Community Profile: Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Historical Information*

The area of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties was originally inhabited by the Iroquois and several other tribes along the portion of the Susquehanna River located in the Wyoming Valley. In the 1700s, both William Penn and settlers from Connecticut sought to populate the area encompassed by these three counties. Consequently, conflict arose between the Penn family and the charter held by the settlers of Connecticut that led to several wars throughout the 1700s. These conflicts resulted in Pennsylvania, rather than the Connecticut charter, becoming the official proprietor of the Wyoming Valley in 1786.

Anthracite coal mining and transportation industries moved into the Wyoming Valley around 1830. The new industries created some issues among the growing cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Residents of what is today Lackawanna County sought to separate from Luzerne County because of the expanding coal industry. In an attempt to keep the valuable anthracite coal fields and to appease residents, Luzerne formed a smaller county, Wyoming, in 1842. However, after almost 40 years of struggle, Lackawanna County was finally allowed to secede from Luzerne County in 1878.

The anthracite coal industry has been extremely important to the area. The arrival of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad in 1846 allowed for rapid expansion of the coal industry to the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and into New York State as well. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, working conditions and labor unions sparked conflicts within the mining industry. Employment peaked in 1914, and production has been declining ever since.

In the early 20th century, oil became a more efficient source of energy, and the production of oil caused a rapid decline in the coal mining industry. The coal mining industry, the driving force in the local economy, remained productive until after World War II but was almost completely eliminated by the 1950s. Thus, the area declined in prosperity and has been attempting to recover ever since, particularly with new commercial projects and infrastructure improvements.

Historical data for the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA can be found at the following websites:

* Much of the material used here was drawn from the websites listed above.
Last updated: Monday, August 18, 2009

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