Mountain Top, Pennsylvania | |
---|---|
Location in Pennsylvania Location in the United States | |
Coordinates: 41°10′12″N75°52′36″W / 41.17000°N 75.87667°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Luzerne |
Townships | Nuangola, Penn Lake Park and White Haven and Dennison Township, Dorrance Township, Fairview Township, Rice Township, Slocum Township and Wright Township |
Area | |
• Total | 15.02 sq mi (38.90 km2) |
• Land | 15.02 sq mi (38.90 km2) |
• Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
Elevation | 1,580 ft (480 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 11,489 |
• Density | 764.86/sq mi (295.31/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP Code | 18707 |
Area code(s) | 570 and 272 |
FIPS code | 42-51384 |
GNIS feature ID | 2389520 |
Mountain Top is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,982. [3]
Mountain Top is located along Pennsylvania Route 309, south of Wilkes-Barre, in Dorrance, Fairview, Rice, and Wright townships.
The United States Postal Service uses the spelling "Mountain Top" for ZIP Code 18707, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spells it "Mountain Top" on a Pennsylvania driver's license. However, some businesses in Mountain Top spell their community as a single word, "Mountaintop".
Mountain Top, once named "Penobscot", [4] is located in central Luzerne County at 41°8′7″N75°54′16″W / 41.13528°N 75.90444°W (41.1353022, -75.9044749). The CDP extends north to Solomon Gap, which separates Penobscot Knob to the west from Haystack Mountain to the east. To the south, the CDP includes the settlements of Fairview Heights, Wech Corners, Rita, Albert, Rippletown, and Lindbergh. [4] The ridge of Nescopeck Mountain is in the southeast part of Mountain Top. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mountain Top has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39.0 km2), all of it land. [5]
Mountain Top is in the Susquehanna River watershed. The village center sits on a drainage divide between Solomon Creek, which flows north through Solomon Gap to the Susquehanna near Wilkes-Barre, and Big Wapwallopen Creek, which flows to the southwest to the Susquehanna at Wapwallopen. East of Mountain Top, the ground rises to Arbutus Peak and Stony Cabin Ridge, both 2,080 feet (630 m) above sea level, beyond which is the Lehigh River basin leading to the Delaware River. Mountain Top is 10 miles (16 km) northwest of White Haven, at the head end of the Lehigh River, 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Hazleton, and 8 miles (13 km) south of Wilkes-Barre on Pennsylvania Route 309. Even though regional railroads are much diminished in scope and influence, Mountain Top Yard, once used as a marshaling yard at the top of the Ashley Planes' funicular railway, is still a regional element of the transportation infrastructure connecting Allentown and Philadelphia with points north and west via trackage to several yards in New York state.
The elevation in Mountain Top ranges from 1,070 feet (330 m) above sea level along Big Wapwallopen Creek in the southwest, to 1,860 feet (570 m) atop Nescopeck Mountain southwest of Rita, to 1,871 feet (570 m) at the east end of Penobscot Mountain in north Mountain Top. The central village of Mountain Top sits at 1,580 feet (480 m) just south of Penobscot Mountain.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | 10,982 | — | |
2020 | 11,489 | 4.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] |
As of the 2019 census, [7] there were 11,489 people, which is a slight increase from 10,701 people in 2011. 5,556 households, and 4,394 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 224.0 inhabitants per square mile (86.5/km2). There were 5,774 housing units at an average density of 84.7 per square mile (32.7/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.02% White, 0.54% African American, 0.03% Native American, 1.62% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.
There were 5,556 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.10.
In Mountain Top, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,655, and the median income for a family was $58,588. Males had a median income of $41,271 versus $26,346 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,480. About 2.9% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Mountain Top is located in the Crestwood School District, [8] which covers over 110 square miles (280 km2) and includes Dennison Township, Dorrance Township, Fairview Township, Nuangola Borough, Rice Township, Slocum Township, White Haven Borough, Wright Township, and Penn Lake Borough.
The Crestwood School District consists of four schools:
St. Jude's Catholic School, in Wright Township, serves grades K-8, after which students can continue Catholic education at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre.
Luzerne County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 890 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) is water. It is Northeastern Pennsylvania's second-largest county by total area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 325,594, making it the most populous county in the northeastern part of the state. The county seat and most populous city is Wilkes-Barre. Other populous communities include Hazleton, Kingston, Nanticoke, and Pittston. Luzerne County is included in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a total population of 555,426 as of 2017. The county is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania region of the state.
Berwick is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is located 28 miles (45 km) southwest of Wilkes-Barre. As of the 2020 census, Berwick had a population of 10,355. It is one of the two principal communities of the Bloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area, which covers Columbia and Montour counties, and had a combined population of 85,562 at the 2010 census.
Hiller is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,155, down from 1,234 at the 2000 census.
The Back Mountain is a region and former census-designated place (CDP) in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is near the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The population was 33,551 as of 2016. The region has a total area of 117.59 square miles (304.6 km2). The area was not delineated as a CDP for the 2010 census. The name "Back Mountain" refers to the area's location behind the mountain ridge forming the northwest side of the Wyoming Valley. The area includes the townships of Dallas, Franklin, Jackson, Kingston, Lake, and Lehman. The region also includes the boroughs of Dallas and Harveys Lake. Each township and borough is independently governed.
Conyngham Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,309 at the 2020 census.
Dennison Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 961 at the 2020 census.
Dorrance Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,077 at the 2020 census.
Fairview Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,691 at the 2020 census.
Hanover Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,424, making it the most populous township in the county.
Kingston is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located on the western bank of the Susquehanna River opposite Wilkes-Barre. Kingston was first settled in the early 1770s, and incorporated as a borough in 1857. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,349, making it the most populous borough in Luzerne County.
Nescopeck is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,480 as of the 2020 census.
Nuangola is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The population was 663 as of the 2020 census. Developed as a summer resort in the early 20th century, the borough is built around a heart-shaped lake called Nuangola Lake.
Pittston Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The population was 3,179 as of the 2020 census. The township is located within the Greater Pittston region. As of 2010, the total population of Greater Pittston was 48,020. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in Pittston Township.
Plains Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,816 at the 2020 census. The municipality is the birthplace of Chicago White Sox hall of famer Ed Walsh and John J. Yeosock, a United States Army general who commanded the 3rd U.S. Army during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Mohegan Pennsylvania is a casino in Plains Township.
Rice Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,626 at the 2020 census.
White Haven is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the Lehigh River. The population was 1,163 at the 2020 census.
Wright Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,726 at the 2020 census.
Big Wapwallopen Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 23 miles (37 km) long and flows through Bear Creek Township, Fairview Township, Rice Township, Wright Township, Dorrance Township, Hollenback Township, Nescopeck Township, and Conyngham Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 53.2 square miles (138 km2). The creek has three named tributaries: Balliet Run, Watering Run, and Bow Creek. The creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery and is also Class A Wild Trout Waters for part of its length. However, a portion is considered to be impaired by organic enrichment and/or low levels of dissolved oxygen and its pH ranges from moderately acidic to slightly alkaline.
Solomon Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 8.8 miles (14.2 km) long and flows through Fairview Township, Hanover Township, and Wilkes-Barre. The creek is affected by acid mine drainage and has significant loads of iron, aluminum, and manganese. The creek's named tributaries are Spring Run, Sugar Notch Run, and Pine Creek. The Solomon Creek watershed is located in the Anthracite Valley section of the ridge-and-valley geographical province. Major rock formations in the watershed include the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Spechty Kopf Formation, and the Catskill Formation.
Little Wapwallopen Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 17 miles (27 km) long and flows through Rice Township, Dorrance Township, Conyngham Township, and Hollenback Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 39.5 square miles (102 km2). The creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery and is not considered to be impaired. It has two named tributaries: Pond Creek and Nuangola Outlet. Wild trout naturally reproduce in the creek.