Exeter, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Exeter is a borough in the Greater Pittston area
of Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Scranton
. The borough is in the middle of a fertile agricultural area, and some lumber and coal-mining had been carried out early on. In 1900, the population consisted of 1,948 persons; in 1910, 3,537 persons; and in 1940, 5,802 persons. The population was 5,955 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 5 square miles (12.9 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (6.25%) is water. It lies on the west side of the Susquehanna River
and has two distinct islands: Wintermoot and Scovell. It also has a number of smaller islands.
Its zip code is 18643, shared with West Pittston, PA as well.
in Devon
, England. Numerous other places
have also been given the name Exeter.
. She was recommended for the position to council by her grandfather, Mayor Joseph F. Coyne III, before his passing.
Exeter Borough resides within the Wyoming Area School District
. Wyoming Area Catholic School
is the town's private school
.
A controversial Wal-Mart
store has been proposed on Route 11 within the borough. Although the economic, environmental, and transportation-related impacts of a 'big box' store within city limits are of great concern, the community remains polarized. Currently, the city council is weighing the numerous negative impacts against the potential economic gains. A nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter is already under construction in nearby Pittston Township and is already having a negative collateral impact on the community.
The issues range from the potential job-loss at nearby Price Chopper and both Gerrity's supermarkets, to further stresses to the Hicks Creek watershed and subsequent flooding to recently-added housing developments, such as Wildflower Village, to the several-thousand-car-and-truck per-day influx on the limited transportational infrastructure.
Members of the community were prompted to form 'Exeter First' in order "to promote efficient use of existing resources, and encourage sustainable growth and development of Exeter Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
including how these actions affect surrounding communities." Their central goal is to bring to light the common impacts of Wal-Mart
.
of 2000, there were 5,955 people, 2,482 households, and 1,640 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,278.4 people per square mile (493.4/km²). There were 2,641 housing units at an average density of 567.0 per square mile (218.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.69% White, 0.49% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 2,482 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,681, and the median income for a family was $40,050. Males had a median income of $31,569 versus $21,693 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,022. About 7.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Greater Pittston
Greater Pittston is a region in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in reference to the area in and around Pittston. The total population of the Greater Pittston area is around 50,000 people...
of Luzerne County
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. The borough is in the middle of a fertile agricultural area, and some lumber and coal-mining had been carried out early on. In 1900, the population consisted of 1,948 persons; in 1910, 3,537 persons; and in 1940, 5,802 persons. The population was 5,955 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Exeter is located at 41°19′32"N 75°49′10"W (41.325530, -75.819353).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 5 square miles (12.9 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (6.25%) is water. It lies on the west side of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
and has two distinct islands: Wintermoot and Scovell. It also has a number of smaller islands.
Its zip code is 18643, shared with West Pittston, PA as well.
History
The name Exeter derives from the ancient city of ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. Numerous other places
Exeter (disambiguation)
-Place names:Australia*Exeter, New South Wales*Exeter, South Australia*Exeter, TasmaniaCanada*Exeter, OntarioUnited Kingdom*Exeter, Devon—the original location**Exeter **The University of ExeterUnited States of America...
have also been given the name Exeter.
Noteworthy Information
Mayor Cassandra Coleman was appointed to office in 2008 amid much contention. She is a 21-year-old political science student at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. She was recommended for the position to council by her grandfather, Mayor Joseph F. Coyne III, before his passing.
Exeter Borough resides within the Wyoming Area School District
Wyoming Area School District
The Wyoming Area School District is a midsized, public school district located in northeastern Luzerne County, Pennsylvania midway between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton . The district is composed of six municipalities: West Pittston, Exeter, Wyoming, West Wyoming, Harding and Falls Township, covering...
. Wyoming Area Catholic School
Wyoming Area Catholic School
Wyoming Area Catholic School is a Roman Catholic school located at 1690 Wyoming Avenue in Exeter, Pennsylvania. The school serves grades pre-K to 8. The school's campus consists of a rectory, convent, and church. There is a fenced-in grass field behind the school for recess, sports, and other...
is the town's private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
.
A controversial Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
store has been proposed on Route 11 within the borough. Although the economic, environmental, and transportation-related impacts of a 'big box' store within city limits are of great concern, the community remains polarized. Currently, the city council is weighing the numerous negative impacts against the potential economic gains. A nearby Wal-Mart Supercenter is already under construction in nearby Pittston Township and is already having a negative collateral impact on the community.
The issues range from the potential job-loss at nearby Price Chopper and both Gerrity's supermarkets, to further stresses to the Hicks Creek watershed and subsequent flooding to recently-added housing developments, such as Wildflower Village, to the several-thousand-car-and-truck per-day influx on the limited transportational infrastructure.
Members of the community were prompted to form 'Exeter First' in order "to promote efficient use of existing resources, and encourage sustainable growth and development of Exeter Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
including how these actions affect surrounding communities." Their central goal is to bring to light the common impacts of Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,955 people, 2,482 households, and 1,640 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,278.4 people per square mile (493.4/km²). There were 2,641 housing units at an average density of 567.0 per square mile (218.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.69% White, 0.49% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.03% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 2,482 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,681, and the median income for a family was $40,050. Males had a median income of $31,569 versus $21,693 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $16,022. About 7.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.