Wyoming, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Wyoming Monument, burial site forBattle of Wyoming casualties | |
 Location of Wyoming in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania | |
  Wyoming  Wyoming | |
| Coordinates:41°18′34″N75°50′13″W / 41.30944°N 75.83694°W /41.30944; -75.83694 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Luzerne |
| Region | Greater Pittston |
| Settled | 18th century |
| Incorporated | 1885 |
| Government | |
| • Body | Borough Council |
| • Mayor | Joseph Dominick (R)[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.56 sq mi (4.03 km2) |
| • Land | 1.43 sq mi (3.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,097 |
• Estimate (2021)[3] | 3,103 |
| • Density | 2,111.50/sq mi (815.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip code | 18644 |
| Area code | 570 |
| FIPS code | 42-86856 |
| Website | wyomingpa |
Wyoming is aborough in theGreater Pittston area ofLuzerne County,Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 5 miles (8 km) north ofWilkes-Barre, along theSusquehanna River.[4] The population was 3,097 as of the 2020 census.[3]
The name "Wyoming" derives from theMunsee wordxwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat".[5] The state ofWyoming is either named after this borough or the surroundingvalley.
By the 1700s, theWyoming Valley was inhabited by severalNative American tribes (including theSusquehannock and theDelaware). In the mid-18th century,Connecticutsettlers ventured into the valley. These were the first recordedEuropeans in the region.[6] In 1768, the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut devised a plan to divide the Wyoming Valley into five townships. Each township was to be divided amongst forty settlers. Wyoming was originally part ofKingston Township.[7]
On June 30, 1778,Loyalist forces, under the command of MajorJohn Butler, arrived in the Wyoming Valley to attack the American settlements. On July 1, Fort Wintermoot at the north end of the valley surrendered without a shot being fired. The next morning the smaller Fort Jenkins surrendered. Both forts were later burned to the ground.
Meanwhile thePatriot militia assembled atForty Fort. On July 3, a column of roughly 375 men including a company of soldiers in theContinental Army marched from the fort under the command of Lieutenant ColonelZebulon Butler and Colonel Nathan Denison. Major Butler'sRangers, with the assistance of about 500 Native American allies, ambushed the oncoming Americans. In the end, nearly 300 Patriot soldiers from the Wyoming Valley were killed during theBattle of Wyoming, commonly known as the Wyoming Massacre.[8]
The next day Colonel Denison surrendered Forty Fort along with several other posts. Widespread looting and burning of buildings occurred throughout the Wyoming Valley subsequent to the capitulation, but non-combatants were not harmed.[8] Most of the inhabitants, however, fled across thePocono Mountains toStroudsburg andEaston or down theSusquehanna River toSunbury.
Today, in the Borough of Wyoming, amonument constructed in the early 1830s marks the gravesite of the casualties of the battle. An annual observance, sponsored by theWyoming Commemorative Association, takes place at the obelisk grounds to honor the fallen heroes of thisRevolutionary War battle. The monument has also been listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
Along with the Wyoming Monument, theLuzerne Presbyterial Institute andSwetland Homestead are also listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[9]
Wyoming was officially incorporated as a borough in 1885. The Eighth Street Bridge was constructed over the Susquehanna River during the early 20th century; it connected the Borough of Wyoming toJenkins Township.[10] In 2011, it was demolished and replaced with a new bridge.
Theflood of 2011 prompted the evacuation of theWilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport (in southern Wyoming). The planes were moved to a higher elevation to prevent flood damage; they were relocated to the Wyoming Monument.
Wyoming is located at41°18′34″N75°50′13″W / 41.30944°N 75.83694°W /41.30944; -75.83694 (41.309346, -75.836849).[11] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), of which 1.4 square miles (3.7 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 9.26%, is water.[12]
The Borough of Wyoming is a small strip of land on the western bank of theSusquehanna River. The area closest to the river is mostly made up of trees and fertile farmland. Homes and businesses are located further inland. Eighth Street and Wyoming Avenue (U.S. Route 11) run through the heart of the borough. They intersect in the northern half of the community. Many businesses are located along US 11. The Eighth Street Bridge links Wyoming to Jenkins Township, which is on the opposite bank of the Susquehanna River.
A section of theWilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport is located in southern Wyoming. The airport covers 135acres (55ha) at anelevation of 543 feet (166 m). In 2011, the airport had 25,125 aircraft operations (an average of 68 per day). 99.5% wasgeneral aviation, while 0.3% was military and 0.2% wasair taxi. 51 aircraft were then based at the airport (this consisted of 98% single-engine and 2% multi-engine).[13]
The following communities neighbor Wyoming:West Wyoming Borough (northwest),Exeter Borough (northeast),Jenkins Township (east, southeast),Plains Township (south), andForty Fort Borough (southwest).
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,147 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,794 | 56.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,909 | 6.4% | |
| 1910 | 3,010 | 57.7% | |
| 1920 | 3,582 | 19.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,648 | 29.8% | |
| 1940 | 4,728 | 1.7% | |
| 1950 | 4,511 | −4.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,127 | −8.5% | |
| 1970 | 4,195 | 1.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,655 | −12.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,255 | −10.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,221 | −1.0% | |
| 2010 | 3,073 | −4.6% | |
| 2020 | 3,097 | 0.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 3,103 | [3] | 0.2% |
| Sources:[14][15][16] | |||
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 3,221 people, 1,487 households, and 852 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,271.6 inhabitants per square mile (877.1/km2). There were 1,580 housing units at an average density of 1,114.3 per square mile (430.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.50%White, 0.06%African American, 0.06%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.16% fromother races, and 0.19% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 1,487 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% weremarried couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $33,576, and the median income for a family was $44,087. Males had a median income of $33,015 versus $24,718 for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $18,428. About 5.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
It is in theWyoming Area School District.[17]
