West Pittston, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
West Pittston is a borough in the Greater Pittston area
of Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, on the Susquehanna River
opposite Pittston
. The town once produced mine screens, cut glass, crackers, and knit and silk goods.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (13.68%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,072 people, 2,243 households, and 1,397 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 6,199.1 people per square mile (2,388.2/km²). There were 2,381 housing units at an average density of 2,910.1 per square mile (1,121.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.00% from other races
, and 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.
There were 2,243 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $33,030, and the median income for a family was $41,729. Males had a median income of $35,386 versus $20,656 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $20,370. About 9.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.http://www.zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=18643
, an area along the Susquehanna River
. The cities of Wilkes-Barre
and Pittston
are also part of this valley.
The borough resides within the Wyoming Area School District
.
Unlike the hardscrabble coal towns around it, West Pittston was generally a quiet town and home to the white collar workers of the anthracite coal
industry. As such, it fared better than its neighbors when the coal industry collapsed in the 1950s. Billed as the 'Garden Village', it is home to several businesses of note: Keystone Automotive, Pride Mobility, the online gourmet food company Igourmet, the online classic Halloween decorations company RetroWeen, and Renaissance Entertainment Technologies. Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy Inc. is also located in West Pittston and known for their homemade ice cream.
The West Pittston Police Department was established in 1857.
West Pittston is the home of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment, part of the 28th Infantry Division
.
West Pittston was the site of the alleged Smurl haunting
, as recounted in the book and movie The Haunted.
West Pittston was the birthplace of actress Marion Lorne
who portrayed Aunt Clara on the ABC sitcom Bewitched
.
West Pittston is home to one of the first bridge
s illuminated by fiber optic cable. The bridge
is outlined with a fiber optic cable which is coupled to a lighting control box. The colors of the lights can be changed manually to reflect holidays and local sporting rivalries or set to a mode which cycles colors over set intervals.
West Pittston has an annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The event usually begins on a Friday night with bands and food, but the official start is the parade
on Saturday morning in which local school bands, Little League
teams, Boy Scout
Troops and various local emergency service crews walk across town, ending at the festival. The festival continues all weekend with a Miss Cherry Blossom contest, musical concerts, and skit shows.
The 34th Annual West Pittston Anthracite Run was held on 6 June 2011. The race is 4 miles long and follows along the Susquehanna River. This years winners were (Male) Chris Wadas of Plains with a time of 20:22 and (Woman) Deedra Porfirio of West Pittston with a time of 24:56.
On September 8, 2011, the Susquehanna River, spurred by heavy rains from both the remnants of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, overflowed its banks flooding more than a quarter of the town. This was considered to be a historic flooding event which displaced thousands of people and caused millions of dollars in damages to businesses and homes.
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...
, on 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...
opposite Pittston
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
. The town once produced mine screens, cut glass, crackers, and knit and silk goods.
Geography
West Pittston is located at 41°19′45"N 75°47′57"W (41.329265, -75.799048).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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (13.68%) is water.
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 5,072 people, 2,243 households, and 1,397 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 6,199.1 people per square mile (2,388.2/km²). There were 2,381 housing units at an average density of 2,910.1 per square mile (1,121.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.00% 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 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.
There were 2,243 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% 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, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $33,030, and the median income for a family was $41,729. Males had a median income of $35,386 versus $20,656 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 $20,370. About 9.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.http://www.zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=18643
Noteworthy Information
West Pittston lies at the northern end of the Wyoming ValleyWyoming Valley
Wyoming Valley is a region of northeastern Pennsylvania. As a metropolitan area, it is also known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, after its principal cities, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre....
, an area along 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...
. The cities of Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
and Pittston
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
are also part of this valley.
The 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...
.
Unlike the hardscrabble coal towns around it, West Pittston was generally a quiet town and home to the white collar workers of the anthracite coal
Anthracite coal
Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster...
industry. As such, it fared better than its neighbors when the coal industry collapsed in the 1950s. Billed as the 'Garden Village', it is home to several businesses of note: Keystone Automotive, Pride Mobility, the online gourmet food company Igourmet, the online classic Halloween decorations company RetroWeen, and Renaissance Entertainment Technologies. Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy Inc. is also located in West Pittston and known for their homemade ice cream.
The West Pittston Police Department was established in 1857.
West Pittston is the home of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment, part of the 28th Infantry Division
U.S. 28th Infantry Division
The 28th Infantry Division is a unit of the Army National Guard and is the oldest division-sized unit in the armed forces of the United States. The division was officially established in 1879 and was later redesignated as the 28th Division in 1917, after the entry of America into the First World War...
.
West Pittston was the site of the alleged Smurl haunting
Smurl haunting
The Smurl haunting refers to claims made by Jack and Janet Smurl of West Pittston, Pennsylvania who alleged that a demon inhabited their home between 1974 and 1989...
, as recounted in the book and movie The Haunted.
West Pittston was the birthplace of actress Marion Lorne
Marion Lorne
Marion Lorne MacDougall was an American actress. After a career in theatre in New York and London, Lorne made her first film in 1951, and for the remainder of her life, played small roles in films and television...
who portrayed Aunt Clara on the ABC sitcom Bewitched
Bewitched
Bewitched is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York and Dick Sargent , Agnes Moorehead, and David White. The show is about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to lead the life of a typical suburban...
.
West Pittston is home to one of the first bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s illuminated by fiber optic cable. The bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
is outlined with a fiber optic cable which is coupled to a lighting control box. The colors of the lights can be changed manually to reflect holidays and local sporting rivalries or set to a mode which cycles colors over set intervals.
West Pittston has an annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The event usually begins on a Friday night with bands and food, but the official start is the parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
on Saturday morning in which local school bands, Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
teams, Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
Troops and various local emergency service crews walk across town, ending at the festival. The festival continues all weekend with a Miss Cherry Blossom contest, musical concerts, and skit shows.
The 34th Annual West Pittston Anthracite Run was held on 6 June 2011. The race is 4 miles long and follows along the Susquehanna River. This years winners were (Male) Chris Wadas of Plains with a time of 20:22 and (Woman) Deedra Porfirio of West Pittston with a time of 24:56.
On September 8, 2011, the Susquehanna River, spurred by heavy rains from both the remnants of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, overflowed its banks flooding more than a quarter of the town. This was considered to be a historic flooding event which displaced thousands of people and caused millions of dollars in damages to businesses and homes.