the Dutch Counties with their Dutch names. By June 11, 1674, New York reasserted control over the outlying colonies, including Upland, and the names started to be changed to British names by November 11, 1674. Upland

35705-439: Was partitioned on November 12, 1674, producing the general outline of the current border between Pennsylvania and Delaware. On February 28, 1681, Charles II granted a land charter to Quaker leader William Penn to repay a debt of £16,000 (around £2,100,000 in 2008, adjusting for retail inflation) owed to William's father. The transaction represents one of the largest land grants to an individual in history. Penn proposed that

35898-456: Was paved between US 309 in Schnecksville and PA 143 in New Tripoli and between PA 925 south of Tamaqua and US 309 in Hazleton while PA 92 was paved to a point north of Dallas. In 1928, PA 312 was designated concurrent with US 309 between PA 12 in Center Valley and US 22/PA 3 in Allentown while PA 130 replaced the concurrent PA 22 designation north of Allentown. The under construction portions of US 309 between Quakertown and Center Valley and to

36091-441: Was planned to continue south from its current terminus in Wyncote into Philadelphia and intersect US 1 ( Roosevelt Expressway ) before terminating at a proposed Girard Avenue Expressway . In 1969, it was estimated the freeway between Wyncote and US 1 would cost $ 50 million and be completed by 1975 while the freeway between US 1 and the Girard Avenue Expressway would cost $ 44 million and be completed by 1985. The southern extension of

36284-436: Was rerouted to follow Cheltenham Avenue to reach its current southern terminus at PA 611 instead of following Ogontz Avenue and Stenton Avenue to PA 611. By 1989, PA 309 was upgraded to a divided highway along the concurrency with US 202 (now US 202 Bus.) in Montgomeryville. In 1989, the PA 309 freeway bypass of Allentown between Lanark and north of US 222 became part of I-78. On June 21, 1960, plans were announced to construct

36477-463: Was rerouted to follow Fort Washington Expressway before continuing south along Ogontz Avenue and Stenton Avenue to end at US 611 (now PA 611) at Broad Street in North Philadelphia ; US 309 replaced the PA 152 designation along Ogontz Avenue and Stenton Avenue. There were plans made by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission from the late 1940s until the mid 1970s to extend the Fort Washington Expressway south to Center City Philadelphia . The freeway

36670-415: Was shifted to a new alignment between Ashley and Tunkhannock. From Ashley, US 309 was realigned to head through Wilkes-Barre along newly-built Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard, Spring Street, and Scott Street to PA 115, where it became concurrent with PA 115 along Kidder Street, Butler Street, Main Street, Courtright Street, and River Street to Pierce Street. From here US 309/PA 115 followed Pierce Street across

36863-441: Was the most significant nuclear accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history. The state was hard-hit by the decline and restructuring of the steel industry and other heavy industries during the late 20th century. With job losses came heavy population losses, especially in the state's largest cities. Pittsburgh lost its place among the top ten most populous cities in the United States by 1950, and Philadelphia dropped to

37056-497: Was the only one of the four aircraft hijacked that day that never reached its intended target and the heroism of the passengers has been commemorated. Since 2003, the Tekko anime convention has been held annually in Pittsburgh. In October 2018, the Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation , a conservative Jewish synagogue, experienced the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting , which resulted in 11 fatalities. On July 13, 2024, near Butler, Pennsylvania , an assassination attempt on

37249-436: Was under construction from Blue Mountain to south of Tamaqua. The southern terminus of US 309 was extended from its previous location at US 422 ( Germantown Avenue ) in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia to US 1 Byp. / US 13 Byp. /US 422 at Ridge Avenue and City Line Avenue in Philadelphia by 1940, following US 422 Byp. along Germantown Avenue before heading south along Allens Lane and Lincoln Drive . By 1940,

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