Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Seal of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Map
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the U.S. highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded September 25, 1786
Seat Wilkes-Barre
Largest city Wilkes-Barre
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
907 sq mi (2,349 km²)
891 sq mi (2,308 km²)
16 sq mi (41 km²), 1.80%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
319,250
357/sq mi (138/km²)
Website: www.luzernecounty.org

Luzerne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located in the northern Anthracite area called "The Coal Region". As of the 2000 census, the population was 319,250. Its county seat is Wilkes-Barre[1].

Contents

[edit] History

Luzerne County was formed in 1786 from part of Northumberland County. Luzerne is infamous for being the last county whose sheriff legally formed a posse to restore order in a time of civil unrest. In 1897, Sheriff James Martin's posse fired on a group of unarmed miners in what is known as the Lattimer Massacre.

The Luzerne County Historical Society maintains the storehouse for the collective memory of Luzerne County and its environs. It records and interprets the history, traditions, events, people and cultures that have directed and molded life within the region.[1]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 907 square miles (2,349 km²), of which, 891 square miles (2,307 km²) of it is land and 16 square miles (42 km²) of it (1.80%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Demographics

Luzerne County is the only county in the United States where a plurality of residents state their ancestry as Polish
Luzerne County is the only county in the United States where a plurality of residents state their ancestry as Polish

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 319,250 people, 130,687 households, and 84,293 families residing in the county. The population density was 358 people per square mile (138/km²). There were 144,686 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile (63/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.63% White, 1.69% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.2% were of Polish, 15.6% Italian, 13.8% Irish, 12.1% German and 5.3% Slovak ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 130,687 households out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.50 males.

Luzerne Country is the only county in the United States with a plurality of citizens reporting Polish as their primary ancestry; the majority of Pennsylvanians report German or Pennsylvania Dutch.

[edit] Politics

Luzerne County Courthouse
Luzerne County Courthouse

As of November 2007, there are 173,368 registered voters in Luzerne County [2].

Luzerne County is represented by three County Commissioners.[3]

United States House of Representatives

Pennsylvania State Senate

  • Raphael Musto, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 14th Senatorial District
  • Lisa Baker, Republican, Pennsylvania's 10th Senatorial District
  • Robert Mellow, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 24th Senatorial District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

  • Jim Wansacz, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 114th Representative District
  • Todd Eachus, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 116th Representative District
  • Karen Boback, Republican, Pennsylvania's 117st Representative District
  • Mike Carroll, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 118th Representative District
  • John Yudichak, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 119th Representative District
  • Phyllis Mundy, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 120th Representative District
  • Eddie Day Pashinski, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 121st Representative District

[edit] Municipalities

Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Luzerne County:

[edit] Cities

[edit] Boroughs

[edit] Townships

[edit] Census-designated Places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania School Districts

[edit] Recreation

There are four Pennsylvania state parks in Luzerne County.

[edit] Education

[edit] Public School Districts

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
County seat: Wilkes-Barre
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Coordinates: 41°11′N 75°59′W / 41.18, -75.99