Pittston Township, Pennsylvania
Pittston Township, Pennsylvania | |
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UTC-4 (EDT) | |
FIPS code | 42-079-61056 |
Website | pittstontownship |
Pittston Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The population was 3,179 as of the 2020 census.[2] The township is located within the Greater Pittston region. As of 2010, the total population of Greater Pittston was 48,020. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in Pittston Township.
History
Establishment
Pittston Township was one of the five original townships formed under the Susquehanna Land Company of Connecticut (in the Wyoming Valley). It was originally known as Pittstown (named for Sir William Pitt, an English statesman). Each township was originally five square miles and divided amongst forty settlers. The township was surveyed in 1768. But, in 1784, flood waters destroyed the surveyor's marks and an act was passed for a new survey to take place. After being resurveyed, the township grew to nearly thirty-six square miles.
Zebulon Marcy was the first white settler to build a brush (or log) cabin in the township. Some may refer to him as the first settler. The other leading families in the township (prior to and during the American Revolution) were the Blanchards, Browns, Careys, Bennetts, Silsbeys, Marceys, Benedicts, St. Johns, Sawyers, and Coopers. Reverend Benedict was the first preacher in the locality. Captain Jeremiah Blanchard Sr. commanded the Pittston Company.
During the
The first
Coal mining
For sixty years, the Yankee element predominated the population of the township. When coal was discovered, a great migration of various European nationalities began. This influx is responsible for the heterogeneous population found in the township today. The coal interests soon became the largest source of wealth in the township (although there was some valuable farmland in the small valleys). Col. James W. Johnson was one of the pioneers in the mining and shipping of coal. He sent considerable quantities down the river in "arks" when this was the only mode of transportation.
McCarthyville, popularly known as Cork Lane, was once a mining village in Pittston Township. In 1892, the community consisted of 900 inhabitants and 140 dwellings.
Airport
As the United States entered the age of mass air transportation, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre (the largest cities in Northeast Pennsylvania) recognized the need for a large-scale airport. Despite the Great Depression and hard times affecting the local coal mining industry, a windfall multimillion-dollar opportunity to plan and build a regional airport was presented to the counties of Luzerne and Lackawanna through their Public Works Administration. It became apparent that a modern airport would be needed for the economic survival of the region. The site in and around Pittston Township was first surveyed in 1939 by the county commissioners of both counties.
In 1941, John B. McDade, president of the Heidelberg Coal Company and father of Congressman Joseph M. McDade, donated 122 acres on which part of the airport now sits. Most of the land was previously owned by various coal companies. By 1945, the two counties entered into a legal agreement to co-sponsor and operate the airport. Between 1945 and 1947, construction of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport took place in and around Pittston Township. Today, the airport is known as the “Gateway to Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains.” It is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania.
On April 20, 1985, a
"Kids for cash" scandal
The “kids for cash” scandal unfolded in 2008 over judicial
Tornado
An
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.79 square miles (35.71 km2), of which 13.77 square miles (35.66 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2), or 0.15%, is water. It is the second largest community by area in Greater Pittston. The township is served by the Pittston Area School District. The eastern part of the township is made up of mountains and forests. Most of the township's residents and businesses are located in the western half of the town. The elevation ranges from 2,130 feet (650 m) above sea level at the summit of Little Shiney Mountain in the southeastern corner of the township to 630 feet (190 m) in several valleys along the western border, near the Susquehanna River.
Its villages include Browntown, Cork Lane, Glendale, and Suscon. Its numbered routes are
Neighborhoods of Pittston Township
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | 3,450 | — | |
2010 | 3,368 | −2.4% | |
2020 | 3,179 | −5.6% | |
2021 (est.) | 3,179 | [2] | 0.0% |
U.S. Decennial Census[14] |
As of the
There were 1,340 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,339, and the median income for a family was $47,933. Males had a median income of $32,013 versus $22,077 for females. The
Government
Pittston Township Board of Supervisors | |
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Leadership | |
Stephen Rinaldi | |
David Slezak | |
Seats | 3 |
Meeting place | |
Pittston Township Municipal Building | |
Website | |
pittstontownship |
A second class township government consists of three supervisors, each with equal voting power. The three current supervisors are:
- Joseph Hawk
- Stephen Rinaldi
- David Slezak
List of Pittston Township Supervisors (2008–present)
Supervisor (1) | Term |
---|---|
John Paglianite | 2008 |
Ron Marcellini | 2008–2014 |
Barbara Attardo | 2014–2020 |
Joseph Hawk | 2020–present |
Supervisor (2) | Term |
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Tony Attardo | 2009 |
Barbara Attardo | 2009–2010 |
Stephen Rinaldi | 2010–present |
Supervisor (3) | Term |
---|---|
Joseph Adams | 2016 |
F. Sciabacucchi | 2016–2018 |
David Slezak | 2018–present |
Education
Public schools
Pittston Township is located within the
The Pittston Area School District consists of four schools:
- Pittston Area Primary Center - Hughestown(Grades: K-1)
- Pittston Area Intermediate Center - Pittston (Grades: 2-4)
- Martin L. Mattei Middle School - Pittston (Grades: 5-8)
- Pittston Area Senior High School - Yatesville(Grades: 9-12)
Private schools
There were several Catholic schools in the Greater Pittston area; many have been closed by the Diocese of Scranton due to lack of funding and low enrollment. Holy Rosary is located in Duryea.
Transportation
Highways
Public transportation
Pittston Township is served by the
Air
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in Pittston Township. The airport is served by eight international airlines and has hosted Air Force One on regional presidential visits several times in the past. In the spring of 2002, the airport began offering an increased number of non-stop flights across the nation. Service is provided by Continental Airlines, Delta, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways.
Rail
At present, the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad, Canadian Pacific Railway, successor to the Delaware and Hudson Railway, and the Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway, the designated operator of the county-owned shortline, provide freight service within Pittston City and Pittston Township. A proposed nearby commuter train from Scranton to New York City has received government funding.
References
- ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Lossing, Benson (1859). The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution. Harper & Brothers, Publishers. p. 353.
- ^ "Early Pittston, Luzerne Co., Pa".
- ^ "History of Pittston Township". Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ISBN 978-1585661695.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident North American CT-39A-1-NO Sabreliner 62-4496 Wilkes-Barre International Airport, PA (AVP)". aviation-safety.net.
- ^ "Text of U.S. Attorney's charges against Ciavarella and Conahan" (PDF). U.S. Department of Justice for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. January 26, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ "Pittston Township Tornado Damage". February 26, 2017.
- ^ "NWS Confirms Tornado Hit Luzerne, Lackawanna Counties". February 26, 2017.
- ^ "Tornado touched down in Pittston Township on Saturday, NWS confirms". February 26, 2017.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
41°18′00″N 75°42′59″W / 41.30000°N 75.71639°W