Information
City: Wilkes BarreCountry: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Wilkes Barre, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
Wilkes-Barre sits in Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley, about fifteen miles south of Scranton, with the Susquehanna River curling past its edge; home to roughly 44,000 people as of the 2020 census, it was founded in 1769 by Connecticut settlers amid fierce Pennamite–Yankee land disputes, later booming as a 19th-century coal-mining hub whose black dust once coated the streets.When the coal industry collapsed in the mid-20th century, jobs vanished, the economy faltered, and towns emptied, leaving quiet streets and shuttered storefronts.Revitalization: Lately, the push has been on breathing new life into downtown, adding hospital wings, and improving local schools.The area’s mostly White, though Hispanic and African American neighborhoods are steadily growing-bright murals and lively street markets hint at the change.Population dropped after the coal days, but new redevelopment projects are helping it level off.In the past, coal mining ruled the economy, with soot-covered trains hauling loads from the hills.Right now, the economy’s powered by healthcare, education, retail, and small manufacturing-think busy clinics, crowded classrooms, and humming workshop floors.Major employers include Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Wilkes University, Luzerne County’s government offices, and several busy healthcare facilities.The area’s culture offers small downtown galleries, local festivals, and attractions worth exploring.M brushed a stray curl from her forehead and kept walking.The Kirby Center, a historic theater with worn velvet seats, hosts concerts, plays, and lively community events.Mohegan Sun Arena hosts everything from nail-biting basketball games to thundering rock concerts and bustling conventions.Nesbitt Park sits by the Susquehanna, a favorite spot where people stroll the grassy banks and watch the water slide past.Annual events range from lively community festivals to bustling farmers’ markets and vibrant cultural celebrations.Wilkes University serves as a lively hub for learning and culture, where you might catch a guest lecture one night and a jazz concert the next.Wilkes-Barre’s public schools fall under the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, while higher education includes Wilkes University and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; getting here’s easy, with Interstate 81 and U. S. Route 11 just a short drive past the old brick mill.Public transit here runs on the Luzerne County Transportation Authority buses, the ones with blue stripes rumbling down Main Street.There’s no passenger rail service here, and the closest Amtrak stops are in Scranton or Harrisburg, hours away past rolling hills.The area’s served by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, where the scent of fresh coffee drifts through the busy terminal.Wilkes-Barre was a driving force in America’s coal-powered industrial age, its mines once echoing with the clang of metal and the rumble of carts.In this city, the community pours its energy into arts and education, hoping to spark revitalization-paintbrushes in hand, books under arm. Tucked into the scenic Wyoming Valley, it rests among rolling hills and the slow curve of the river.
Landmarks in wilkes-barre
