Swoyersville, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Swoyersville is a borough in Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 5,157 at the 2000 census. Swoyersville is located within the Wyoming Valley West School District
.
Swoyersville's economy was formerly based on coal mining, until most of the town's mines ceased production in the 1950s. Work continued at the colliery on Main Street in Swoyersville well into the 1960s. In 1972, the town was severely flooded by Susquehanna River
in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes
. There was great concern at that time, that many of the flooded abandoned mine tunnels, running underneath Swoyersville, would cave-in. Fortunately, the cave-ins never occurred.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,157 people, 2,243 households, and 1,484 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,386.4 people per square mile (921.8/km2). There were 2,356 housing units at an average density of 1,090.3 per square mile (421.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.22% White, 0.10% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population.
There were 2,243 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,434, and the median income for a family was $39,188. Males had a median income of $29,101 versus $26,304 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,449. About 10.4% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,157 at the 2000 census. Swoyersville is located within the Wyoming Valley West School District
Wyoming Valley West School District
Wyoming Valley West School District is a large, suburban public school district in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Students from nine boroughs attend Wyoming Valley West: Courtdale, Edwardsville, Forty Fort, Larksville, Luzerne, Plymouth, Pringle, Kingston, and Swoyersville. Wyoming Valley West...
.
History
The borough of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania was named for mine owner John Henry Swoyer. Originally called Swoyerville, the town held a special vote in the 1950s to decide whether to add an "s" to the town's name. The measure passed and the town name became Swoyersville.Swoyersville's economy was formerly based on coal mining, until most of the town's mines ceased production in the 1950s. Work continued at the colliery on Main Street in Swoyersville well into the 1960s. In 1972, the town was severely flooded by 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...
in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
. There was great concern at that time, that many of the flooded abandoned mine tunnels, running underneath Swoyersville, would cave-in. Fortunately, the cave-ins never occurred.
Geography
Swoyersville is located at 41.294602°N 75.876684°W.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 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
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 5,157 people, 2,243 households, and 1,484 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 2,386.4 people per square mile (921.8/km2). There were 2,356 housing units at an average density of 1,090.3 per square mile (421.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.22% White, 0.10% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population.
There were 2,243 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,434, and the median income for a family was $39,188. Males had a median income of $29,101 versus $26,304 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 $16,449. About 10.4% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
A number of professional athletes grew up in Swoyersville, including- Adam ComoroskyAdam ComoroskyAdam Anthony Comorosky was an American former Major League Baseball player. He started working in the coal mines of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania at the age of 12, where he worked as a breaker boy. His lesson from the experience was that it "teach[es] you values...
(Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
outfielder) - Lou MichaelsLou MichaelsLou Michaels is a former American football player who was a standout defensive lineman for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, 1955-57. After Kentucky's victory over archrival Tennessee in 1957, Michaels was quoted as saying, "Nothing sucks like a Big Orange." Michaels later played pro football...
(former kicker for the Baltimore ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
), - Walt MichaelsWalt MichaelsWalt Michaels was a former professional football player and coach who is best remembered for his six-year tenure as head coach of the NFL's New York Jets from 1977-1982.-Collegiate and early NFL career:...
(former head coach of the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
) - John PaluckJohn PaluckJohn Joseph Paluck was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He went to one Pro Bowl during his nine year career. Paluck played college football at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted in the second round of the 1956 NFL Draft....
(former DE with the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
) - Joe HolupJoe HolupJoseph J. "Joe" Holup was an American professional basketball player.A 6'6' forward, Holup starred at George Washington University from 1953 to 1956. He tallied 2,226 points and 2,030 rebounds in 104 varsity games, and led the NCAA in rebounds per game during the 1955–56 season...
(forward for the NBA's Syracuse NationalsSyracuse NationalsThe Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
and Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
) - Harry DorishHarry DorishHarry "Fritz" Dorish was an American professional baseball player. Born in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, he was a right-handed pitcher over all or parts of ten seasons with the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox...
(MLB pitcher with the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, St. Louis BrownsBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
). - Jim HettesJim HettesJim Hettes is an American mixed martial artist currently competing as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Martial Arts background:...
(UFC fighter)