Wyoming, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Wyoming is a borough in the Greater Pittston area
of Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
five miles (8 km) north of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River
. Formerly, coal mining was the chief industry. In 1900, 1,909 people resided in Wyoming. There were 3,010 residents in 1910. The population was 3,221 at the 2000 census.
marks the gravesite of victims of the July 1778 Battle of Wyoming. The battle was named for the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, of which the current borough of Wyoming is a part.
A force of British and Tories led by John Butler
, with the assistance of about 700 Native Americans
attacked the outnumbered Wyoming Valley settlers on 3 July 1778, north of Wyoming in what is now Exeter Borough. The exact fatality count is not known, but it is estimated between 200 and 300 settlers were killed in the battle.
An annual observance, sponsored by the Wyoming Commemorative Association
, takes place at the obelisk grounds to honor the fallen heroes of this Revolutionary War battle. The monument has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Wyoming Valley was made famous by the 1809 poem "Gertrude of Wyoming" by Thomas Campbell. The state of Wyoming
was named after the valley, owing to the popularity of the poem
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (8.97%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,221 people, 1,487 households, and 852 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,271.6 people per square mile (875.8/km²). There were 1,580 housing units at an average density of 1,114.3 per square mile (429.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.50% White, 0.06% African American, 0.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income
for the borough was $18,428. About 5.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 9.3% 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
five miles (8 km) north of Wilkes Barre, 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...
. Formerly, coal mining was the chief industry. In 1900, 1,909 people resided in Wyoming. There were 3,010 residents in 1910. The population was 3,221 at the 2000 census.
History
The Wyoming MonumentWyoming Monument
The Wyoming Monument is an American Revolutionary War monument and gravesite located in the borough of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County....
marks the gravesite of victims of the July 1778 Battle of Wyoming. The battle was named for the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, of which the current borough of Wyoming is a part.
A force of British and Tories led by John Butler
Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
, with the assistance of about 700 Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
attacked the outnumbered Wyoming Valley settlers on 3 July 1778, north of Wyoming in what is now Exeter Borough. The exact fatality count is not known, but it is estimated between 200 and 300 settlers were killed in the battle.
An annual observance, sponsored by the Wyoming Commemorative Association
Wyoming Commemorative Association
Wyoming Commemorative Association was founded in 1878 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Wyoming . This American Revolutionary War battle was fought on July 3, 1778, near Wilkes-Barre in present day Exeter, Pennsylvania.The Association was informally organized in 1877 to prepare...
, takes place at the obelisk grounds to honor the fallen heroes of this Revolutionary War battle. The monument has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Wyoming Valley was made famous by the 1809 poem "Gertrude of Wyoming" by Thomas Campbell. The state of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
was named after the valley, owing to the popularity of the poem
Geography
Wyoming is located at 41°18′34"N 75°50′13"W (41.309346, -75.836849).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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (8.97%) 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 3,221 people, 1,487 households, and 852 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 2,271.6 people per square mile (875.8/km²). There were 1,580 housing units at an average density of 1,114.3 per square mile (429.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.50% White, 0.06% African American, 0.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% 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 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% 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, 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. 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 $18,428. About 5.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.