81-552: The Wyoming Valley is a historic industrialized region of Northeastern Pennsylvania . The region is historically notable for its influence in helping fuel the American Industrial Revolution with its many anthracite coal mines . As a metropolitan area , it is known as the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area , after its principal cities, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre . With a population of 567,559 as of
162-515: A crowd of miners used to gather nightly on the steps of Mackin Brothers' Store, a scene described by Con Carbon in a popular ballad of the 1890s: And once thy peaceful tide The Far Downs and Connaught men Fight, and then make up again, Dutch and Scotch and English men— All like chickens in a pen. The powder smoke does be so thick, You could not cut it with a pick, The smell of gas would make you sick In front of Mackin's store. Throughout
243-580: A fishing pier, and two grand gateways connecting the city to the river. The city's population was in constant decline from the 1930s through 2010, but losses stopped that decade, and it saw growth as of 2020. As of the 2020 census , there were 44,328 people and 15,581 households residing in the city. The population density was 5,945 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 69.80% White , 14.90% African American , 0.40% Native American , 2.4% Asian , 0.20% Pacific Islander , and 4.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.0% of
324-704: A modest population increase , and others, including Monroe and Pike counties, rank among the state's fastest growing counties. Northeastern Pennsylvania borders the Lehigh Valley to its south, Warren County, New Jersey to its east, and Broome County, New York to its north. References to Northeastern Pennsylvania frequently include some combination of Bradford County , Carbon County , Columbia County , Lackawanna County , Luzerne County , Monroe County , Montour County , Northumberland County , Pike County , Schuylkill County , Sullivan County , Susquehanna County , Wayne County , and Wyoming County . Green :
405-517: A new state (which was separate from both Connecticut and Pennsylvania) was proposed. The new state was to be named Westmoreland . To ensure that they didn't lose the land, Pennsylvania's state government negotiated a compromise with the Connecticut (Yankee) settlers. The Yankee settlers would become citizens of Pennsylvania and their property claims would be restored prior to the Decree of Trenton. As part of
486-453: A part of the ridge-and-valley or folded Appalachians . The Susquehanna River occupies the southern part of the valley, which is notable for its deposits of anthracite . These have been extensively mined. Deep mining of anthracite has declined throughout the greater Coal Region , however, due to the greater economics of strip mining. Parts of the local mines had already shut down because some coal beds were on fire and had to be sealed, but
567-549: A solution to ignite anthracite with the usage of an iron grate; it allowed for the coal to light and burn more easily. This invention increased the popularity of anthracite as a fuel source. This led to the expansion of the coal industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania; Wilkes-Barre was nicknamed "The Diamond City" due to its high productivity of mining coal. The growing demand for coal as a domestic heat source resulted in changes to patterns of immigration to Wilkes-Barre in
648-625: A water park in the off season. There are several attractions that explore the region's industrial history. Eckley Miners' Village near Hazleton, and the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in Scranton highlight the area's coal mining history, while Steamtown National Historic Site and the Electric City Trolley Museum , both in Scranton, focus on transportation history. The Houdini Museum in Scranton follows Houdini's exploits in
729-717: Is Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre , which serves primarily Luzerne County and Wyoming County . The third school is Notre Dame High School , which is located in Stroudsburg . It primarily serves Monroe County . The fourth school is Nativity BVM High School , which is located in Pottsville , which serves Schuylkill County . The fifth school is Marian Catholic High School in Tamaqua , which serves Schuylkill County, as well as Luzerne County and Carbon County . The sixth school
810-566: Is 6b except in downtown and other areas near the river which are 7a. The city is significantly warmer than the W-B/Scranton Airport due to the airport's higher latitude and elevation. Wilkes-Barre has a Downtown Riverfront Park system that contains 91 acres of open space. Kirby Park is a public park located along the western bank of the Susquehanna River. Kirby Park is one of the region's most valued recreational resources. Given to
891-587: Is Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, which is located near the city of Shamokin . The seventh school is St. Gregory the Great Academy, which is a boarding school for boys grades 9–12, specializing in classical education, and located in Elmhurst Township. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre ( / ˈ w ɪ l k s b ɛər i / WILKS -bair-ee ) is a city in and the county seat of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania , United States. Located at
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#1733084605319972-538: Is also located on the west side of the Susquehanna River. It is located across from Kirby Park. Nesbitt is open to the public. It has walking paths and areas for picnicking. The River Common is located along the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River. The Market Street Bridge bisects the park. The River Common joins with the Luzerne County Courthouse grounds. Its features include a 750-person amphitheater, paved walk-ways, gardens, ornamental trees, seating areas,
1053-728: Is part of the Wyoming Valley Metropolitan Statistical Area, it is not part of the physical valley. Scranton is the cultural center of the Wyoming Valley, being the largest city by population in the metropolitan area. The Wyoming Valley also has professional sports teams; they include the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders ( Minor League Baseball Class AAA ), the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ( American Hockey League ), and
1134-539: Is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year (though the summer months receive more precipitation). Extreme temperatures range from −21 °F (−29.4 °C) on January 21, 1994, to 103 °F (39.4 °C) on July 9, 1936. Wilkes-Barre averages 2,303 hours of sunshine per year, ranging from a low of 96 hours in December (or 33% of possible sunshine) to 286 hours in July (or 62% of possible sunshine). The hardiness zone
1215-582: Is the cultural and economic center of a region called Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is home to over 1.3 million residents. Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the Pocono Mountains to the east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The Susquehanna River flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of
1296-548: Is used or a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Winters are cold with a January average of 28.0 °F (−2.2 °C). The surrounding mountains have an influence on the climate (including both precipitation and temperatures), leading to wide variations within a short distance. On average, temperatures below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) are infrequent, occurring 2.5 days per year, and there are 34.9 days where
1377-511: The 2000 census , the area also had the highest percentage of non-Hispanic whites of any U.S. metropolitan area with a population over 500,000, with 96.2% of the population stating their race as white alone and not claiming Hispanic ethnicity, however the Hispanic demographic has been significantly rising since then. When metropolitan areas were first defined in 1950, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre were in separate metropolitan areas. Lackawanna County
1458-633: The 2020 United States census , it is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania , after the Delaware Valley , Greater Pittsburgh , the Lehigh Valley , and the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical areas . Within the geology of Pennsylvania the Wyoming Valley makes up its own unique physiographic province , the Anthracite Valley . Greater Pittston occupies the center of
1539-640: The American Revolutionary War , the Battle of Wyoming took place in the valley on July 3, 1778, in which more than 300 Revolutionaries died at the hands of Loyalists and their Iroquois allies. The incident was depicted by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell in his 1809 poem Gertrude of Wyoming . At the time, rebel colonists widely believed that Joseph Brant , a Mohawk chief, had led the Iroquois forces; in
1620-497: The Anthracite Valley Section , is different from the Wyoming Valley metropolitan statistical area . The physical Wyoming Valley is a canoe-shaped valley , about 25 miles (40 km) long, which extends from the counties of Susquehanna and Wayne (in the north) to Columbia County (in the south). It includes the cities of Carbondale , Scranton , Pittston , Wilkes-Barre , and Nanticoke . Even though Wyoming County
1701-451: The Lehigh Valley , and Greater Harrisburg . The contiguous network of five cities and more than 40 boroughs all built in a straight line in Northeastern Pennsylvania's urban core act culturally and logistically as one continuous city, so while the city of Wilkes-Barre itself is a mid-sized city, the larger Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Urban Area contains half a million residents in roughly 300 square miles (780 km ). Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
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#17330846053191782-536: The Pocono Mountains , the Endless Mountains , and the industrial cities of Scranton , Wilkes-Barre , Pittston , Hazleton , Nanticoke , and Carbondale . A portion of this region is located in the New York City metropolitan area . Recently, Pennsylvania tourism boards have described Northeastern Pennsylvania as Upstate Pennsylvania . Unlike most parts of the Rust Belt , some of these communities are experiencing
1863-900: The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Steamers ( Premier Basketball League ). The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers were a minor league arena football team in Wilkes-Barre (from 2001 to 2009). Local attractions include the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre , the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond , PNC Field in Moosic , Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains , the Toyota Pavilion in Scranton ,
1944-701: The Sullivan Expedition in 1779. After the Revolutionary War the State of Pennsylvania ruled that the Connecticut settlers were not citizens of Pennsylvania. They were not permitted to vote and were ordered to give up their property claims. In May 1784, armed men from Pennsylvania force-marched the Connecticut settlers away from the valley. By November, the Yankees returned with a greater force. They captured and destroyed Fort Dickinson in Wilkes-Barre. With that victory,
2025-544: The Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport . The following printed resources are in the collection of the Connecticut State Library (CSL): 41°15′04″N 75°54′22″W / 41.251°N 75.906°W / 41.251; -75.906 Northeastern Pennsylvania Northeastern Pennsylvania ( N.E.P.A. or Nepa ) is a region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes
2106-1447: The Wilkes-Barre area , near Scranton and in Hazleton . Colleges in the Scranton area include Marywood University in Dunmore , Lackawanna College in downtown Scranton, and the University of Scranton , in downtown Scranton. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is the region's only medical school and specifically recruits students from NEPA and surrounding counties. Wilkes-Barre area colleges include Wilkes University in downtown Wilkes-Barre, King's College also in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke , and Misericordia University in Dallas . Keystone College in La Plume , St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan Township , Clarks Summit University (formerly Baptist Bible College & Seminary) in Clarks Summit , Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg , and East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg are among
2187-1020: The Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre , the Shoppes at Montage in Moosic , the Steamtown Mall in Scranton , the Viewmont Mall in Scranton / Dickson City , Pennsylvania, and the Montage Mountain Waterpark/Ski Resort in Scranton . Other historic attractions include Eckley Miners' Village and the Steamtown National Historic Site . This area is celebrated in Lydia Sigourney 's poem Vale of Wyoming published in her Scenes in my Native Land, 1845, with accompanying descriptive text. The airports for this area are Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and
2268-563: The seat of government for the new territory. This resolution ended the idea of creating a new state. In 1797, several decades after the community's founding, Louis Philippe , later the King of France from 1830 to 1840, stayed in Wilkes-Barre while traveling to the French Asylum settlement. Wilkes-Barre's population skyrocketed due to the discovery of anthracite coal in the 19th century. In 1808, Judge Jesse Fell of Wilkes-Barre discovered
2349-415: The 1800s, canals and railroads were constructed to aid in the mining and transportation of coal. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants flocked to the city; they were seeking jobs in the numerous mines and collieries that sprang up throughout the region . In 1806, Wilkes-Barre Borough was formed from a segment of Wilkes-Barre Township; it was later incorporated as a city in 1871. This was the direct result of
2430-606: The 1930s, though it remains the largest city in Luzerne County and the 13th-largest city in Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre is located 49 miles (79 km) north-northwest of Allentown , 97 miles (156 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia , and 106 miles (171 km) west-northwest of New York City . By the 18th century, the Wyoming Valley was inhabited by the Shawnee and Lenape , also known as Delaware Indian tribes. In 1753,
2511-831: The 19th century. The Pennsylvania guide , compiled by the Writers' Program of the Works Progress Administration in 1940, noted that: Until 1870 all immigration was from the north of Europe, with the Irish predominating. Then mine operators sent representatives to central and southern Europe to induce peasants to come to the American coal fields. Many of the older workers consequently were supplanted by newcomers willing to work for low wages, and bitter conflicts followed. The cleavage along national lines, however, gave to Wilkes-Barre such picturesque sections as Five Points, now East End, where
Wyoming Valley - Misplaced Pages Continue
2592-657: The Susquehanna Company was founded in Connecticut for settling the Wyoming Valley in present-day Pennsylvania . Connecticut succeeded in purchasing the land from the Native Americans ; however, Pennsylvania already claimed the very same territory through a purchase they made in 1736. In 1762, roughly two hundred Connecticut settlers ( Yankees ) established a settlement near Mill Creek . They planted wheat and constructed log cabins. The Yankees returned to New England for
2673-545: The United States switched to other energy sources, and most coal operations had left Wilkes-Barre by the end of World War II . The 1959 Knox Mine Disaster , resulting in the flooding of numerous mines, marked the end of large-scale coal mining in the area. Industrial restructuring also caused the city to lose jobs and begin a decades-long decline. In 1926, Planters Peanuts Company was founded in Wilkes-Barre by two Italian immigrants. The company maintained its headquarters in
2754-520: The Wyoming Valley became part of Northumberland County . During the Revolutionary War two forts were built at Wilkes-Barre. Fort Wilkes-Barre was completed in 1778 but was abandoned and burned later that year following the Battle of Wyoming . Fort Wyoming (later renamed Fort Dickinson ) was constructed when the Continental Army reoccupied the Wyoming Valley and served as a staging area for
2835-412: The Wyoming Valley, covers Lackawanna , Luzerne , and Wyoming counties. It had a combined population of 558,166 in 2015. The counties adjacent to Wyoming Valley include Monroe County (Southeast), Susquehanna County (Northeast), Wayne County (East), Columbia County (West), Bradford County (Northwest), Carbon County (South), Sullivan County (West) and Schuylkill County (Southwest). As of
2916-617: The area, as well as the rest of the world. The Scranton Ghost Walk attraction tells of Scranton's paranormal history. 1433 N. Main Avenue, home of the longest running seance event in the United States, "Haunted! Mysteries of the Beyond", was picked by the Pennsylvania Department of tourism as one of the most haunted places in the state. Many well-known universities are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Penn State operates campuses in
2997-583: The big river flat." According to The Jesuit Relations in 1635, the Wyoming Valley was inhabited by the Scahentoarrhonon people, an Iroquoian-speaking group; it was then known as the Scahentowanen Valley. By 1744, it was inhabited by Lenape , Mohican , Shawnee and others who had been pushed out of eastern areas by the Iroquois Confederacy . From the 1740s to the 1760s, the valley was
3078-511: The canopy and matching street lights in Public Square and across downtown were removed; they were replaced by new green lampposts. Wilkes-Barre celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2006. Several events, including a Beach Boys concert, were planned but canceled due to extremely heavy rains. Most of the city's population was ordered to evacuate on June 28, 2006, and the Bicentennial celebration
3159-551: The center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania , it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It is the second-largest city, after Scranton , in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had a population of 567,559 as of the 2020 census , making it the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania after the Delaware Valley , Greater Pittsburgh ,
3240-473: The city of Wilkes-Barre by the Kirby Family, the park welcomes hundreds of thousands each year. The park is the setting for the city's annual Cherry Blossom Festival (held during the last weekend of April) and the city's July 4 Celebration. Its amenities include tennis courts, a fitness trail, pond, walking paths, running track, softball fields, parking area, volleyball courts, pavilions, and more. Nesbitt Park
3321-406: The city of Wilkes-Barre itself is a smaller town, the larger unofficial city of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre contains nearly half a million residents in roughly 200 square miles. Wilkes-Barre is located approximately 63 miles (101 km) northwest of Allentown , and 113 miles (182 km) northwest of Philadelphia . Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the Pocono Mountains to
Wyoming Valley - Misplaced Pages Continue
3402-412: The city until 1961. In 1929, baseball player Babe Ruth hit one of the longest home runs in history at Artillery Park in Wilkes-Barre. On November 8, 1972, Wilkes-Barre became the birthplace of modern cable television programming when Home Box Office (HBO) launched over the city's Teleservice Cable system (now Service Electric Cable ). Around 365 Teleservice subscribers were the first to receive
3483-567: The city's economy took a major blow from Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972. The storm pushed the Susquehanna River to a height of nearly 41 feet (12 m), four feet above the city's levees , flooding downtown with nine feet of water. A total of 128 deaths were attributed to the storm. Most drowning deaths were caused by people trapped in their cars. Almost 400,000 homes and businesses were destroyed and 220,000 Pennsylvanians were left homeless (as were hundreds of thousands in other states). Damage
3564-403: The city's mayor, unveiled his "I believe..." campaign for Wilkes-Barre, which was intended to boost the city's spirits. Construction began on a planned downtown theatre complex, which had a grand opening on June 30, 2006. Renovation of the landmark Hotel Sterling was being pursued by CityVest, a nonprofit developer. The expansion of Wilkes University and King's College took place. Also,
3645-416: The city. Wilkes-Barre was founded in 1769, incorporated as a borough in 1806, and formally re-incorporated as a city in 1869. The city grew rapidly in the 19th century after the discovery of nearby coal reserves and the arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, who provided a labor force for the city's mines. The mining of high-quality anthracite coal fueled industrialization in the city, which reached
3726-422: The city. The elevation of the downtown area is about 550 feet (170 m) above sea level. As you travel inland, away from the river, the elevation rises. Wilkes-Barre Mountain is a physical barrier southeast of the city. The contiguous network of 5 cities and more than 40 boroughs all built in a straight line in Northeastern Pennsylvania's urban area act culturally and logistically as one continuous city, so while
3807-434: The city. The population density was 6,296.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,431.0/km ). There were 20,294 housing units at an average density of 2,963.1 per square mile (1,144.1/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.30% White , 5.09% African American , 0.11% Native American , 0.79% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.53% from other races , and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of
3888-481: The compromise, Pennsylvania would establish a new county in Northeastern Pennsylvania . The Yankees agreed to the terms. On September 25, 1786, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a resolution which created Luzerne County. It was formed from a section of Northumberland County and named after Chevalier de la Luzerne , a French soldier and diplomat during the 18th century. Wilkes-Barre became
3969-508: The early 20th century, was one of the industries targeted by the National Child Labor Committee and its hired photographer, Lewis Hine . Many of Hine's subjects were photographed in the mines and coal fields near Wilkes-Barre. The impact of the Hine photographs led to the enactment of child labor laws across the country. The coal industry continued despite several disasters, including an explosion at Wilkes-Barre's Baltimore Colliery in 1919, which killed 92 miners. The industry declined when
4050-424: The east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The Susquehanna River flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of the city. Wilkes-Barre houses over one dozen neighborhoods: Under the Köppen climate classification , Wilkes-Barre falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm
4131-439: The exodus of mining companies came quickly following the legal and political repercussions of the 1959 Knox Mine disaster when the roof of the Knox Coal Company's mine under the Susquehanna River collapsed. The Pocono Mountains , a ridgeline away, are often visible from higher elevations to the east and to the southeast of the Wyoming Valley. The name Wyoming derives from the Lenape Munsee name xwéːwamənk , meaning "at
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#17330846053194212-402: The former hotel. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (19 km ), of which 6.8 square miles (18 km ) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km ), or 4.60%, is water. The city is bordered by the Susquehanna River to the west. Most of Downtown is located on a wide floodplain . Floodwalls were constructed to protect a large percentage of
4293-431: The height of its prosperity in the first half of the 20th century. Its population peaked at more than 86,000 in 1930. Following World War II , the city's economy declined due to the collapse of industry. The Knox Mine disaster accelerated this trend after large portions of the area's coal mines were flooded and could not be reopened. In the 21st century, the city's population is roughly half that of its peak population of
4374-455: The inferno. The Iroquois let the Lenape believe that this atrocity was committed by the settlers. As a result, the Lenape attacked the colonists on October 15, 1763, killing thirty settlers and taking several others as prisoners. Those who managed to escape fled back to New England . The Lenape then burned what was left of the settlement. In 1769, the Yankees returned to the Wyoming Valley. Five townships were established by Connecticut. Each one
4455-415: The land to the Colony of Connecticut in 1662, and then to William Penn in 1681, who established the Province of Pennsylvania , leading to military skirmishes known as the Pennamite–Yankee War . After Yankee settlers from Connecticut founded Wilkes-Barre in 1769, armed bands of Pennsylvanians,, known as Pennamites, tried unsuccessfully to expel them between 1769 and 70, and then again in 1775. During
4536-556: The largest county by area; Yellow : the most populous county Northeastern Pennsylvania is home to PNC Field in Moosic , which hosts the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders , the AAA affiliate to Major League Baseball's New York Yankees . Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre hosts the American Hockey League 's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ; it previously hosted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of arena football . Pocono Raceway in Long Pond holds one cup series NASCAR race annually. Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains
4617-687: The maximum temperature remains below 32 °F (0.0 °C). The average annual snowfall is 45.1 inches (115 cm) during the winter (in which severe snowstorms are rare). However, when snowstorms do occur, they can disrupt normal routines for several days. Summers are warm with a July average of 73.7 °F (23.2 °C). In an average summer, temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32.2 °C) occur on 11.7 days and but rarely exceed 100 °F (37.8 °C). Spring and fall are unpredictable with temperatures ranging from cold to warm (although they are usually mild). On average, Wilkes-Barre receives 38.72 inches (983 mm) of precipitation each year, which
4698-446: The normally-open levee . The project stretches approximately four blocks from the Luzerne County Courthouse to the intersection of South River Street and West South Street. The River Common has since hosted concerts and charity events. Since completion of the River Common, additional improvements to city infrastructure have been progressing. New crosswalks have been installed downtown, including signage emphasizing that pedestrians have
4779-536: The other colleges in the area. Three college preparatory schools are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Wyoming Seminary in Kingston , Scranton Preparatory School in Scranton, and MMI Preparatory School in Freeland . Seven Catholic high schools are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They include Holy Cross High School in Dunmore , which primarily serves Lackawanna County , Luzerne County , Wayne County , Pike County , Susquehanna County , Wyoming County , and Monroe County . The second school
4860-483: The overall economy was doing very well, the city was still prone to natural disasters. Besides frequent flooding from the Susquehanna River, Wilkes-Barre also endured a devastating F3 tornado on August 19, 1890 . The twister killed 16 people, injured 50, damaged or destroyed 260 buildings, and cost at least $ 240,000 (in 1890 money). Wilkes-Barre is located within Pennsylvania's Coal Region . The anthracite coal mining industry, and its extensive use of child labor in
4941-466: The poem, Brant is described as the "Monster Brant" because of the atrocities committed. Later colonists determined that Brant had not been present at this conflict. The popularity of the poem may have led to the state of Wyoming later being named after the valley. The Yankee-Pennamite Wars were eventually settled in the 1780s. The disputed land was granted to Pennsylvania. The Wyoming Valley became part of Northumberland County . However, settlers in what
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#17330846053195022-502: The population boom. At its peak, Wilkes-Barre had a population of over 86,000 in the 1930s and 40s. New industries were established and the Vulcan Iron Works was a well-known manufacturer of railway locomotives from 1849 to 1954. During Wilkes-Barre's reign as an industrial and economic force in America, several major companies and franchises became based in the city, such as Woolworth 's, Sterling Hotels, Miner's Bank, Bell Telephone , Luzerne National Bank, and Stegmaier . Even though
5103-417: The population. As of the 2010 census , the city was 79.2% White, 10.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and 2.9% were two or more races. Of the population, 11.3% were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. The Hispanic population was just 1.58% of the population as of the 2000 census . As of the 2000 census , there were 43,123 people, 17,961 households, and 9,878 families residing in
5184-442: The premium cable service when it commenced broadcasts. As local ordinances prohibiting direct-to-cable telecasts of theatrical feature films prevented Time-Life from launching HBO over its New York City-based Sterling Manhattan cable franchise, the company initially sought an agreement with Teleservice to launch it on the provider's Allentown system; possible television blackout conflicts for HBO-televised NBA games, as Allentown
5265-399: The quality of the levees. In 2006, the city made the front page of national newspapers when 200,000 residents were told to evacuate in the wake of flooding that was forecast to reach levels near that of 1972, though the flooding fell short of predictions. In late August 2011, Hurricane Irene , centered off the New Jersey coast, caused the Susquehanna River to rise to flood level, but there
5346-438: The right-of-way. The completion of the James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Facility has added parking and relocated Luzerne County buses from their former Public Square staging sites. This has reduced traffic congestion around the square. Private carrier Martz offers coach bus service from the terminal as well. The widening and realignment of Coal Street, a major road connecting Wilkes-Barre City with Wilkes-Barre Township,
5427-466: The site of Moravian mission work among the Native Americans living there. They envisioned a settlement for Christian Indians . But the violence of the French and Indian War , known outside the U.S. as part of the Seven Years' War , drove these settlers away with David Zeisberger , the Moravian "Apostle to the Indians." This led to conflicting claims to the territory by the colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. King Charles II of England granted
5508-416: The valley. Scranton is the most populated city in the metropolitan area with a population of 77,114. The city of Scranton grew in population after the 2015 mid-term census while Wilkes-Barre declined in population. Wilkes-Barre remains the second most-populated city in the metropolitan area, while Hazleton is the third most-populated city in the metropolitan area. The valley is a crescent-shaped depression,
5589-402: The winter. The Connecticut settlers returned in the spring of 1763 with their families and additional supplies. A party of Iroquois also visited the area with the dual purpose of turning the Lenape tribe against the colonists and killing Teedyuscung , a local Lenape chief. On April 19, 1763, the residence of the chief, along with several others, was set ablaze. Chief Teedyuscung perished in
5670-484: Was Pennsylvania's first casino to offer slots. Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono also offers gambling. Skiers can find several slopes in the area, including Shawnee on Delaware in East Stroudsburg , Blue Mountain Resort (east of Palmerton ), Montage Mountain Ski Resort in Scranton , which also operates as a water park during the summer season, Elk Mountain in Union Dale , and Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville . Like Montage, it operates as
5751-476: Was added as a primary city in the 1990 census, while Monroe County lost its metropolitan status. After the 2000 census, Columbia County lost metropolitan status, while Hazleton was removed as a primary city. Scranton is the largest city in Lackawanna County as well as the entire metropolitan area by a large margin, nearly doubling the population of the second largest city in the metropolitan area, Wilkes Barre . The physical Wyoming Valley, also referred to as
5832-400: Was completed in 2012. The new Coal Street provides four lanes over the original two lanes, making travel between the highly commercial Wilkes-Barre Township and the city much easier. In 2013, Hotel Sterling was demolished due to flood damage in the hotel's basement (which compromised the building's integrity). As of today, several buildings are in the process of being constructed on the site of
5913-744: Was defined as the Scranton Standard Metropolitan Area, while Luzerne County was defined as the Wilkes-Barre– Hazleton metropolitan area. The two metropolitan areas were merged after the 1970 census as the Northeast Pennsylvania Standard metropolitan statistical area, with Monroe County added as a component. It was renamed the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan statistical area after the 1980 census, and Columbia and Wyoming counties were added. Hazleton
5994-618: Was estimated to be $ 2.1 billion in Pennsylvania alone. President Richard Nixon sent aid to the area, after flying over in his helicopter on his way to his Camp David retreat (on June 24, 1972). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wilkes-Barre attempted to prevent the damage from storms as intense as Agnes by building a levee system that rises 41 feet (12 m); completed in January 2003, the network of levees cost roughly $ 250 million. It has successfully resisted other threatening floods in 1996, 2004, and 2006. The Army Corps of Engineers has praised
6075-430: Was five square miles and divided amongst forty settlers. Wilkes-Barre Township was one of the original townships; it was named in honor of John Wilkes and Isaac Barré —two British members of Parliament who supported colonial America . Pennsylvanians (Pennamites) also arrived in the valley that same year. The Connecticut settlers established Fort Durkee, which was named in honor of their leader, Colonel Durkee. This
6156-517: Was immediately followed by the Pennamite-Yankee War —a series of skirmishes between Pennsylvanian and Connecticut settlers. The land changed hands several times between the two groups. The Congress of the Confederation was asked to resolve the matter. With the Decree of Trenton, on December 30, 1782, the confederation government officially decided that the region belonged to Pennsylvania, and
6237-560: Was located within the Philadelphia 76ers 's 75-mile [121 km] blackout radius, resulted in Teleservice electing to offer it on its Wilkes-Barre system instead. Wilkes-Barre became the site of a mass shooting on September 25, 1982. George Emil Banks killed 13 people and wounded one. Banks was deemed incompetent to be executed yet currently resides on death row. Manufacturing and retail remained Wilkes-Barre's strongest industries, but
6318-460: Was named after Chevalier de la Luzerne , a French soldier and diplomat during the 18th century. When it was founded, Luzerne County occupied a large portion of Northeastern Pennsylvania. From 1810 to 1878, it was divided into several smaller counties. The counties of Bradford , Lackawanna , Susquehanna , and Wyoming were all formed from parts of Luzerne County. The Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as
6399-684: Was no cause for alarm. Then, from September 6 to 8, heavy rains from the inland remnants of Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Katia offshore funneled heavy rain over the Wyoming Valley and into the Susquehanna River watershed. The Susquehanna swelled to record levels across the state. In Wilkes-Barre, it crested on September 9 at an all-time record of 42.66 feet (13 m), nearly 2 feet (0.6 m) higher than water levels reached during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The levees protected Wilkes-Barre, but nearby boroughs did not escape, as West Pittston , Plymouth , and parts of Plains Township were affected by extreme flooding. On June 9, 2005, Thomas M. Leighton ,
6480-419: Was postponed to Labor Day weekend. The Riverfront revitalization project (River Common), broke ground in 2007 and was completed in early 2010. It has made the riverfront accessible to the public. The area also has a new amphitheater for live performances and improved access through ramps and sidewalks. Fountains and color-changing lights have been added underneath two bridges which carry pedestrian traffic across
6561-483: Was then the Colony of Connecticut wanted to create a new state in Northeastern Pennsylvania . Massachusetts businessman Timothy Pickering was sent to the region to politically examine the situation. This led the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass a resolution creating Luzerne County . This ended the idea of creating a new state. On September 25, 1786, Luzerne County was formed from part of Northumberland County. It
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