Scranton History and Facts
Scranton is the 6th largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The county seat of Lackawanna is in Scranton. Scranton also has a federal court building downtown. The population of Scranton is approximately 78,000. Of the Scranton-Hazelton-Wilkes-Barre metro area (population of 575,000), Scranton is the largest city.
Scranton boast the cultural and geo center of the Lackawanna River valley, and the largest contiguous area in the region having former coal mining communities spread across the area. Incorporated in Feb 1856, it is still a major industrial city both a home of rail and mining operations. |
Scranton is known as the “Electric City” when electric lights were first used in 1880. Later, Scranton employed some of the nations’ first trolley cars when they began operation in 1887
Beginning in the early 1980s Scranton community leaders have focused on reenergizing the city. Historical properties, buildings, and monuments have been renovated and designated as tourist attractions. Since the 1980s the Scranton Cultural Center has provided management over the Masonic Temple and Rite Cathedral. And magically speaking, the Houdini Museum was opening in the early 1990s by Dorothy Dietrich.
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In the early 2000s, Hilton Hotels opened the Scranton Hotel and Conference Center downtown. A ghost walk was founded, due to popularity on TV, which traverses most of historic Scranton and is now open 365 days a year. Other area tourist attractions include: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team, Montage Mount ski resort, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton RailRiders MLB affiliate team, and Toyota Pavilion concert arena.
According to local reports however, Scranton was near bankruptcy in mid 2012, having to cut salaries and wages of all city employees to minimum wage levels.
From the downtown area revitalization efforts, many cafes, bars, retail spots, and restaurants have open in the area. This has made for an improved nightlife for Scranton residents and tourists alike. Gentrification in the historic downtown area from the low cost of living to construction of more mixed use spaces, have attracted a younger population of artists and professionals. Scranton finds itself with a renewed population of people that once moved to larger cities only to comeback home to Scranton.
According to local reports however, Scranton was near bankruptcy in mid 2012, having to cut salaries and wages of all city employees to minimum wage levels.
From the downtown area revitalization efforts, many cafes, bars, retail spots, and restaurants have open in the area. This has made for an improved nightlife for Scranton residents and tourists alike. Gentrification in the historic downtown area from the low cost of living to construction of more mixed use spaces, have attracted a younger population of artists and professionals. Scranton finds itself with a renewed population of people that once moved to larger cities only to comeback home to Scranton.
Scranton has 7 neighborhoods: West Side, the Hill Section (East Scranton), East Mountain, Minooka, South Scranton, North Scranton and Downtown. Like many cities the distinct boundaries of these area are not identifiable or clearly defined.
The Hill neighborhood is mostly residential boarding eastern downtown and finds three of Scranton’s Universities there: Lackawanna College, University of Scranton, and Commonwealth Medical College.
The South Side neighborhood includes the Flats, Nativity Section, East Mounting, and Minooka. Minooka is it’s own neighborhood but is also consider a section within South Side. East Mountain is adjacent to Lake Scranton, which is popular with nature loves, joggers, and hikers.
Downtown is the business and retail center of Scranton. There is the Electric Trolley Museum, Steamtown Historic Site, the Masonic Center and Temple, the county court house, the Radisson Hotel (converted from a train depot), and old iron furnaces. A trail, the Lackawanna River Heritage, goes along the river in downtown giving cyclists and walkers access to its banks and water.
Whether you need to move within, between, or to/from one of Scranton neighborhoods please consider using Scranton Moving. We offer long distance and local moves along with storage solutions for any need. Call today to plan your move and obtain a free over-the-phone estimate.
The Hill neighborhood is mostly residential boarding eastern downtown and finds three of Scranton’s Universities there: Lackawanna College, University of Scranton, and Commonwealth Medical College.
The South Side neighborhood includes the Flats, Nativity Section, East Mounting, and Minooka. Minooka is it’s own neighborhood but is also consider a section within South Side. East Mountain is adjacent to Lake Scranton, which is popular with nature loves, joggers, and hikers.
Downtown is the business and retail center of Scranton. There is the Electric Trolley Museum, Steamtown Historic Site, the Masonic Center and Temple, the county court house, the Radisson Hotel (converted from a train depot), and old iron furnaces. A trail, the Lackawanna River Heritage, goes along the river in downtown giving cyclists and walkers access to its banks and water.
Whether you need to move within, between, or to/from one of Scranton neighborhoods please consider using Scranton Moving. We offer long distance and local moves along with storage solutions for any need. Call today to plan your move and obtain a free over-the-phone estimate.