Northeastern Pennsylvania

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Northeast Pennsylvania
Downtown Scranton.JPG
Wilkes Barre Panorama.jpg
Pittston City Aerial.jpg
Hazleton Skyline.jpg
Clockwise from top left: Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and Greater Pittston
Northeastern Pa.png
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 41°26′48″N75°24′56″W / 41.4468°N 75.4156°W / 41.4468; -75.4156
CountryUnited States
Commonwealth Pennsylvania
Largest city Scranton
Other cities (by population)
Area
  Total8,426 sq mi (21,820 km2)
Population
 (2010 estimate)
  Total1,349,698
Time zone UTC−5 (ET)
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)

Northeastern Pennsylvania (N.E.P.A. or sometimes called Nepa) is a region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes 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. [1]

Contents

Unlike most parts of the Rust Belt, some of these communities are experiencing a modest population increase, and others, including Monroe and Pike counties, rank among the state's fastest growing counties. [2]

Northeastern Pennsylvania borders the Lehigh Valley to its south, Warren County, New Jersey to its east, and Broome County, New York to its north.

Area

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.

County2015 Population2010 PopulationArea
Bradford County 61,28162,6221,161 sq mi (3,007 km2)
Carbon County 63,96065,249387 sq mi (1,002 km2)
Columbia County 66,67267,295490 sq mi (1,269 km2)
Lackawanna County 211,917214,437465 sq mi (1,204 km2)
Luzerne County 318,449320,918906 sq mi (2,350 km2)
Monroe County 166,397169,842617 sq mi (1,598 km2)
Montour County 18,55718,267132 sq mi (342 km2)
Northumberland County 93,24694,528478 sq mi (1,238 km2)
Pike County 55,94957,369567 sq mi (1,469 km2)
Schuylkill County 144,590148,289783 sq mi (2,028 km2)
Sullivan County 6,3286,428452 sq mi (1,171 km2)
Susquehanna County 41,66643,356832 sq mi (2,155 km2)
Wayne County 51,19852,822751 sq mi (1,945 km2)
Wyoming County 27,80028,276405 sq mi (1,049 km2)
Total1,328,0101,349,6988,426 sq mi (21,823 km2)

Green: the largest county by area; Yellow: the most populous county

Attractions and entertainment

Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township WBArena.jpg
Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township
Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel and casino Mohegan Poconos hotelLuzCo PA.jpg
Mohegan Pennsylvania hotel and casino

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 two NASCAR races annually.

Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains was Pennsylvania's first casino. 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 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 [3] follows Houdini's exploits in the area, as well as the rest of the world. The Scranton Ghost Walk attraction tells of Scranton's paranormal history. [4] 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. [5]

Education

The administration building at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in February 2013 Campus aerial new 2014.jpg
The administration building at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in February 2013

Many well-known universities are located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Penn State operates campuses in 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 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.

Five 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 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 Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, which is located near the city of Shamokin. The fifth 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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania</span> City in Pennsylvania, United States

Wilkes-Barre is a city in and the county seat of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located at 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, the Lehigh Valley, and Greater Harrisburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monroe County, Pennsylvania</span> County in Pennsylvania, United States

Monroe County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and includes the Pocono Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the population was 168,327. Its county seat is Stroudsburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luzerne County, Pennsylvania</span> County in Pennsylvania, United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania</span> County in Pennsylvania, United States

Lackawanna County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania and had a population of 215,615 (2022). Its county seat and most populous city is Scranton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon County, Pennsylvania</span> County in Pennsylvania, United States

Carbon County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,749. The county is also part of Pennsylvania's Coal Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scranton, Pennsylvania</span> City in Pennsylvania, United States

Scranton is a city in and the county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 U.S. census, Scranton is the most populous city in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Wyoming Valley metropolitan area, which has a population of 562,037 as of 2020. It is the sixth-most populous city in Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

East Stroudsburg is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and part of the Pocono Mountains region of the state. Originally known as Dansbury, East Stroudsburg was renamed for geographic reasons when the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad opened a station in East Stroudsburg. Despite its name being derivative of its bordering borough, Stroudsburg, it has almost twice the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobyhanna Township, Pennsylvania</span> Place in Pennsylvania, United States

Tobyhanna Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,290 at the 2020 census. Tobyhanna Township has Tobyhanna Elementary Center and Locust Lake Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pocono Mountains</span> Geographic highland and cultural region in Pennsylvania, United States

The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos, are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north, Wyoming Valley and the Coal Region to the west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The name Pocono is derived from the Munsee word Pokawachne, which means "Creek Between Two Hills".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 380 (Pennsylvania)</span> Highway in Pennsylvania

Interstate 380 (I-380) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in Northeastern Pennsylvania that connects I-80 with I-81 and I-84. The southern terminus is in Tunkhannock Township at the junction with I-80; the northern terminus of I-380 is at I-81 and U.S. Route 6 (US 6) in Dunmore. The entire length of the highway is 28.45 miles (45.79 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyoming Valley</span> Metropolitan statistical area in Pennsylvania, United States

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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad</span>

The Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad is a shortline railroad operating in Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially the Scranton area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Route 115</span> 35.7-mile-long (57.5 km) north–south state highway in eastern Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Route 115 (PA 115) is a 35.7-mile-long (57.5 km) north–south state highway in eastern Pennsylvania. It stretches from U.S. Route 209 (US 209) in Brodheadsville, Monroe County, northwest to Interstate 81 (I-81) and PA 309 near Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County. PA 115 passes through rural areas along its route, intersecting PA 903 in Tunkhannock Township, I-80 and PA 940 in Tobyhanna Township, and I-476 in Bear Creek Township. The road serves as a connector between the Pocono Mountains and the Wyoming Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area codes 570 and 272</span> Northeast Pennsylvania area codes

Area codes 570 and 272 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the northeast quadrant of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The numbering plan area (NPA) includes the cities or towns of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Pittston, Carbondale, Hazleton, Clarks Summit, Towanda, Bloomsburg, Sayre, Tunkhannock, Berwick, Milford, Montrose, Honesdale, Pocono Pines, Nanticoke, Tamaqua, Shavertown, Dallas, Mahanoy City, Sunbury, Jim Thorpe, and as far south as Pottsville and as far west as Lock Haven.

Regions of Pennsylvania in the United States include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority</span>

The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA) is a bi-county creation of both Lackawanna and Monroe counties to oversee the use of common rail freight lines in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The designated freight operator of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority lines is the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad and tourism operator is Steamtown National Historic Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwind Rail Travel Limited</span> Logistics equipment provider

Southwind Rail Travel Limited is a leasing company that provides locomotives and rolling stock to railroad companies.

District 11 of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) is an interscholastic athletic association in eastern Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martz Group</span> Pennsylvania based bus company

Martz Group is a bus company headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, operating intercity commuter buses, charter buses, and tours. The company operates Martz Trailways, which is a part of the Trailways Transportation System. Martz Trailways provides intercity commuter bus service from the Wyoming Valley cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton and the Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania to New York City and Philadelphia. The company runs buses connecting northeastern Pennsylvania to the casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Wind Creek Bethlehem. Martz Group operates the Gold Line commuter service and Gray Line sightseeing service in Washington, D.C., and the First Class Coach Company Trailways serving Tampa and St. Petersburg in Florida. Martz Bus also offers interstate and intrastate charter bus services.

References

  1. https://www.visitpa.com/region/upstate-pa
  2. David Pierce (2010-06-25). "Population pops in Pike, Monroe counties". PoconoRecord.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  3. JOSH MROZINSKI (2011-10-31). "Scranton's Houdini group replaces statuary bust of Harry Houdini at gravesite – News". The Times-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  4. "Talk of the Times: Scranton Ghost Walks – Lifestyles". The Times-Tribune. 2010-07-26. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  5. Christen Gruebel (2008). Pursuits Magazine, Top 10 most Haunted Places. Vol. 5. Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. pp. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60.