West Pittston, Pennsylvania

Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

West Pittston, Pennsylvania

Borough

A home on Luzerne Avenue in West Pittston

Nickname:

The Garden Village

Location of West Pittston in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

West Pittston

Show map of Pennsylvania

West Pittston

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Coordinates: 41°19′45.35″N 75°47′56.57″W﻿ / ﻿41.3292639°N 75.7990472°W﻿ / 41.3292639; -75.7990472
Country| United States
State| Pennsylvania
County| Luzerne
Region| Greater Pittston
Settled| 1778
Incorporated| 1857
Government

• Type| Borough Council
• Mayor| Angelo Alfano[1]
Area

[2]

• Total

| 0.94 sq mi (2.43 km2)
• Land| 0.82 sq mi (2.12 km2)
• Water| 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Population

(2020)[3]

• Total

| 4,644

• Estimate

(2021)[3]

| 4,636
• Density| 5,806.10/sq mi (2,242.86/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code|

18643

Area code| 570
FIPS code| 42-83856
Website| westpittstonborough.com

West Pittston is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located on the Susquehanna River (opposite of Pittston City). In 2020, the population was 4,644.[3]

The town once produced mine screens, glass, crackers, and many other goods. West Pittston rose to national attention in September 2011, when catastrophic flooding (caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee) left much of the borough under water.

## History

[edit]

1892 panoramic map of Pittston and West Pittston; West Pittston is visible on the left

West Pittston was settled in the 1770s. On July 1, 1778, during the Revolutionary War, Fort Jenkins (a patriot stockade in present-day West Pittston) surrendered to the British (under Major John Butler). It was later burned to the ground. On July 3, the Battle of Wyoming was fought only several miles outside of West Pittston. It was incorporated as a borough in 1857. The West Pittston Police Department was also established that same year. West Pittston was the home of Company D, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 28th Infantry Division.

Two bridges were constructed over the Susquehanna River connecting Pittston City and West Pittston. In 1914, the Penn Bridge Company constructed the Water Street Bridge. Today, the Water Street Bridge (Firefighters’ Memorial Bridge) is illuminated by fiber-optic cable. The colors of the lights can be changed manually to reflect holidays and local sporting rivalries.

In 1928, a parallel bridge (the Fort Jenkins Bridge) was constructed north of the Water Street Bridge. The Fort Jenkins Bridge, which was later renamed the Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge, is part of U.S. Route 11. U.S. 11 runs through the heart of West Pittston.

In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes was responsible for massive flooding in and around the Greater Pittston area. From 1974 to 1989, alleged ghost hauntings took place in the home of Jack and Janet Smurl in West Pittston; it inspired the 1991 film The Haunted.

On September 8, 2011, the Susquehanna River, spurred by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee, crested at a record 42.66 feet (13.00 m). It flooded 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. Following record flooding, the non-profit organization West Pittston Tomorrow was founded. Its purpose was to improve the damaged community. It expanded the public library and created community gardens.[4]

* Firefighters' Memorial Bridge facing West Pittston

* Specialist Dale J. Kridlo Memorial Bridge (U.S. Route 11); West Pittston is on the left

* West Pittston Library

## Geography

[edit]

West Pittston is located at 41°19′45″N 75°47′57″W﻿ / ﻿41.32917°N 75.79917°W﻿ / 41.32917; -75.79917 (41.329265, -75.799048).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.97 square miles (2.5 km2), of which 0.81 square miles (2.1 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 15.10%, is water.[6] West Pittston lies on the western side of the Susquehanna River in northern Luzerne County. The City of Wilkes-Barre is located to the southwest. The City of Pittston is located directly across the river (to the east). The borough is situated within the Wyoming Area School District.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 599| | —
1870| 1,416| | 136.4%
1880| 2,544| | 79.7%
1890| 3,906| | 53.5%
1900| 5,846| | 49.7%
1910| 6,848| | 17.1%
1920| 6,968| | 1.8%
1930| 7,940| | 13.9%
1940| 7,943| | 0.0%
1950| 7,230| | −9.0%
1960| 6,998| | −3.2%
1970| 7,074| | 1.1%
1980| 5,980| | −15.5%
1990| 5,590| | −6.5%
2000| 5,072| | −9.3%
2010| 4,868| | −4.0%
2020| 4,644| | −4.6%
2021 (est.)| 4,636| [3]| −0.2%
Sources:[7][8][9]

As of the census[8] 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 inhabitants per square mile (2,393.5/km2). There were 2,381 housing units at an average density of 2,910.1 per square mile (1,123.6/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.[1]

## Culture

[edit]

West Pittston has an annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The event usually consists of bands, food, and a parade. The parade includes the Wyoming Area Marching Band, Little League teams, Boy Scout troops, and various local emergency service crews. The festival also includes musical concerts, skit shows, and a Miss Cherry Blossom contest.

* Sister city is Gualdo Tadino, Italy[10]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Annabel Morris Holvey (1855–1910), newspaper editor, social reformer
* Marion Lorne, actress, born in West Pittston
* Anne Sargent, actress
* Susan E. Dickinson, journalist

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Barry Hosier Jr. Sworn in as West Pittston Mayor". 15 November 2020.
2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
3. ^ a b c d Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2022. `{{cite web}}`: `|last1=` has generic name (help)
4. ^ "W. Pittston volunteers eye next emergency". The Times Leader. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
6. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): West Pittston borough, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
8. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
9. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
10. ^ "Il gemellaggio con West Pittston". www.protadino.it. Retrieved 2018-02-20.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Pittston, Pennsylvania.

* Official website
* West Pittston Historical Society
* West Pittston Cherry Blossom Festival

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States

County seat: Wilkes-Barre

Cities|

* Hazleton
* Nanticoke
* Pittston
* Wilkes-Barre

Boroughs|

* Ashley
* Avoca
* Bear Creek Village
* Conyngham
* Courtdale
* Dallas
* Dupont
* Duryea
* Edwardsville
* Exeter
* Forty Fort
* Freeland
* Harveys Lake
* Hughestown
* Jeddo
* Kingston
* Laflin
* Larksville
* Laurel Run
* Luzerne
* Nescopeck
* New Columbus
* Nuangola
* Penn Lake Park
* Plymouth
* Pringle
* Shickshinny
* Sugar Notch
* Swoyersville
* Warrior Run
* West Hazleton
* West Pittston
* West Wyoming
* White Haven
* Wyoming
* Yatesville

Townships|

* Bear Creek
* Black Creek
* Buck
* Butler
* Conyngham
* Dallas
* Dennison
* Dorrance
* Exeter
* Fairmount
* Fairview
* Foster
* Franklin
* Hanover
* Hazle
* Hollenback
* Hunlock
* Huntington
* Jackson
* Jenkins
* Kingston
* Lake
* Lehman
* Nescopeck
* Newport
* Pittston
* Plains
* Plymouth
* Rice
* Ross
* Salem
* Slocum
* Sugarloaf
* Union
* Wilkes-Barre
* Wright

CDPs|

* Beech Mountain Lakes
* Browntown
* Chase
* East Berwick
* Georgetown
* Glen Lyon
* Harleigh
* Hickory Hills
* Hilldale
* Hudson
* Inkerman
* Lattimer
* Misericordia University
* Mocanaqua
* Mountain Top
* Nuremberg‡
* Pardeesville
* Pikes Creek
* Plains
* Shavertown
* Sheatown
* Silkworth
* Trucksville
* Upper Exeter
* Wanamie
* West Nanticoke
* Weston

Unincorporated
communities|

* Alden
* Back Mountain
* Beach Haven
* Breslau
* Cambra
* Cranberry
* Drifton
* Drums
* Ebervale
* Glen Summit Springs
* Harveyville
* Humboldt
* Hunlock Creek
* Huntington Mills
* Japan
* Koonsville
* Korn Krest
* Kunkle
* Lehman
* Milnesville
* Moosehead
* Mossville
* Mountain Grove
* Old Boston
* Port Griffith
* Rock Glen
* Saint Johns
* Sandy Run
* Suscon
* Sweet Valley
* Sybertsville
* Tomhicken
* Wapwallopen
* Waterton
* Zenith

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Pennsylvania portal
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Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
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National|

* United States
* Israel

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